Define the Subject The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was not only the bloodiest day of the American Civil War, but it was also the bloodiest single day in all American history (Alexander, 2006). The battle was fought between the days of September 16th through the 18th, with the bloodiest day being on the 17th. The battle grounds for this engagement took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland, and happened during the Maryland Campaign. The Union Army of the Potomac was commanded by Major General George B. McClellan (Commanders at Antietam). The Army of the Potomac consisted of approximately 87,000 soldiers, almost doubling that of the Army of Northern Virginia. General Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of Northern Virginia, …show more content…
Both Union and Confederate forces could move from one section of the battlefield to another, with little opportunity of viewing the grounds and hidden dangers immediately in front of them. The road known as Sunken Road proved to be one of these dangers. Initially the Confederate Army was able to lay low and wait on Union forces to crest the hill. As the Union Army drew close unable to see the well protected Confederate Army. The Confederate Army was able to keep the Union Army at bay for several hours. This road also proved deadly for the Confederate Army a few hours later as the Union Forces were able to flank the Confederate Army from the side. Because of the deadly fighting that happened on this road it is also known as “Bloody Lane” (The Battle of Antietam - Wednesday, September 17, 1862, The Impact of …show more content…
The Confederates were coming off their 2nd victory at Bull Run. Even though the Union Army had just lost at Bull Run, their moral and support for Major General McClellan was high (The Battle of Antietam). More great leaders than just the Commanding officers were involved in this battle. On the North Forces were Major General George B. McClellan, General in Command, Army of the Potomac. Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac. Major General Joseph Hooker, I Corps, Army of the Potomac. (Commanders at Antietam) Aligning themselves with the South were General Robert E. Lee, General in Command, Army of Northern Virginia. Major General Thomas “Stonewall” J. Jackson, II Corps Commander, Army of Northern Virginia. Brigadier General Jubal Early, Jackson’s Corps. (Commanders at Antietam)
Describe the Action On September 16th, 1862 General Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia had concentrated in defensive positions around Sharpsburg Maryland. They positioned themselves between the Potomac River, the boundary line marking the North, and Antietam Creek. The Confederates occupied the rising ground North West of the town and additional rising ground to the East. (Battle of
Major leaders such as Robert E. Lee ( commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, Confederate), Lewis Armistead ( fought and died at the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate), Ulysses Grant ( led the Union army, Union), and George Mclean ( lead the Army of Potomac, Union). In the Civil War Richmond
The Confederate Generals were: General Pillow was the leader of the Fort Donelson, General Floyd was the assistance for Pillow, and General Buckner was a General that had to surrender the Fort, General Forest had escaped the Fort with his
As the Union troops dug in to withstand the attack, General Johnston’s Confederate Army jumped on railcars and headed for Bull Run to reinforce General Beauregard’s Confederate Army. Meanwhile, at Bull Run, General McDowell was attempting to flank General Beauregard’s Confederate Army by moving north and west in order to flank him and his Army. The Union Army began to launch what would be several attacks upon Confederate Forces, to include attack along Bull Run Creek and attacks at the center of the Confederate line at Henry House. Attempting to wear down the Confederate troops at Bull Run, General McDowell was unaware of the reinforcements that were on their way from Harrier’s Ferry to assist the Confederates who were losing ground.
Introduction The Battle of Antietam (Battle of Sharpsburg) was a battle of the American Civil War, battled on September 17, 1862, in the Southern United States between the Potomac army led by Union General George McClellan and Northern Virginia army led by Confederate General Robert Lee near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam (McPherson, 2003). September 17th, 1862, has been termed as one of the bloodiest day in the U.S. History, with more than 23,000 men becoming causalities of the war. The research paper will then highlight the forces engaged, assets, and liabilities of both side, the battle overview, and significance of the Battle of Antietam to American History. The Battle of Antietam is one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War.
Adding on, to cross the river the army needed pontoons to reach across the river safely and attempt General Burnside's plan to attack the Confederates. Unfortunately, as a result of the miscommunication because General Burnside and Henry Halleck, the pontoons that were needed did not arrive at the right time and caused a delay to transit the river. The misfortune that occurred during the battle of Fredericksburg, led the union army to fail
Where the Confederates' right flanks of about 2600 men piled fence rails along the bank of the road to secure their position against Union General Major General William H. France's 5,500 approaching troops. When his troops arrived. The fighting became even more aggressive. Union troops pushed the Confederates back and over 5000 men died or were injured. The amount of bloodshed earned Sunken Road a new nickname, “Bloody Lane.”
Lee and many other generals who fought against the Union Army. It wasn’t until 1864 that Ulysses S. Grant came to Virginia, ready to become the Union army’s chief. Under his leadership, the Union armies began to win a series of battles against the Confederates. Two new generals, General Thomas and General Sherman, became a very successful leader on the Union’s side. After entering Georgia and South Carolina, Sherman’s army destroyed the economic infrastructure of the Confederate Army.
The Civil War is considered to be the bloodiest episodes of warfare in American History. During this war, there were numerous well known battles. One of the most famous battles was called the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Second Battle of Bull Run was fought over August 28-30, 1862. Although this battle lasted only 3 days, there were approximately 22,000 casualties during this span.
In the battle there were three main strikes, the morning attacks on the Confederate left flank, the second and most notable being at “Sunken Road”, and the final strike by General Ambrose E. Burnside which was destined to succeed until more Confederate troops came to push them back. During the battle there was a farm lane known as “Sunken Road” where 2,500 Confederate soldiers were defending themselves against 5,500 Union soldiers; at the end 5,000 soldiers lay dead making this only one of the many extreme casualties of the battle. The battle was quick, only lasting twelve hours, but what once stood as a pleasant corn field became the home of around 22,000 dead or wounded people after being shot by cannons and muskets. In the end, Lee’s troops retreated after suffering around 10,000 of the 22,000 casualties,but because of the size of his army this was the heavier
Union troops attacked Confederate soldiers near a cornfield in Sharpsburg. Lee’s soldiers counterattacked viciously, but both sides held their ground (“Antietam - Fight for”). The fighting moved to the West Woods, where Dunker Church was waiting for the battle. Stonewall Jackson’s troops stayed defensive as the Union attacked. The battle panned over to a sunken road where Confederate troops were hiding, hoping gain a defensive position.
Lincoln called for 500,000 troops on both sides settled for a long battle. Abraham surprised a lot of people by proving to be a more than a capable wartime leader. He learned quickly about strategy and tactics in the early years of the Civil War, and choosing the best commanders. General George McClellan continually frustrated Lincoln with his unwillingness to advance, and when McClellan failed to see Robert Lee’s retreating Confederate Army in the outcome of the Union victory at Antietam in September 1862. Antietam is a creek of north Maryland emptying into the Potomac
The most important battle during the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a battle that took place over three days in the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. This battle was the turning point of the civil war which successfully stopped the Southern Confederate Armies led by General Robert E. Lee from taking over the north. The Battle of Gettysburg was the most important battle of the Civil War because it was the largest of the civil war battles, successfully pushing back southern armies away from the north, and was the major defeat of the south. The battle of Gettysburg is still considered to historians to not only be the most important battle of the Civil war but the deciding factor towards victory.
Firstly, the Battle of Antietam was a gory Battle. The Battle of Antietam started because the south needed shoes, and some southern scouts found that the city of Antietam
In September 1862, a battle was fought in a small town in Maryland. More lives were lost than any other battle or war that the United States has ever experience before or since. This battle had no true winner but it did have consequeses that changed the course of the Civil War. In James M. McPherson’s book Crossroads of Freedom Antietam The Battle That Changed the Course of the Civil War, he shows how small events added up to lead to the Battle of Antietam and ultimately to the North winning the Civil War.
The battle of Antietam we will now remember as the bloodiest day in U.S. history with 23,000 total casualties. In this year year overall, the north was coming out on top