It also gave President Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation at a moment of strength rather than desperation. The Battle of Antietam was an important battle in the American Civil War. [citation needed], Burnside had four divisions (12,500 troops) and 50 guns east of Antietam Creek. Col. Barlow was severely wounded, and Richardson mortally wounded. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton consisted of the brigades of Maj. Charles J. Whiting and Cols. This was the first time that many Americans saw the realities of war in photographs as distinct from previous "artists' impressions". The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. "[34], Seeing the glint of Confederate bayonets concealed in the Cornfield, Hooker halted his infantry and brought up four batteries of artillery, which fired shell and canister over the heads of the Federal infantry into the field. The original murals were shown in a church for many years. They saw little fighting, but were tasked with the difficult task. I feel Gen. M. should have no problem.. Other key leaders were lost as well, including George B. Anderson (no relation; Anderson's successor, Col. Charles C. Tew of the 2nd North Carolina, was killed minutes after assuming command)[58] and Col. John B. Gordon of the 6th Alabama. This allowed them to get enfilade fire into the Confederate line, turning it into a deadly trap. Conveys the placement of Union and Confederate forces in Washington County, Md., around Sharpsburg during the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. He wanted to move the focus of fighting away from the South and into Federal territory. The Confederate brigade withdrew after being exposed to fierce return fire from the Iron Brigade, and Starke was mortally wounded. It pitted Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army. [53], French confronted D.H. Hill's division. Though the Union and Confederate artilleries each had advantages and disadvantages in the Battle of Antietam in September of 1862, the artillery with the most initiative and superior fire support coordination prevailed. He had defeated the Union Army on the Virginia peninsula in May, and again at the second battle of Bull Run in August. Burnside's men spent the rest of the day guarding the bridge they had suffered so much to capture.[80]. James Hope of the 2nd Vermont Infantry, a professional artist, painted five large murals based on battlefield scenes he had sketched during the Battle of Antietam. [77], An initial assault led by the 79th New York "Cameron Highlanders" succeeded against Jones's outnumbered division, which was pushed back past Cemetery Hill and to within 200 yards (200m) of Sharpsburg. Civilians generally hid inside their houses as Lee's army passed through their towns, or watched in cold silence, while the Army of the Potomac was cheered and encouraged. Lightfoot ordered his men to about-face and march away, an order that all five regiments of the brigade thought applied to them as well. [10][83] This represented 25% of the Federal force and 31% of the Confederates. The Civil War Soldiers' Views of the Battle of Antietam : CSPAN2 : July Lincoln called the generals condition a bad case of the slows., Though well-liked by his men, McClellan could be vain and boastful. Antietam was the first major battle of the war to occur on Union Soil, and between 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., some 23,000 Americans on both sides of the conflict had been wounded or killed. The Creation of Artillery Hell by Major Albert A. Mrozek, Jr. Despite having no prior experience and receiving no payment for her services, she bravely drove her cart of medical supplies into the fray at many battles, including Antietam. She saw the desperation of the wounded and dying and did what she could to aid and comfort them. Gen. George L. Hartsuff and Col. William A. Christianhad difficulties reaching the scene. Maj. Gen. James Longstreet's Right Wing or Command consisted of the following divisions: Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Brig. They sang the tune "Maryland, My Maryland!" The following morning, McClellan attacks. [91], The battle is commemorated at Antietam National Battlefield. September 16 - 18, 1862 The Battle of Antietam Sharpsburg After his success at Second Manassas, Gen. Robert E. Lee led the Army of Northern Virginia north across the Potomac River on an invasion of Maryland in early September of 1862. Stonewall Jackson - Wikipedia The Battle of Antietam / ntitm / also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the South, fought on Wednesday, September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Union soil. [84] Of the other casualties, 1,910 Union and 1,550 Confederate troops died of their wounds soon after the battle, while 225 Union and 306 Confederate troops listed as missing were later confirmed as dead. 327 Battle Of Antietam Stock Photos & High-Res Pictures There are more than 22,000 casualties at the Battle of Antietam. [63], Later in the day, the commander of the other reserve unit near the center, the V Corps, Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter, heard recommendations from Maj. Gen. George Sykes, commanding his 2nd Division, that another attack be made in the center, an idea that intrigued McClellan. Gen. John C. Caldwell into battle around noon (after being told that Caldwell was in the rear, behind a haystack), and finally the tide turned. A tide of momentum swept Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginiafresh from a successful summer campaign and. Tom Hanks 1883 Tim McGraw Battle Of Antietam Taylor Sheridan - Deadline This was the last of Sumner's three divisions, which had been held up in the rear by McClellan as he organized his reserve forces. Lincoln and McClellan had a tortured relationship. The second attack, more raw recruits under Col. Dwight Morris, was also subjected to heavy fire but managed to beat back a counterattack by the Alabama Brigade of Robert Rodes. During the night, both armies consolidated their lines. He survived the battle but died later in October after an amputation. Why is nurse Clara Barton considered a hero of Antietam? as they marched, but by the fall of 1862 pro-Union sentiment was winning out, especially in the western parts of the state. Gen. Lee used this time to bolster his right flank. Significance of the battle of Antietam (video) | Khan Academy The disposition of Union forces during the battle made it impractical to consider retreating in that direction.) The terrain of the battlefield made it difficult for those commanders to monitor events outside of their sectors. Implicitly refusing to give up his higher authority, Burnside treated first Maj. Gen. Jesse L. Reno (killed at South Mountain) and then Brig. Later in the war, Lincoln authorized Barton to form the Office of Correspondence with Friends of Missing Men in the United States Army, an effort that eventually identified 22,000 missing Union soldiers. One thing is certain, they might have waded it that day without getting their waist belts wet in any place. Total Loading. After McClellan fails to pursue Lee on his retreat south, Lincoln loses faith in his general. "The overwhelming numbers worried General McClellan, who only Although most histories, including the. i'm not as tall as childs keith has worked for the national park service for 33 years at four national parks. Later in the war, a General named Tecumseh Sherman thought that by destroying the southern infrastructure, he would revoke the south of its morale, and its ability to fight. [64], Location: Southern end of the battlefield, The action moved to the southern end of the battlefield. Battle of Antietam - HISTORY . This represented another two-hour delay. George McClellan - Biography, Civil War & Importance - HISTORY The former was significant because a large portion of Lee's army was absent from the start of the battle of Antietam, attending to the surrender of the Union garrison; the latter because stout Confederate defenses at two passes through the mountains delayed McClellan's advance enough for Lee to concentrate the remainder of his army at Sharpsburg. 14447. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Inconclusive. A Picture from History: The Battle of Antietam - Pew Pew Tactical In 1881 Barton founded the American Red Cross. [66] It would become known to history as Burnside's Bridge because of the notoriety of the coming battle. September 17. After darkness fell, artillery fire continued as McClellan positioned his troops for the next day's fighting. Learn more Click image to open expanded view Read sample Audible sample Follow the Author Stephen W. Sears Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam Paperback - January 1, 1993 He ordered a withdrawal. Historian M. V. Armstrong's recent scholarship, however, has determined that Sumner did perform appropriate reconnaissance and his decision to attack where he did was justified by the information available to him.[51]. The Battle of Antietam, a turning point in American history [61] Winfield S. Hancock assumed division command. He could not understand why his general was not on the tail of the Confederates, and he went to McClellans headquarters at Antietam to light a fire under him. The conflagration caused heavy casualties on both sides and was described by Col. Lee as "artillery Hell. Joseph Hooker 1814-1879 Massachusetts He was in command of the I Corps Army of the Potomac. This breach of the line forced Hood and his men, outnumbered, to regroup in the West Woods, where they had started the day. [9] Confederate casualties were 10,316 with 1,547 dead. Antietam: A Savage Day In American History : NPR The casualties received by the 12th Massachusetts Infantry, 67%, were the highest of any unit that day. Federal burial party, by Alexander Gardner, "A Lonely Grave"Federal grave at Antietam, by Alexander Gardner, Antietam Battlefield photograph, by Alexander Gardner, "Artillery Hell", by James Hope (Dunker Church at the far left), "A Fateful Turn"Late morning looking east toward the Roulette Farm", by James Hope, "The Aftermath at Bloody Lane", by James Hope. A copy of the order having been lost, was recovered by Union soldiers of the 27th Indiana on the Best Farm in Maryland. Part of the Maryland Campaign, it was the first field armylevel engagement in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War to take place on Union soil. Gen. Maxcy Gregg's brigade of South Carolinians attacked the 16th Connecticut on Rodman's left flank in the cornfield of farmer John Otto. Antietam 150th anniversary: Why Was the Battle of Antietam So Deadly? McClellan issued the order at 9:10. 1. Burnside's plan was to move around the weakened Confederate right flank, converge on Sharpsburg, and cut Lee's army off from Boteler's Ford, their only escape route across the Potomac. When the men were rallied and advanced into the Cornfield, they met the same artillery and infantry fire as their predecessors. The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, occurred on September 17, 1862, at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. .In my feeble estimation, General McClellan, with all his laurels, sinks into insignificance beside the true heroine of the age, the angel of the battle field. Officers rode about cursing and yelling orders no one could hear in the noise. History Engine 3.0 - University of Richmond [99][100] They were featured in a 1984 Time-Life book entitled The Bloodiest Day: The Battle of Antietam.[101]. It was estimated that the Cornfield changed hands no fewer than 15 times in the course of the morning. But the plan went awry. [39] They were halted by a charge of 1,150 men from Starke's brigade, leveling heavy fire from 30 yards (30m) away. When asked by a fellow officer where his division was, Hood replied, "Dead on the field."[42]. [a] Rodes was wounded in the thigh but was still on the field. It was also a precarious position because the Confederate rear was blocked by the Potomac River and only a single crossing point, Boteler's Ford at Shepherdstown, was nearby should retreat be necessary. [23], Maj. Gen.George B. McClellan,Army of the Potomac(USA), Gen.Robert E. Lee,Army of Northern Virginia(CSA), Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac, bolstered by units absorbed from John Pope's Army of Virginia, included six infantry corps.[24][25]. The Battle of Antietam was a Civil War battle fought all in one day on September 17, 1862. The order indicated that Lee had divided his army and dispersed portions geographically (to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Hagerstown, Maryland), thus making each subject to isolation and defeat if McClellan could move quickly enough. He said, "I can do nothing more. Confederate staff officer Henry Kyd Douglas[67], Antietam Creek in this sector was seldom more than 50 feet (15 m) wide, and several stretches were only waist deep and out of Confederate range. Alpheus Williams assumed temporary command of the XII Corps.[45][46]. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. Jones's badly outnumbered force with infantry units from the left. For other uses, see, Confederate soldiers on the Antietam battlefield as they fell inside the fence on the Hagerstown road, September 1862 by Alexander Gardner, Confederate horses lay dead and artillery caissons destroyed on Antietam battlefield. When Hell Came to Sharpsburg: The Battle of Antietam and Its Impact on the Civilians Who Called It Home. By Stephen Sears Major General George B. McClellan. [citation needed], The Union victory and Lincoln's proclamation played a considerable role in dissuading the governments of France and Britain from recognizing the Confederacy; some suspected they were planning to do so in the aftermath of another Union defeat. Barton W. Mitchell and First Sergeant John M. Bloss[20][21] of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry) discovered a mislaid copy of Lee's detailed battle plansSpecial Order 191wrapped around three cigars. Maneuvering a captured light howitzer into position, they fired double canister down the bridge and got within 25 yards (23m) of the enemy. Union Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia about 55,000 men [15] [16] [17] entered the state of Maryland on September 3, following their victory at Second Bull Run on August 30. The project is expected to last until the late Summer of 2023. Meade's division cautiously attacked Hood's troops near the East Woods. The I Corps, under Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, consisted of the divisions of: The II Corps, under Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner, consisted of the divisions of: The V Corps, under Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter, consisted of the divisions of: The VI Corps, under Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, consisted of the divisions of: The IX Corps, under Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside (Brig. On the afternoon of September 16, Union general George B. McClellan sets his army in motion, sending Maj. Gen. Joseph Hookers First Corps across Antietam Creek to find Lees left flank. There was a reserve of 3,500 cavalry and the 10,300 infantrymen of Gen. Porter's V Corps, waiting near the middle bridge, a mile away. Attacks and counterattacks swept across Miller's Cornfield, and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church. Lee withdrew from the battlefield first, the technical definition of the tactical loser in a Civil War battle. 10,291 Confederate casualties: 1,567 killed and 8,724 wounded for the entire Maryland Campaign. Anderson's Confederate division had been little help to the defenders after Gen. Anderson was wounded early in the fighting. If a bullet missed the mark at first it was liable to strike the further bank, angle back, and take them secondarily. And it gave President Abraham Lincoln enough of a military victory to go forward with the Emancipation Proclamation . All of the unknowns are marked with small square stones. Jamieson, Perry D., and Bradford A. Wineman, This page was last edited on 11 July 2023, at 23:13. General Robert E. Lee's "Lost Order" No. 191 Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. In June of 1862, new Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee, whipped, demoralized, and pushed away from Richmond the Union host under George McClellan. The Connecticut men had been in service for only three weeks, and their line disintegrated with 185 casualties. [74][75], Burnside's assault stalled again on its own. Dr. James Dunn, a surgeon at the Battle of Antietam lauded her efforts: The rattle of 150,000 muskets, and the fearful thunder of over 200 cannon, told us that the great battle of Antietam had commenced.

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