By:
Josh Harrington
WHERE DID IT HAPPEN?
The Battle of Antietam
took place in the city of
Antietam, in
Washington County,
Maryland.
The Battle of Antietam took place from September 16-18,
1862.
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE
B. MCLELLAN (DECEMBER
3, 1826 – OCTOBER 29, 1885)
UNION
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE
(JANUARY 19, 1807 –
OCTOBER 12, 1870)
SOUTH
TACTICS
The tactics used at Antietam were
similar to those used through a large
portion of the civil war. the attacking
army would march towards the
position of the defending army
(usually under cannon fire) and when
they got close enough the defending
army would use grape shot against
them. If enough attackers were left
and they had held the line they would
fire volleys into each other and if the
attack was going well they would fix
bayonets and charge. Eventually
someone would run away or be wiped
out. It was very bloody and the tactics
were more suitable for times when fire
arms were not as powerful as they had
become. The tactics were out dated
and it cost 10's of thousands to 100's of
thousands their lives.
On September 16, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan confronted Lee’s Army of
Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. At dawn September 17, Hooker’s
corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank that began the single
bloodiest day in American military history. Attacks and counterattacks swept
across Miller’s cornfield and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church.
Union assaults against the Sunken Road eventually pierced the Confederate
center, but the Federal advantage was not followed up. Late in the day,
Burnside’s corps finally got into action, crossing the stone bridge over
Antietam Creek and rolling up the Confederate right. At a crucial moment,
A.P. Hill’s division arrived from Harpers Ferry and counterattacked, driving
back Burnside and saving the day. Although outnumbered two-to-one, Lee
committed his entire force, while McClellan sent in less than three-quarters of
his army, enabling Lee to fight the Federals to a standstill. During the night,
both armies consolidated their lines. In spite of crippling casualties, Lee
continued to skirmish with McClellan throughout the 18th, while removing his
wounded south of the river. McClellan did not renew the assaults. After dark,
Lee ordered the battered Army of Northern Virginia to withdraw across the
Potomac into the Shenandoah Valley.
-Inconclusive (Union strategic victory.)
-Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with
about 23,000 casualties.
-This was a two to one battle with Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern
Virginia having approximately 45,00 troops to Union Army Maj. Gen.
George B. McClellan’s 90,000 troops.
-The battle began at 5:30 AM (Dawn) on September 17, 1862 and lasted
until 5:30 PM that day.
-The Union had 12,401 casualties with 2,108 dead. Confederate casualties
were 10,318 with 1,546 dead.
-President Lincoln was disappointed in McClellan’s performance. He
believed that McClellan’s cautious and poorly coordinated actions in the
field had forced the battle to a draw rather than a crippling Confederate
defeat. Lincoln relieved McClellan of his command of the Army of the
Potomac on November 7 after repeated demands that he do his job
effectively and bravely, effectively ending the general’s military career.
-General Lee’s battle plans were known in advance. Two Union soldiers
(Corporal Barton W. Mitchell and First Sergeant John M. Bloss of the 27th
Indiana Volunteer Infantry) discovered a mislaid copy of Lee’s detailed
battle plans-Special Order 191-wrapped around three cigars. McClellan
delayed acting on this knowledge 18 hours, thus losing the opportunity
laid at his feet.
-Estimated casualties: 23,100 total.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2008
0516184719AABHffS
http://www.mycivilwar.com/battles/620916.html
http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/md003.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_battle_of_
Antietam_affect_the_outcome_of_the_civil_war