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. 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. The lower bridge (which would soon be named Burnside Bridge) was dominated by Confederate positions on the bluffs overlooking it. The Civil War was a mass concentration of varying gun types, both long and short, which led to an equally varied group of bullets being used. When asked by a fellow officer where his division was, Hood replied, "Dead on the field."[38]. [93] The New York Times published a review on October 20, 1862, describing how, "Of all objects of horror one would think the battle-field should stand preeminent, that it should bear away the palm of repulsiveness." Herald Mail, Sept. 30, 2015. The Battle of Antietam , also known as the 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. The remaining 400 men—the 2nd and 20th Georgia regiments, under the command of Brig. Historian Garry Adelman provides a brief overview of the major battles and key turning points of the Civil War in 1862. Although most histories, including the. At 3 p.m., Burnside left Sturgis's division in reserve on the west bank and moved west with over 8,000 troops (most of them fresh) and 22 guns for close support. Gen. William N. Pendleton. The Battle of Antietam marked the culmination of Confederate General Robert E. Lees first invasion of the Northern states. [58], The carnage from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the sunken road gave it the name Bloody Lane, leaving about 5,600 casualties (Union 3,000, Confederate 2,600) along the 800-yard (700 m) road. XIX part 2 (S# 28), p. 621; Luvaas and Nelson, pp. When the men were rallied and advanced into the Cornfield, they met the same artillery and infantry fire as their predecessors. Jones's badly outnumbered force with infantry units from the left. [81] Confederate Brig. This lack of coordination and concentration of McClellan's forces almost completely nullified the two-to-one advantage the Union enjoyed. [73], 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 (200 m) of Sharpsburg. Hooker attempted to gather the scattered remnants of his I Corps to continue the assault, but a Confederate sharpshooter spotted the general's conspicuous white horse and shot Hooker through the foot. Gen. Isaac Rodman's division struggled through thick brush trying to locate Snavely's Ford, 2 miles (3 km) downstream, intending to flank the Confederates. After all, it can be argued that McClellan performed poorly in the campaign and the battle itself, and Lee displayed great generalship in holding his own in battle against an army that greatly outnumbered his. He drilled and trained the Army of the Potomac while western forces under his general command accomplished little. This allowed them to get enfilade fire into the Confederate line, turning it into a deadly trap. However, in a strategic sense, despite being a tactical draw, Antietam is considered a turning point of the war and a victory for the Union because it ended Lee's strategic campaign (his first invasion of Union territory). "[84] Lincoln relieved McClellan of his command of the Army of the Potomac on November 5, effectively ending the general's military career. In an effort to push matters Lincoln issued General War Order No. [68] By this time it was noon, and McClellan was losing patience. Burnside's men spent the rest of the day guarding the bridge they had suffered so much to capture.[76]. Location: Hampton Roads. Gen. Samuel Sturgis's division, the rest of the Kanawha Division and Brig. The road leading to it ran parallel to the creek and was exposed to enemy fire. This order, besides superfluously telling the armies to obey existing orders, directed that a general movement of land and sea forces against the Confederacy be launched on February 22, 1862. A savage battle began, with considerable melee action with rifle butts and bayonets due to short visibility in the corn. The Texans attacked with particular ferocity because as they were called from their reserve position they were forced to interrupt the first hot breakfast they had had in days. McClellan planned to commit more than half his army to the assault, starting with two corps, supported by a third, and if necessary a fourth. Implicitly refusing to give up his higher authority, Burnside treated first Maj. Gen. Jesse L. Reno (killed at South Mountain) and then Brig. [43][44][45][46] Sumner has been condemned by most historians for his "reckless" attack, his lack of coordination with the I and XII Corps headquarters, losing control of French's division when he accompanied Sedgwick's, failing to perform adequate reconnaissance prior to launching his attack, and selecting the unusual battle formation that was so effectively flanked by the Confederate counterattack. But the upper bridge was 2 miles (3 km) east of the Confederate guns and could be crossed safely. [80] 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. 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. )[25], On the evening of September 16, McClellan ordered Hooker's I Corps to cross Antietam Creek and probe the enemy positions. 171–74. [27][24], McClellan's plans were ill-coordinated and were executed poorly. Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, List of costliest American Civil War land battles, Troop engagements of the American Civil War, 1862, "Antietam: A Savage Day In American History", https://www.nps.gov/anti/learn/historyculture/casualties.htm, "Death Tolls for Battles of the 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th Centuries (1500–1900)", "Preservationists see victory at Antietam 150 years later". 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. Brig. [74], A. P. Hill's division arrived at 3:30 p.m. Hill divided his column, with two brigades moving southeast to guard his flank and the other three, about 2,000 men, moving to the right of Toombs's brigade and preparing for a counterattack. Sears, p. 173, cites 75,000 Union troops, with an effective strength of 71,500, with 300 guns; on p. 296, he states that the 12,401 Union casualties were 25% of those who went into action and that McClellan committed "barely 50,000 infantry and artillerymen to the contest"; p. 389, he cites Confederate effective strength of "just over 38,000," including, Union: 12,410 total (2,108 killed; 9,549 wounded; 753 captured/missing); Confederate: 10,316 total (1,546 killed; 7,752 wounded; 1,018 captured/missing) according to Sears, pp. Command of his I Corps fell to General Meade, since Hooker's senior subordinate, James B. Ricketts, had also been wounded. By 1 p.m., Confederate ammunition was running low, and word reached Toombs that Rodman's men were crossing Snavely's Ford on their flank. McClellan's plan was to overwhelm the enemy's left flank. Hill's division, to arrive from Harpers Ferry. Gen. Jacob D. Cox exercised operational command during the battle), consisted of the divisions of: The XII Corps, under Maj. Gen. Joseph K. Mansfield, consisted of the divisions of: The Cavalry Division of Brig. General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was organized into two large infantry corps.[12][22]. Northern morale was high. Perry D. Jamieson and Bradford A. Wineman, This page was last edited on 12 November 2020, at 17:24. This represented another two-hour delay. In 1862 the armed forces of the United States undertook the first massive campaigns to defeat the southern Confederacy. Better organization, training, and leadership would be displayed on both sides as the combat became more intense. At dawn on September 17, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee's left flank. Although Lincoln had intended to do so earlier, at a cabinet meeting, Secretary of State William H. 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