The Battle of AntietamSeptember 17, 1862

U.S. Civil War 1861 - 1865

Battle of Antietam Summary

• Location: Washington County, MD• Date(s): September 17, 1862• Union General: George McClellan• Union Army: ~85,000• Confederate General: Robert E. Lee• Confederate Army: ~55,000• Estimated Casualties: 22,700– What is included in Casualties?

Background• 16 months after beginning of Civil War and Union

still without a major victory in the East• Peninsula campaign to capture Richmond,

repulsed during Seven Days Battle in June/July– McClellan demoted

• Humiliating defeat at Second Manassas (Bull Run) followed in August.

• Lincoln brought back Gen. McClellan to restore order. He was superb organizer, but also cautious and devoid of initiative during battle

Why Invade North?• Confederate leaders believe an expedition into

the North may accomplish military and political goals.

• Union in military disarray, invade MD, rally Confederate sympathizers providing food, supplies and new recruits

• Victory on Northern soil may bring formal recognition and much needed assistance from England and France.

Campaign

• Lee split his army (not the first or last time he would do this)– Gen. Jackson in Harper’s Ferry, WVA

• Stroke of luck for Union. Confederate plans found wrapped around 3 cigars and given to McClellan. If he moves quickly can intercept Lee before he can combine force

1st Confederate invade in the North

• General Robert E. Lee tried to move his 40,000 troops above Washington DC

McClellan moved to block

• General McClellan took 75,000 men to block

The Battle • The two sides

fought from 6am – 4pm

• Battle opens on Conf. left, thru cornfield and woods, tide of the battle switched many times

The Battle• Battle then shifts to the middle of the line, each

time Union close to breaking the Confederate line

• Late in day, battle shifts to Confederate right flank as Gen. Burnside pushes across (soon to be named Burnside bridge) river and begins to break Confederates. In the nick of time, Gen. A.P. Hill’s division arrives from Harper’s Ferry to plug the gap.

• McClellan has reserves, but never uses them

The Bloodiest single day of Battle in American History

Aftermath• Confederates exhausted, Union does not renew fight• McClellan allows Lee to retreat back across the

Potomac. Does not press battered Confederate army. Gets McClellan fired again!

• Enough of Union victory for Lincoln to issue Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in territory in rebellion

• European countries, which had abolished slavery themselves were dissuaded from supporting Confederate cause

Casualties • Union • 12,401– 2108 dead– 9540 wounded– 753 missing

• Confederate • 10,316– 1546 dead– 7752 wounded– 1018 missing

Lincoln and McClellan meeting after the Battle of Antietam.

Burial detail preparing to bury the dead from the Bloody Lane

TodayBloody Lane