Who's Attending:
Union Army (North):
87,000 soldiers Lost 12,401 ~ 2,108 killed ~ 9,540 wounded ~ 753 captured/missing Confederate Army (South): 45,000 soldiers Lost 10,316 ~ 1,546 killed ~ 7,752 wounded ~ 1,018 captured/missing |
What: The Battle of Antietam, which was
also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg. When: September 17-18, 1862 Where: Sharpsburg, Maryland by Antietam Creek Why:
There are many important reasons why this battle started. One is because Robert E. Lee wanted to keep going into the North because he felt confident when he won at the Bull Run. But, the more important reason is that he wanted countries in Europe, such as, England and France to help the South and the Confederates with their cause. Source(s): http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html Fun Facts:
1. The Union had around 87,000 soldiers, while the Confederates had only 45,000. Around 3,500 soldiers were killed and 17,000 wounded. 2. The battle was named by the Union after the nearby creek called Antietam. It was called the Battle of Sharpsburg by the South. 3. Two Union soldiers had found a copy of Lee's battle plans before the battle. However, General McClellan moved slowly on the news and never really took advantage of the knowledge. 4. President William McKinley fought for the Union at the Battle of Antietam. He was a sergeant at the time. 5. Famous nurse Clara Barton was present at the war taking care of wounded soldiers. |
What Happened:
Up until the Battle of Antietam the Confederate army had been primarily on the defensive side. However, after the success of the Battle of Bull Run, General Lee decided that it was time to go on the offensive. On September 3, 1862 the Confederate army, led by General Robert E. Lee, entered the state of Maryland. Both General Lee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis thought that a successful invasion would convince France and Great Britain to officially recognize the Confederacy as a nation. The battle began when the Union army, under General Joseph Hooker, attacked the Confederate army on the left flank. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Confederate army continued to hold their ground throughout the day. General McClellan was cautious and never committed his entire force, while Robert E. Lee had his entire army engaged in battle in order to hold off the Union soldiers. Source(s): http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam Result: On September 18, 1862, Robert E. Lee withdrew across the river suffering from 10,318 casualties, to McClellan's 12,401.The draw that the Union claimed as a victory provided Lincoln's administration enough justification to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. A series of horrific battlefield photos of the dead brought to the home front “the terrible earnestness of war.” Source(s): http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam |