The Battle of Antietam

1
The Battle of Antietam

• 9/8/05
• Methods Social Studies

2
Introduction

• Prelude
• September 17, 1862
• Aftermath

3
Prelude

• The Seven Days Battles
• Lee, upon assuming command, had driven the Army
  of the Potomac all the way back to Washington
• In addition, Confederates forces under
  Stonewall Jackson defeated a large Union
  detachment near Cedar Mountain, then moved north
• At right is a picture of General Jackson

4
Prelude

• Battle of 2nd Manassas (Bull Run)
• Lee routed Federal forces under John Pope
• Victory at Manassas put Southern Independence
  incredibly close to realization
• Great Britain in particular was very close to
  recognizing the Confederacy as a sovereign nation

5
Prelude

• Even as Lee decided to move north into Maryland,
  at nearly the same time Braxton Bragg was
  likewise moving north into Kentucky
• In early September, Lee slipped into Maryland and
  the campaign was on

6
Prelude

• After 2nd Manassas, Lee moved north into
  Maryland, hoping to draw the Union into one
  decisive battle
• Lee moved behind a range of mountains to hide his
  movements
• McClellan, following Lee moved as cautiously as
  ever in pursuit

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An Unexpected Turn

• Even as Confederate forces continued their
  invasion of Maryland, on September 13 a stroke of
  blind luck befell George McClellan
• An Indiana corporal had found wrapped around some
  cigars a copy of Confederate orders which
  detailed the exact movements of Lees entire army
• Quickly realizing what McClellan had, Lee ordered
  his army to concentrate at the town of
  Sharpsburg, on Antietam Creek

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September 17, 1862
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Aftermath

• Tactically, the battle was a Confederate victory,
  because they still held control of the
  battlefield
• Strategically, it was a Union victory because Lee
  had only narrowly avoided defeat and now had no
  choice but to withdraw back to Virginia
• The South would never come so close to gaining
  foreign recognition again

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Conclusion

• The Battle of Antietam remains the single
  bloodiest day of battle in American history, with
  the Union suffering 2,100 dead and 9,500 wounded
  while the Confederates lost 1,500 dead and 7,750
  wounded
• Both sides also lost several hundred missing that
  were probably killed in action and never
  identified
• Also, following the battle, Lincoln issued his
  Emancipation Proclamation

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Bibliography

• Information was garnered from two main sources
• Rebels Yankees The Battlefields of the Civil
  War by William C. Davis
• Picture History of the Civil War by Bruce Catton
• Photos and maps were found at www.americancivilwar
  .com