The Battle Of Antietam
History
Antietam
-On September 17, 1862, near Sharps burg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek as part of the campaign battle.
- Over 23,000 men fell as casualties in the one-day Battle of Antietam, making it the bloodiest day in American history. The Union victory at Antietam resulted in President Abraham Lincoln issuing his Proclamation on September 22, 1862.
- 23,000! Were marked as killed, wounded, or captured/missing in about 12 hours.
-McClellan in an attempt to attack the Confederate left flank, the flank on the side of the army. These forces were engaged with Confederates under Major General Thomas Stonewall Jackson in a 24-acre cornfield.
- Union General Joseph Hooker wrote, 'It was never my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battlefield.' During the first hour of the fighting in the Cornfield, the slaughter was so intense that one men fell killed or wounded every second.
-At the cornfield outside Sharps burg, Maryland, the confederate unleashed an artillery storm that mowed down dozens of Union soldiers within minutes.
- It allowed Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared that as, slaves in rebel territories, although not in slave-holding Union border states, Quote on quote, “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”
- When the confederate saw the opportunity to fight and move upward to northern territory. But the union defended off the confederacy, but despite the losses from the union, the winner was inconclusive.
- When General Robert E. Lee’s army retreated away from Antietam Creek, near Sharps burg, Maryland, and went back to Virginia. Lee had struggled at the battle, causing his troops more casualties he had no choice but to fall back.
- McClellan had 50,000 troops alignment on the Antietam creek as a defensive position. He even had more troops coming for resupplies. Lee had 43,000 troops tired from walking their backs to the side of Potomac river, gave McClellan a chance to destroy the confederate retreat. But he didn't take time to do so, but instead he held his position. Later the society was angered by McClellan's decision, he then was fired by Lincoln's order.