The Battle of Antietam Burnsides Bridge

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The Battle of AntietamBurnsides Bridge
1000 Sept. 17, 1862
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BLUF
General Burnsides actions, or lack their of, at
the Battle of Antietam significantly hurt the
Army of the Potomac because of his failure to use
the Tenets of Army Operations Initiative,
Agility, Depth, Synchronization, and Versatility.

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Strategic Setting
Cause Invasion of Confederacy and interception
of Special Order 191 PERST P-overseas support,
Maryland a Southern State E-more economic
issues, reliance on northern manufacturers to
produce their military supplies
R-none S-none T- 12-Pounder Napoleans vs.
6-Pounder Smoothbore OBJ Confederate
objectives were to exploit success of 2nd
Manassas, gain support from southern
sympathizers, and gain overseas support
(DEFEND) Union objective was to divide
and conquer Army of Northern Virginia (ATTACK)
Events Leading to battle
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Strategic Setting
Sept. 9, 1862- Interception of Special Order
191 Noon, Sept. 13, 1862- Major General McClellan
receives S.O. 191 Evening, Sept. 13, 1862-
General Lee receives information that S.O. 191
has been compromised and orders a withdrawal
south of the Potomac River. Sept. 14, 1862-
Battle of South Mountain Sept. 15, 1862-
Confederate forces complete capture of Federal
post at Harpers Ferry 0615 Sept. 17, 1862- Major
General Hooker (Fed I Corps) attacks Major
General Jacksons corps on the Confederate left.
General Hookers I Corps was repulsed by General
Hoods counter-attack at approximately 0720.
0930 Sept. 17, 1862- General Sumner (Fed II
Corps) attacks the central section at the Sunken
Road opposite General Longstreets corps in the
Confederate center. Success but can not
capitalize due to casualties. 1000 Sept. 17,
1862- Major General Burnside (Fed IX Corps)
attacks the southern section at Rohrbachs Bridge
and is repulsed by General Toombs brigade.
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Confederate Army of Northern Virginia General
Robert E. Lee
Brigadier General D.R. Jones (DIV)
Brigadier General Robert Toombs (BDE)
Brigadier General Thomas Drayton (BDE)
Brigadier General James Kemper (BDE)
Colonel Joseph Walker (BDE) Colonel Eppa
Hunton (BDE) 231(Bridge)/14
Major General A.P. Hill (DIV) Brigadier
General Lawrence Branch (BDE) Brigadier
General James Archer (BDE) Brigadier
General Maxey Gregg (BDE) Brigadier General
Penen William (BDE) Colonel Brockenbrogh
(BDE) 12
Federal Army of the Potomac Major General George
B. McClellan
Major General Everett Burnside (IX CORPS)
Brigadier General Jacob Cox (IX CORPS)
Brigadier Generals Samuel Sturgis (DIV)
Brigadier General Orlando Willcox (DIV)
Brigadier General Jacob Cox (DIV) Brigadier
General Isaac Rodman (DIV)
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AOCOK
Avenue of Approach- Direct route over the
Antietam River using Rohrbach Bridge Ford
downstream Obstacles-20 to 25 yards wide and
deep enough not to be easily forded Bridge is
125 feet long, 12 feet wide located on a
reentrant Cover and Concealment- Union side-
Both Northern and Southern approaches to the
bridge were through open terrain Confederate
side-Western side of the bridge ended in a small
road and a bluff that was steep and wooded
Observations and Fields of Fire-Union staring
straight up a steep wooded hill
Confederate looking down and across open
terrain Key Terrain- Hilltop overlooking
Rohrbach Bridge
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Phase I 1000-1300hrs
Sharpsburg
BG Kemper
BG Drayton
COL Hunton
COL Walker
BG Toombs Brigade
20th Georgia
2nd Georgia
Rohrbach Bridge
Antietam Creek
BG Sturgis
BG Rodman
W
S N
IX CORPS
E
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Phase II 1300-1600hrs
Sharpsburg
BG Kemper
MG A.P. Hill
Harpers Ferry
BG Drayton
COL Hunton
BG Toombs
COL Walker
BG Rodman
BG Wilcox
BG Sturgis
Rohrbach Bridge
Antietam Creek
W
S N
E
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Phase III 1600-1900hrs
Sharpsburg
BG Branch
BG Kemper
BG Gregg
BG Drayton
BG Archer
COL Hunton
BG Pender
COL Walker
BG Rodman
BG Brockenbrough
BG Wilcox
BG Sturgis
Rohrbach Bridge
Antietam Creek
W
S N
E
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BG Pender
Final Dispositions
Sharpsburg
BG Kemper
BG Branch
BG Brockenbrough
BG Gregg
BG Drayton
BG Archer
COL Hunton
COL Walker
BG Wilcox
BG Rodman
BG Sturgis
Rohrbach Bridge
Antietam Creek
W
S N
E
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Key Event 1
IX Corps attacked late at 1000 on 17 September
instead of at 0700 Cause General Burnsides
lack of motivation (failed to take
initiative) Effect 1) Lee had additional time
to reposition troops 2) 2nd and 20th Georgia
time to dig in, refine positions 3) Time for
General A.P. Hill to start movement 4) General
Rodmans Division arrived late from flanking
mission (synch) DoctrineFM 3-90 Tactics, The
attacker has the time and opportunity to develop
a plan and to concentrate the effects of his
forces and thoroughly prepare conditions for
success. The commander strikes the enemy in
unexpected ways at unexpected times and places
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Key Event 2
General Burnside fails to press the attack after
achieving the far bank Cause General
Burnsides lack of versatility and
motivation Effect 1) 3 hour lull in battle,
losing initiative, reset defense 2) Additional
time for General A.P. Hill to move and arrive at
battle Doctrine FM 3-0 Operations Army forces
to quickly transition from one type of operation
to another with minimal changes to force
structure.
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Key Event 3
IX Corps is forced to pull back from their
assault Cause General Burnsides lack of depth
and agility in C2 Effect 1) General Rodmans
2nd Division was nearly decimated 2) Total
confusion in General Burnsides attack 3) Forced
withdrawal to western bank of Antietam Creek 4)
Momentum swing to the confederates Doctrine FM
3-0 Operations, Agile forces are mentally and
physically able to transition within or between
types of operations without losing momentum
FM3-0 Operations, Offensive depth allows
commanders to sustain momentum and press the
fight.
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Conclusion
General Burnside failure of to use the Tenets of
Army Operations cost a significant number of
Soldiers their lives because he failed by not
synchronizing the assault across Antietam Creek.
He jeopardized the success of the mission by
failing to maintain the initiative once he gained
the far bank of the creek. His failure to believe
in the versatility of his commanders allowed
General A.P. Hill to take the initiative after
resting his division, surprising General
Burnsides 2nd and 3rd Divisions. Finally, due
to his lack of depth and agility, allowed two
divisions to attack and push back a corps,
securing the southern flank of the Army of
Northern Virginia and saving it from total
defeat.
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Questions?