"The loss of generals and field officers in our army is so large as to be uncountable.”
"The loss of generals and field officers in our army is so large as to be uncountable.”
The Battle of Antietam
The Confederate Side
Dead Confederates by Dunkers Church (taken by Alexander Gardner, Library of Congress)
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The Battle of Antietam took place in September 1862 in Sharpsburg, Maryland. General Robert E. Lee wanted to take the war to the Northern front by crossing the Potomac River into Maryland. By doing this, Lee placed his army on the “strategic offensive.” He believed that by taking Maryland back from the North, they would stir a rise of anti- Lincoln dissenters and sway the North to allow for Southern independence. As Lee and his troops marched into Maryland, they were met with a less warming welcome than they had anticipated. Many of the citizens of Maryland found the Confederate army unkempt, rude, and disrespectful. Days before the war, Lee issued Special Order No. 191. This order given to the Confederate army stated Lee’s plan for their northern attack. With McClellan and his troops advancing, Lee and his army continued forward, leaving behind their original campgrounds where this plan was discussed. |
The Union Side
In the Union army, General McClellan had been reinstated and in control of the Maryland area. He was given direct orders by President Lincoln to stop Lee and his men from advancing. Not long after, McClellan arrived at the same spot that Lee had previously been in. While camping there, one of the Union soldiers had discovered a copy of Lee’s special order on the ground, wrapped up. After receiving the order, McClellan adapted their current strategy to counteract Lee’s plan and catch him off guard. What McClellan had yet to be informed of however, was that a Confederate had learned of his change and informed Lee in advance.
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Dead Confederates by a Rail Fence (taken by Alexander Gardner, Library of Congress)
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Day of the Battle
Buried Federal Soldiers and An Unburied Confederate Soldier (taken by Alexander Gardner, Library of Congress)
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When the battle broke out in Antietam, the Union was, instead, caught off guard. The advantage over the fighting kept switching back and forth between the Union and the Confederate soldiers. Although the Union had more soldiers, the Confederate strategy was more effective due to knowledge of McClellan’s plan. The Union delivered one attack after another to try and weaken the Confederates. General's Longstreet and Hill were amongst the armies representing the Confederacy and holding the Union soldiers back. Amidst the confusion, the loss of life was intensifying amongst both sides. Finally, due to General Burnside and his infantry, the Union was able to push the South back off the territory by the bridge and gain victory. The victory however, cost 23,000 total lives in the process.
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Sources:
John M. Harris, “Truthful as the Record of Heaven: The Battle of Antietam and the Birth of
Photojournalism,” Southern Cultures: Remembering the Civil War Vol 19
Elizabeth R. Varon, Armies of Deliverance: A New History of The Civil War
Alexander Gardner, Gardner’s Photographic Sketchbook of the War
Library of Congress
National Park Service, “A Short Overview of the Battle of Antietam”
John M. Harris, “Truthful as the Record of Heaven: The Battle of Antietam and the Birth of
Photojournalism,” Southern Cultures: Remembering the Civil War Vol 19
Elizabeth R. Varon, Armies of Deliverance: A New History of The Civil War
Alexander Gardner, Gardner’s Photographic Sketchbook of the War
Library of Congress
National Park Service, “A Short Overview of the Battle of Antietam”