The Battle Of Antietam
Union: Blue
Confederates: Red
Union Commander: General George McClellan
Confederate Commander: General Robert E. Lee
Union Troops Engaged: 75,316
Union Casualties: 12,410
Confederate Troops Engaged: 51,844
Confederate Casualties: 13,724
Confederates: Red
Union Commander: General George McClellan
Confederate Commander: General Robert E. Lee
Union Troops Engaged: 75,316
Union Casualties: 12,410
Confederate Troops Engaged: 51,844
Confederate Casualties: 13,724
The Battle Of Antietam Summary
On September 16th, 1862, Major General George McClellan and his Union Army of the Potomac confronted Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in Sharpsburg, Maryland.
It wasn't until the next morning when Joseph Hooker's Union troops took the offensive position and attacked the left flank of Robert E. Lee. This was the beginning of the Battle of Antietam, the single bloodiest day in the Civil War. The day went on with repeated Union attacks and equally strong counterattacks from the Confederates. The Union troops then attacked Sunken Road (Shown Below), a believed good defensive position. Unfortunately for the Confederate soldiers who were dug in to the road, this proved to be a death trap with the Union troops attacking from above. Major General Ambrose Burnside's troops pushed across a stone bridge over Antietam bridge and managed to damage the Confederate right. At this crucial moment, A.P. Hill's division arrived from Harper's Ferry and counterattacked the Union soldiers.
Sunken Road- An unexpected death trap
The next day, September 18th, 1862 some skirmishes between the two sides began, but did not amount to another bloody day. Confederate General Robert E. Lee was able to escape across the Potomac River with no pursuit coming from McClellan. This of course angered the President, Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln and General McClellan always had a rocky relationship because McClellan was overly-cautious, cocky, and wouldn't win. On October 2, 1862, 15 days after the Battle Of Antietam, President Lincoln met with George McClellan to discuss the pursuit of Lee. (Shown Right)
The Battle Of Antietam was the single-bloodiest day in American history with 26,134 casualties. It is also known as the battle of Sharpsburg. The two main generals were General George Mclellan for the Union and General Robert E. Lee for the Confederates.
The Battle Of Antietam was the single-bloodiest day in American history with 26,134 casualties. It is also known as the battle of Sharpsburg. The two main generals were General George Mclellan for the Union and General Robert E. Lee for the Confederates.
President Abraham Lincoln speaking to General George McClellan
