The Battle of Antietam
Dead soldiers near Dunker Church. RIP.
September 17, 1862: The Bloodiest Day in American History. This single day battle had the most deaths/causalities than any other single day in America.
The Union, under the command of General George McClellan, was an army of 60,000, in contrast to the Confederacy, under the will of General Robert E. Lee with 30,000. The North was organized in the woods and fields all around Antietam Creek, located in Sharpsburg. The morning awoke with Union artillery attacking Confederates, marching towards Miller's cornfield, the only separation between each other, the second located at Dunker Church upon a hill. At 9 A.M., both forces met again after a brief break from direct contact. No more than 200 yards of separation, as a Union soldier stated, they "stood and shot each other, until the lines melted away like wax."
It began after the Battle of Bull Run II SEE HERE after the North retreated eastward, creating a seemingly open and unguarded space in order to invade Northern territory. General Lee knew that Maryland, though Union at the present time, held many slaves, and hoped that Maryland would join the Confederacy. On September 4, Lee entered Union territory, crossing the Potomac River, and nearly a week later, captured the town of Fredrick. Dividing his army into two, giving two-thirds of the soldiers to Thomas Jackson, and the other third to General James Longstreet. Many have questioned why Lee chose this place, due to a lack of excape routes, the only one being the Potomac River. But, he was bordered by Antietam Creek to the right creating a shape something like a semi-circle to somewhat protect him. (General Longstreet opposed to the site, while General Jackson supported it.)
Robert E. Lee was confident that his side would win, for the Confederates had been having a recent winning streak. Also, he knew of McClellan's overcautious ways. However, one insignificant incidence occured, which probably changed the whole outcome of the war. This small mistake, performed by the troops of the South, were 3 cigars, wrapped in paper, on the ground of a field just outside of town. Two Union soldiers, Sgt. John M. Bloss and Cpl. Barton W. Mitchell, discovered this. There was little pleasure involved with the participation of the war, so the men were excited of their valuable find. They were so caught up with the cigars, they nearly overlooked the paper; however, when boredom caught up to them quickly, they were shocked to find the plan of General Lee's troop's patterns and positions, known as Special Order #191. The slip of paper was given to their general, McClellan, who acted quickly into western Maryland.
The days of 15 and 16 were dedicated to the Union troops to assemble to fight. The South was already prepared, lining 4 miles between Antietam Creek and the Potomac River. The South had an army of 35,000, and the North had over 75,000 men.
The location where Lee was located was a farming area of wooded, rolling hills. There was a small, white church named Dunkers Church because of their belief in baptism, and it was of the German Baptist Brethen. Three bridges across the creek helped the Union to move artillery and bringing reserve troops into position. The creek was slow and shallow, but very jagged too. McClellan's plan was to have General Joseph Hooker's corps to attack the left flank from the north, and General Burnside to have his crossing the Rohrbach bridge and from the south. While Lee was focused on this diversions, McClellan would travel across Middle Bridge, and assault the Confederates under the orders over Longstreet at the center.
At the crack of dawn on the 17th of September, "Fighting Joe" Hooker ordered his artillery to open fire on the Confederates, and then to have them filled the areas called East and West Woods. This bloody battle continued on to the night, with the Union winning.
This was the first time the South decided to trespass into Union territory, and lost. They would lose the second time, too, at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The Union, under the command of General George McClellan, was an army of 60,000, in contrast to the Confederacy, under the will of General Robert E. Lee with 30,000. The North was organized in the woods and fields all around Antietam Creek, located in Sharpsburg. The morning awoke with Union artillery attacking Confederates, marching towards Miller's cornfield, the only separation between each other, the second located at Dunker Church upon a hill. At 9 A.M., both forces met again after a brief break from direct contact. No more than 200 yards of separation, as a Union soldier stated, they "stood and shot each other, until the lines melted away like wax."
It began after the Battle of Bull Run II SEE HERE after the North retreated eastward, creating a seemingly open and unguarded space in order to invade Northern territory. General Lee knew that Maryland, though Union at the present time, held many slaves, and hoped that Maryland would join the Confederacy. On September 4, Lee entered Union territory, crossing the Potomac River, and nearly a week later, captured the town of Fredrick. Dividing his army into two, giving two-thirds of the soldiers to Thomas Jackson, and the other third to General James Longstreet. Many have questioned why Lee chose this place, due to a lack of excape routes, the only one being the Potomac River. But, he was bordered by Antietam Creek to the right creating a shape something like a semi-circle to somewhat protect him. (General Longstreet opposed to the site, while General Jackson supported it.)
Robert E. Lee was confident that his side would win, for the Confederates had been having a recent winning streak. Also, he knew of McClellan's overcautious ways. However, one insignificant incidence occured, which probably changed the whole outcome of the war. This small mistake, performed by the troops of the South, were 3 cigars, wrapped in paper, on the ground of a field just outside of town. Two Union soldiers, Sgt. John M. Bloss and Cpl. Barton W. Mitchell, discovered this. There was little pleasure involved with the participation of the war, so the men were excited of their valuable find. They were so caught up with the cigars, they nearly overlooked the paper; however, when boredom caught up to them quickly, they were shocked to find the plan of General Lee's troop's patterns and positions, known as Special Order #191. The slip of paper was given to their general, McClellan, who acted quickly into western Maryland.
The days of 15 and 16 were dedicated to the Union troops to assemble to fight. The South was already prepared, lining 4 miles between Antietam Creek and the Potomac River. The South had an army of 35,000, and the North had over 75,000 men.
The location where Lee was located was a farming area of wooded, rolling hills. There was a small, white church named Dunkers Church because of their belief in baptism, and it was of the German Baptist Brethen. Three bridges across the creek helped the Union to move artillery and bringing reserve troops into position. The creek was slow and shallow, but very jagged too. McClellan's plan was to have General Joseph Hooker's corps to attack the left flank from the north, and General Burnside to have his crossing the Rohrbach bridge and from the south. While Lee was focused on this diversions, McClellan would travel across Middle Bridge, and assault the Confederates under the orders over Longstreet at the center.
At the crack of dawn on the 17th of September, "Fighting Joe" Hooker ordered his artillery to open fire on the Confederates, and then to have them filled the areas called East and West Woods. This bloody battle continued on to the night, with the Union winning.
This was the first time the South decided to trespass into Union territory, and lost. They would lose the second time, too, at the Battle of Gettysburg.