what was the cause of the battle of antietam

The Battle of Antietam happened as a result of the Union’s failure to capture the capital at Richmond. The Confederacy responded by pushing further north to try to gain as much territory as possible while The Union was trying to push further south.

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. ...

More items...

What did the Battle of Antietam cause?

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.

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 was the Battle of Antietam the first of?

September 17, 1862Battle of Antietam / Start date

What happened at the Battle of Antietam quizlet?

Fought on September 17, 1862, Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with over 23,000 casualties (men listed as killed, wounded, captured or missing) in roughly 12 hours. The battle ended the Confederate invasion of Maryland in 1862 and resulted in a Union victory.

What was the Antietam quizlet?

Battle of Antietam. (1862) a Union victory in the Civil War that marked the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. military history; Stopped Lee's 1st invasion of Maryland; cornfield, bloody lane, Burnside's Bridge; served as the "victory" Lincoln needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. General McClellan.

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 most significant result of the Battle of Antietam?

Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, and the Union victory there led to the Emancipation Proclamation.

What was the bloodiest Battle ever?

StalingradThe Most Deadly Battle In History: Stalingrad Running from August 23, 1942 to February 2, 1943, Stalingrad led to 633,000 battle deaths.

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.

What was true about the Battle of Antietam?

Fought on September 17, 1862, Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with over 23,000 casualties (men listed as killed, wounded, captured or missing) in roughly 12 hours. The battle ended the Confederate invasion of Maryland in 1862 and resulted in a Union victory.

What was a result of the Battle of Antietam apex?

The end result of the invasion was the Battle of Antietam, one of the most important days of the Civil War. Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, and the Union victory there led to the Emancipation Proclamation.

What resulted in the single bloodiest day in American history at the Battle of Antietam quizlet?

Lee's invasion of the North resulted in the single bloodiest day in American military history.

When was the Battle of Antietam?

Battlefield of Antietam, situation September 15 to 16, 1862. Overview of the Battle of Antietam. 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.

Which battle was the bloodiest in the Civil War?

The bloodiest battle in American history was Gettysburg, but its more than 46,000 casualties occurred over three days. Antietam ranks fifth in terms of total casualties in Civil War battles, falling behind Gettysburg , Chickamauga, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania Court House .

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.

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.

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.”

So Many Perished

Over the course of the first three hours of the fight, the two sides struggled over possession of a twenty four acre cornfield. The Union I Corps, commanded by Maj. 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.

Confusion

Due to confusion on the side of the Union and the fact there were no infantry men to push into the battle at this point, the attack sputtered out. By 1:00 p.m., the Federal forces had fallen back through the sunken road, known also as the Bloody Lane, and returned to the fields where their attacks originated from.

Burnside's Attack

At approximately 3:30 p.m., Burnside started his attack on the south end of Lee's line.

David Bushnell: The Cause Of The American Civil War

In April 1775 British general Thomas Gage ordered his soldiers to destroy American rebel Military stores in Concord, Massachusetts. British and American forces clashed in Concord and Lexington starting the Revolutionary war. The New England state militias firepower forced British general William Howe to abandon Massachusetts in March 1776.

Compare And Contrast The Northern And Confederate Soldiers In The Civil War

In fact, the Union used the blockades to debar from the south to obtain weapons, goods, and troops from infiltrating. To point out that this blockade emerged a few weeks after the Civil War developed. Towards the end of the war, the blockade had an extraordinary impact on the South.

How To Write An Essay On The Gettysburg Battle

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.

The Effect Of Sherman's March On The Cause Of The Civil War

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.

Essay On Abraham Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation

According to Pants: “Abraham Lincoln, Emancipation Proclamation Act. 1865- Free slaves, but never the less violence continue for a decade, The Reconstruction period, through the Southerner States, racial tension and violence against slaves, the confederate, for instance, the KKK. In the South.

Why Did Daniel Shays Rebellion Lead A Rebellion?

Daniel Shays led a rebellion after the U.S. went into economic depression. This caused the Massachusetts government to seize several farms and sell them to re-gain profits. Shays led a mob of 1,000 enraged Massachusetts farmers to get weaponry from a state warehouse in August 1786.

How Did The Civil War Lead To Lincoln's Downfall

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 the significance of the Battle of Antietam?

The Battle of Antietam was a Civil War battle fought all in one day on September 17, 1862. This war was fought between General George McClellan of the North and General Robert E. Lee of the South. This battle is very significant to American history because since the Union army failed to capture Richmond, it was the Confederate’s first chance at gaining momentum in the war. It is often said that The Battle of Antietam was also the turning point of the war because the south did in fact gain some momentum in this battle which they tried to use to push themselves further. The Battle of Antietam is also the deadliest and bloodiest one day battle in American History by far with nearly 23,000 overall casualties and 3,700 dead

How did the Battle of Antietam help the Union?

In conclusion, The Battle of Antietam was very helpful in motivating The Union to continue with their fighting and hold their ground as much as possible. They also prevented the Confederacy from advancing and fought to regain momentum back from the south. This battle was also very crucial in maintaining the unified country that we all know and love today.

Overview

Background

Opposing forces

Prelude to battle

Battle

Aftermath

Battlefield preservation

Historic photographs and paintings