The Battle of Antietam happened as a result of the Union’s failure to capture the capital at Richmond. The Confederacy
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the military land force of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, fighting against the United States forces. On February 28, 1861, the Provisional Confederate Congress established a provisional volunteer army and gave control over …
Full Answer
Why was the Battle of Antietam such an important battle?
Why Was the Battle of Antietam Important? The Battle of Antietam was important because it stemmed the Confederate Army’s advance into the northern territories, and provided an opportunity for Lincoln to deliver the Emancipation Proclamation.
What determined the outcome of the Battle of Antietam?
The reason why Antietam is significant in the course of the Civil War is because it was the bloodiest single-day battle of the civil war. How geography impacted the outcome of this battle is the terrain. The terrain is flat and there is no trees and no cover for the enemy so they couldn't hide so they all got killed.
What is a true statement about the Battle of Antietam?
This statement is true. C .It caused fewer deaths than other major battles. Battle of Antietam was a fairly happening battle in the middle of the Civil war for many reasons. The emancipator program was not exactly hurt by it by any means of the word as it was issued 5 days later and there was no change in generals just because of the battle.
What are facts about the Battle of Antietam?
Facts About the Battle of Antietam
- The Union had around 87,000 soldiers, while the Confederates had only 38,000. ...
- The battle was named by the Union after the nearby creek called Antietam. ...
- Two Union soldiers had found a copy of Lee's battle plans before the battle. ...
- President William McKinley fought for the Union at the Battle of Antietam. ...
What started the Battle of Antietam?
The Battle of Antietam begins at dawn when Hooker's Union corps mounts a powerful assault on Lee's left flank. Repeated Union attacks and equally vicious Confederate counterattacks sweep back and forth across Miller's cornfield and the West Woods.
What was the cause of the Battle of Antietam quizlet?
Why was the battle of Antietam fought? Robert E. Lee wanted to carry the war into the Northern states and then George McClellan went to Maryland to stop him.
What happened at Battle of Antietam?
Union Claims Victory. Military historians consider the Battle of Antietam a stalemate. Even so, the Union claimed victory. And keeping Confederates in their southern box enabled President Lincoln to finally release his Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.
Where did the Battle of Antietam start?
Battle of AntietamBattle of Antietam Battle of SharpsburgDate September 17, 1862 Location Washington County, near Sharpsburg, Maryland 39°28′24″N 77°44′41″W Result Union victory (see aftermath)BelligerentsUnited States (Union)Confederate States (Confederacy)Commanders and leaders9 more rows
What was the result of the battle at Antietam quizlet?
The Union was able to defeat a Confederate invasion. The Union victory allowed President Lincoln to release the Emancipation Proclamation. You just studied 5 terms!
What was the Battle of Antietam what effect did it have on the North quizlet?
2b. What was the outcome of the Battle of Antietam, and what effect did it have on both the North and the South? The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War, with over 25,000 casualties total. It was a Union victory, which raised the confidence of Union troops.
What are 5 facts about the Battle of Antietam?
10 Interesting Facts About The Battle of Antietam#1 Battle of Antietam was part of the Maryland Campaign led by Robert E. Lee. ... #2 The Union troops at the battle were commanded by George B. ... #4 Battle of Antietam started at dawn on 17th September 1862. ... #5 An area of its battlefield is now known as Bloody Lane.More items...•
What are some important facts about the Battle of Antietam?
Facts About the Battle of Antietam The Union had around 87,000 soldiers, while the Confederates had only 38,000. Around 3,500 soldiers were killed and 17,000 wounded. The battle was named by the Union after the nearby creek called Antietam. It was called the Battle of Sharpsburg by the South.
Why was the Battle of Antietam the bloodiest?
Why was Antietam so deadly? Advanced technology, unwise tactics, and terrible decision-making. The combination of new rifles that could be shot with great accuracy from far away and old-fashioned battle lines led to unprecedented deaths in the Battle of Antietam (and in the Civil War in general).
What was the bloodiest Battle ever?
The Most Deadly Battle In History: Stalingrad Running from August 23, 1942 to February 2, 1943, Stalingrad led to 633,000 battle deaths.
What was the worst Battle of the Civil War?
GettysburgGettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, with more than 51,000 casualties, including 7,863 dead...."Casualty" vs. "Fatality"BattleDatesNumber of fatalitiesBattle of FredericksburgDecember 11 - 15, 18621,892 (1,284 Union troops; and 608 Confederate)10 more rows
How many were killed at Antietam?
Antietam Casualties by TypeStatusUnionTotalKilled2,1003,650Wounded9,55017,300Missing/Captured7501,770Total12,40022,720Oct 19, 2021
Which of the following describes the Battle of Antietam quizlet?
Which of the following describes the Battle of Antietam? This was the bloodiest battle of the war.
Which of the following is true of the Battle of Antietam quizlet?
All of the following are true about the Battle of Antietam, EXCEPT that: it was the bloodiest single day of the war. it helped inspire Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. McClellan vigorously pursued the retreating Lee.
Why can it be said that the Battle of Antietam was a defeat for both sides?
Why can it be said that the Battle of Antietam was a defeat for both sides? It was the bloodiest day of the war. What was responsible for most Civil War deaths? What did the Emancipation Proclamation achieve?
Which of the following describes the historical significance of the September 1862 Battle of Antietam quizlet?
Which of the following describes the historical significance of the September 1862 Battle of Antietam? The result of the battle allowed Lincoln to declare all slaves nationwide free.
What was the name of the battle that took place in 1862?
The Battle of Antietam ( / ænˈtiːtəm / ), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac near Sharpsburg, Maryland and Antietam Creek. Part of the Maryland Campaign, it was the first field army –level engagement in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War to take place on Union soil. It was the bloodiest day in American history, with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing.
How many troops were at Burnside's bridge?
Burnside had four divisions (12,500 troops) and 50 guns east of Antietam Creek. Facing him was a force that had been greatly depleted by Lee's movement of units to bolster the Confederate left flank. At dawn, the divisions of Brig. Gens. David R. Jones and John G. Walker stood in defense, but by 10 a.m. all of Walker's men and Col. George T. Anderson's Georgia brigade had been removed. Jones had only about 3,000 men and 12 guns available to meet Burnside. Four thin brigades guarded the ridges near Sharpsburg, primarily a low plateau known as Cemetery Hill. The remaining 400 men—the 2nd and 20th Georgia regiments, under the command of Brig. Gen. Robert Toombs, with two artillery batteries—defended Rohrbach's Bridge, a three-span, 125-foot (38 m) stone structure that was the southernmost crossing of the Antietam. It would become known to history as Burnside's Bridge because of the notoriety of the coming battle. The bridge was a difficult objective. The road leading to it ran parallel to the creek and was exposed to enemy fire. The bridge was dominated by a 100-foot (30 m) high wooded bluff on the west bank, strewn with boulders from an old quarry, making infantry and sharpshooter fire from good covered positions a dangerous impediment to crossing.
What was the order that McClellan used to intercept Lee?
Mitchell and First Sergeant John M. Bloss of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry) discovered a mislaid copy of Lee's detailed battle plans— Special Order 191 —wrapped around three cigars. 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. McClellan waited about 18 hours before deciding to take advantage of this intelligence and reposition his forces, thus squandering an opportunity to defeat Lee decisively.
Why did Lincoln not pursue Lee across the Potomac?
The president was even more astonished that from September 17 to October 26, despite repeated entreaties from the War Department and the president himself, McClellan declined to pursue Lee across the Potomac, citing shortages of equipment and the fear of overextending his forces. General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck wrote in his official report, "The long inactivity of so large an army in the face of a defeated foe, and during the most favorable season for rapid movements and a vigorous campaign, was a matter of great disappointment and regret." Lincoln relieved McClellan of his command of the Army of the Potomac on November 5, effectively ending the general's military career. He was replaced on November 9 by General Burnside.
How many men did the Union have at Sharpsburg?
Although an immediate Union attack on the morning of September 16 would have had an overwhelming advantage in numbers, McClellan's trademark caution and his belief that Lee had as many as 100,000 men at Sharpsburg caused him to delay his attack for a day. This gave the Confederates more time to prepare defensive positions and allowed Longstreet's corps to arrive from Hagerstown and Jackson's corps, minus A.P. Hill's division, to arrive from Harpers Ferry. Jackson defended the left (northern) flank, anchored on the Potomac, Longstreet the right (southern) flank, anchored on the Antietam, a line that was about 4 miles (6 km) long. (As the battle progressed and Lee shifted units, these corps boundaries overlapped considerably.)
What were the two major battles in the Maryland campaign?
There were two significant engagements in the Maryland campaign prior to the major battle of Antietam: Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's capture of Harpers Ferry and McClellan's assault through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Battle of South Mountain. 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.
How many people died in the Maryland Campaign?
It was the bloodiest day in American history, with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing.
When did the Battle of Antietam become a national park?
The battlefield became a national military park in 1890, and jurisdiction passed to the National Park Service in 1933. Battle of Antietam: monument. A monument to the 132nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment standing along Bloody Lane (Sunken Road) at Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland.
What was the name of the battle that halted the Confederate invasion of Maryland?
Battle of Antietam, also called Battle of Sharpsburg, (September 17, 1862), in the American Civil War (1861–65), a decisive engagement that halted the Confederate invasion of Maryland, an advance that was regarded as one of the greatest Confederate threats to Washington, D.C. The Union name for the battle is derived from Antietam Creek, ...
What was the deadliest battle of the Civil War?
Learn how the Battle of Antietam became the deadliest one-day battle during the American Civil War. Overview of the Battle of Antietam (1862) during the American Civil War. Battle of Antietam, also called Battle of Sharpsburg, (September 17, 1862), in the American Civil War (1861–65), a decisive engagement that halted the Confederate invasion ...
Where did the Battle of Sharpsburg take place?
The Union name for the battle is derived from Antietam Creek, which flows south from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. In the South the encounter was referred to as the Battle of Sharpsburg because the main fighting took place near the town of that name.
How many soldiers did McClellan lose in the Battle of Virginia?
The South had lost 10,316 troops, and the North had suffered casualties of 12,401. Casualties were especially high among general officers, with six generals—three Union, three Confederate—being killed and a dozen more being wounded.
What was the significance of the Battle of South Mountain?
The Battle of South Mountain was a convincing Union victory, but the Confederate defenders managed to delay the Union advance long enough for Lee to begin the consolidation of his scattered forces. On the morning of September 15, the 12,000 beleaguered defenders of Harpers Ferry finally capitulated.
Who was the commander of the Union forces in Washington?
Within days of the Union disaster at Second Bull Run, U.S. Pres. Abraham Lincoln sacked Pope and placed Gen. George B. McClellan in command of all Union forces in Washington. McClellan took the field on September 7, and, not knowing what Lee’s next move might be, he advanced with characteristic slowness. During this time Lee again divided his army, and on September 11 he and Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet occupied Hagerstown, Maryland, a city just 5 miles (8 km) south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The stubborn Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry bought McClellan additional time, however, delaying the bulk of the Army of Northern Virginia for several days longer than had been budgeted in Lee’s timetable. Already sensing that his invasion plan had gone awry, Lee began to withdraw to the south. Confederate scouts had observed massive columns of Federal infantry on the move, and Lee ordered Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill to guard the passes at South Mountain. If McClellan could drive through these passes before Lee could reunite his army, the Army of Northern Virginia could be destroyed in detail. On September 13 Federal troops moved into Frederick, and members of the 27th Indiana infantry regiment recovered a copy of Lee’s Special Order 191 wrapped around a bundle of cigars. Although the “Lost Orders” were four days old, McClellan felt emboldened enough to remark, “Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home.”
What was the significance of the Battle of Antietam?
Antietam, the deadliest one-day battle in American military history, showed that the Union could stand against the Confederate army in the Eastern theater. It also gave President Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation at a moment of strength rather than desperation.
What happened at dawn in the Battle of Antietam?
September 17. The Battle of Antietam begins at dawn when Hooker’s Union corps mounts a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank.
What happened on September 17th?
September 17. The Battle of Antietam begins at dawn when Hooker’s Union corps mounts a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank. Repeated Union attacks and equally vicious Confederate counterattacks sweep back and forth across Miller’s cornfield and the West Woods.
Why did Lee invade Maryland?
Lee invaded Maryland in September 1862 with a full agenda. He wanted to move the focus of fighting away from the South and into Federal territory. Victories there, could lead to the capture of the Federal capital in Washington, D.C. Confederate success could also influence impending Congressional elections in the North and persuade European nations to recognize the Confederate States of America. On the other side, President Abraham Lincoln was counting on McClellan to bring him the victory he needed to keep Republican control of the Congress and issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
What was the first Confederate invasion of Union territory?
The first Confederate invasion of Union-held territory is not going as planned. After a Union victory at the Battle of South Mountain and a Confederate victory at the Battle of Harpers Ferry, Confederate general Robert E. Lee opts to make one last stand in the hopes of salvaging his Maryland Campaign.
How many casualties were there at the Battle of Antietam?
There are more than 22,000 casualties at the Battle of Antietam. Doctors at the scene are overwhelmed. Badly needed supplies are brought in by nurse Clara Barton, known as the “Angel of the Battlefield.”. During the night, both armies tend their wounded and consolidate their lines.
Where did Lee's army converge?
With Federal forces closing in from the east, Lee selects strategic ground near Antietam Creek and orders his army to converge there. A mile east of the town of Sharpsburg, the creek meanders through the hilly but open countryside, good for long-range artillery and moving infantry.
How many men were on the South end of the Confederate line?
At approximately 3:30 p.m., Burnside started his attack on the south end of Lee's line. 8000 men started the assault, 4000 men made it to a half way point, and only 2000 troops pushed up to the end of the Confederate line because of mounting causalities and the difficult terrain.
How many men died in the Battle of Antietam Creek?
They smashed into the Federals, causing the line to fall back toward Antietam Creek. After twelve hours of combat, the roar of battle started to fade away. 23,000 men had been killed, wounded, or listed as missing, the single bloodiest day in the history of the United States.
How many soldiers were killed in the Battle of the West Woods?
Edwin Sumner, marched towards the West Woods in an attempt to eventually sweep south, driving the Confederates from the field. Shortly after moving into the woods, a Confederate attack struck the flank of the Union soldiers and in twenty minutes, 2,200 out of 5,300 men had fallen killed ...
What was the significance of the Battle of Antietam?
Most importantly, Union victory at Antietam provided President Abraham Lincoln the opportunity he had wanted to announce the Emancipation Proclamation, making the Battle of Antietam one of the key turning points of the American Civil War.
Who commanded the Union IX Corps?
While the fight for the Sunken Road was unfolding, a little over one mile to the south, the Union IX Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen . Ambrose Burnside, was struggling to cross the Antietam Creek.
Who led the Union troops in the Battle of the Cornfield?
Gen. Joseph Hooker, and later the XII Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Joseph Mansfield, ran head long into Confederate troops led by Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. No fewer than six times did the Cornfield change hands as each side attacked, fell back and rallied, only to attack again. By 8:45 a.m., neither side held a distinct advantage.#N#At approximately 9:00 a.m, a lull provided both sides an opportunity to catch their breaths, but within a few short minutes, a third major Federal assault was unfolding. Over 5,000 troops of the II Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Edwin Sumner, marched towards the West Woods in an attempt to eventually sweep south, driving the Confederates from the field. Shortly after moving into the woods, a Confederate attack struck the flank of the Union soldiers and in twenty minutes, 2,200 out of 5,300 men had fallen killed or wounded.#N#Following the struggle in the West Woods, by 10:00 a.m., the heavy action on the north end of the field subsided. Close to 10,000 soldiers had been killed or wounded during those first four hours of fighting.
Who was the Union General at the Battle of Antietam?
The Battle of Antietam pitted Union General George McClellan' s Army of the Potomac against General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia. The Maryland Campaign was Lee's first attempt to take the war North and it was McClellan who was tasked by President Abraham Lincoln with stopping him. Outnumbered, Lee was able to use ...
What was the significance of the Battle of Antietam?
Significance of the Battle of Antietam: The Battle of Antietam forced the Confederate Army to retreat back across the Potomac River. President Abraham Lincoln saw the significance of this and issued the famous Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.
What happened to Lee and McClellan?
Even though his troops had suffered crippling casualties, Lee decided to continue to skirmish with McClellan throughout the day of the 18th, removing his wounded south at the same time. After dark, Lee ordered the withdrawal of his battered Army of Northern Virginia to across the Potomac into the Shenandoah Valley.
Who was the Union General who crooked over Antietam Creek?
However, the Northern troops did not follow through with this advantage. Later, Union General Ambrose Burnside's troops got into the fight, croosing over Antietam Creek and arriving at the Confederate right. At a crucial moment, Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill, Jr's division arrived from Harpers Ferry and counterattacked.
Who was the Confederate General who drove back Burnside?
At a crucial moment, Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill, Jr's division arrived from Harpers Ferry and counterattacked. He was able to drive back Burnside and save the day. Even though he was outnumbered two-to-one, Lee decided to commit his entire army while Union Major General George B.
Who is Martin Kelly?
Battle of Antietam. Martin Kelly, M.A., is a history teacher and curriculum developer. He is the author of "The Everything American Presidents Book" and "Colonial Life: Government.".
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When the Confederates reinforcements arrived they helped overpower the Union soldiers and force them to retreat. The Union army then Attempted to regroup on Cemetery Hill where they joined by the bulk of General Meade’s Union army.
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Union claims victory! The march that had started on November 15th, has ended. Union Gen. William T. Sherman claims the city of Savannah, on December 21st. Many Georgian hearts are broken again, after their recent defeat in Atlanta. This march has caused major damage to the Confederate economy, transportation system, and their will to win.
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The Civil War has caused one nation to be divided into two sub nations all while president Abraham Lincoln is in office. President Lincoln abolished slavery, which in turn caused the Civil War. Abolishing slavery naturally gave Lincoln enemies all throughout the south but only a few people acted.
What was McClellan's luxury?
With the information contained within the order, McClellan had the luxury of being able to pre-emptively plan a way of stopping the Confederate invasion.
What battle did Lee and McClellan fight?
On September 17, four days after Order 191 had been found and thirteen days after the first Confederate soldiers entered Maryland, Lee’s forces clashed with McClellan’s at the Battle of Antietam. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was significantly smaller than McClellan’s Army of the Potomac, the latter of which also had the advantage of knowing Lee’s battle plans.
What was the purpose of Special Order 191?
The document, called Special Order 191, contained the Confederate army’s objectives, the routes to be taken on those routes, and precise times for arrival.
What mistake did the Confederacy make?
The simple mistake of leaving a piece of paper wrapped around three cigars cost the Confederacy dearly.
How many slaves did Lincoln free?
Lincoln, emboldened by victory, announced his Emancipation Proclamation, which freed over 3 million slaves in Confederate states. This helped solidify Lincoln’s international recognition and thus contributed to the Union winning the Civil War.
What was the purpose of General Lee's invasion of the North?
This would be the first invasion of the North and was based on the premise that the South could reduce morale enough to force President Abraham Lincoln into negotiating peace. Many Confederate commanders and politicians also believed that actions in the North would invite a foreign response in the south’s favor.
How many deaths did Lee's battle cause?
The battle resulted in Lee’s defeat, and became the bloodiest day in American history, with both sides combined receiving over 20,000 causalities.
Setting The Stage For Battle
- After Lee thwarted the plan of General George B. McClellan to lay siege to Richmond—the capital of the Confederate States of America—in the Peninsula Campaign in the spring and summer of 1862, McClellan retreated. Hoping to take advantage of the Union’s low morale and seeming ine…
Special Order 191
- After the Confederates abandoned their campsite around Frederick, McClellan’s army moved in. What happened next was pivotal: On September 13, two Union soldiers, Private Barton W. Mitchell and Sergeant John M. Bloss, discovered a copy of Special Order 191 with detailed Confederate troop movements, allegedly wrapped around three cigars. Upon learning of the valuable find, an …
Battle of Antietam Begins
- The Battle of Antietam began at dawn on September 17 as the fog lifted. Longstreet’s and Hill’s units formed the Confederate right and center flanks to the west of Antietam Creek, while Jackson’s and Brigadier General John G. Walker’s units formed the Confederate left flank. All of Lee’s troops were worn-out and hungry, and many were sick. They watched and waited as McCle…
Bloody Lane
- Near the center of the battlefield, another site of slaughter was a farm lane known as the “Sunken Road,” where Hill’s division of approximately 2,600 men had piled fence rails along the road’s embankment to fortify their position against Union Major General William H. French’s 5,500 approaching troops. When French’s troops arrived, fighting ensued at close range. Three hours l…
Battle of Antietam Ends
- As night fell, thousands of bodies littered the sprawling Antietam battlefield and both sides regrouped and claimed their dead and wounded. Just twelve hours of intense and often close-range fighting with muskets and cannons had resulted in around 23,000 casualties, including an estimated 3,650 dead. The next day, as Lee began the painstaking job of moving his ravaged tro…
Union Claims Victory
- Military historians consider the Battle of Antietam a stalemate. Even so, the Union claimed victory. And keeping Confederates in their southern box enabled President Lincoln to finally release his Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. Ironically, Lincoln’s proclamation didn’t free slaves in Maryland—one of a handful of slave states that had remained in the Union—since it onl…
Overview
The Battle of Antietam , or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac near Sharpsburg, Maryland and Antietam Creek. Part of the Maryland Campaign, it was the first f…
Battle
Location: Northern end of the battlefield
The battle opened at dawn (about 5:30 a.m.) on September 17 with an attack down the Hagerstown Turnpike by the Union I Corps under Joseph Hooker. Hooker's objective was the plateau on which sat the Dunker Church, a modest whitewashed building belonging to a local sect of German Baptists. Hooker ha…
Background
Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia—about 55,000 men —entered the state of Maryland on September 3, following their victory at Second Bull Run on August 30. Emboldened by success, the Confederate leadership intended to take the war into enemy territory. Lee's invasion of Maryland was intended to run simultaneously with an invasion of Kentucky by the armies of Braxton Bragg and Edmund …
Opposing forces
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.
The I Corps, under Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, consisted of the divisions of:
• Brig. Gen. Abner Doubleday (brigades of Col. Walter Phelps, Brig. Gens. Marsena R. Patrick and John Gibbon, and Lt. Col. J. William Hofmann).
Prelude to battle
Near the town of Sharpsburg, Lee deployed his available forces behind Antietam Creek along a low ridge, starting on September 15. While it was an effective defensive position, it was not an impregnable one. The terrain provided excellent cover for infantrymen, with rail and stone fences, outcroppings of limestone, little hollows and swales. The creek to their front was only a minor barrier, ranging from 60 to 100 feet (18–30 m) in width, and was fordable in places and crossed …
Aftermath
The battle was over by 5:30 p.m. On the morning of September 18, Lee's army prepared to defend against a Federal assault that never came. After an improvised truce for both sides to recover and exchange their wounded, Lee's forces began withdrawing across the Potomac that evening to return to Virginia. Losses from the battle were heavy on both sides. The Union had 12,410 casualties with 2,108 dead. Confederate casualties were 10,316 with 1,547 dead. This represent…
Battlefield preservation
The battle is commemorated at Antietam National Battlefield. Conservation work undertaken by Antietam National Battlefield and private groups, has earned Antietam a reputation as one of the nation's best preserved Civil War battlefields. Few visual intrusions mar the landscape, letting visitors experience the site nearly as it was in 1862.
Antietam was one of the first five Civil War battlefields preserved federally, receiving that distinc…
Historic photographs and paintings
On September 19, 1862, two days after the Battle of Antietam, Mathew Brady sent photographer Alexander Gardner and his assistant James Gibson to photograph the carnage. In October 1862 Brady displayed the photos by Gardner in an exhibition entitled "The Dead of Antietam" at Brady's New York gallery. Many images in this presentation were graphic photographs of corpses, a presentation new to America. This was the first time that many Americans saw the realities of w…