Battle of Antietam: the story on HearLore

The Bloody Lane Midday Battle

By midday on September 17, action shifted to the center of Confederate lines where French confronted D.H. Hill's division. Hill commanded about 2,500 men less than half the number under French while three of his five brigades had been torn up during morning combat. This sector of Longstreet's line was theoretically weakest yet Hill's men held strong defensive positions atop gradual ridge in sunken road worn down by years of wagon traffic forming natural trench. French launched series of brigade-sized assaults against Hill's improvised breastworks starting around 9:30 a.m. First attack mostly inexperienced troops commanded by Brigadier General Max Weber quickly cut down by heavy rifle fire with neither side deploying artillery at this point. Second attack more raw recruits under Colonel Dwight Morris also subjected to heavy fire but managed beat back counterattack by Alabama Brigade of Robert Rodes. Third under Brigadier General Nathan Kimball included three veteran regiments but they fell to fire from sunken road. French's division suffered 1,750 casualties out of 5,700 men in under an hour. Reinforcements arrived on both sides and by 10:30 a.m. Lee sent final reserve division some 3,400 men under Major General Richard H. Anderson to bolster Hill's line. Leading off fourth attack Irish Brigade of Brigadier General Thomas F. Meagher advanced with emerald green flags snapping in breeze while regimental chaplain Father William Corby rode back forth across front shouting words conditional absolution prescribed Roman Catholic Church for those about die. Mostly Irish immigrants lost 540 men to heavy volleys before ordered withdraw. General Richardson personally dispatched brigade of Brigadier General John C. Caldwell into battle around noon after being told that Caldwell was rear behind haystack finally tide turned. Anderson Confederate division had been little help defenders after General Anderson wounded early fighting. Other key leaders lost including George B. Anderson killed minutes after assuming command and Colonel John B. Gordon of sixth Alabama. Confederate command structure becoming disorganized as Barlow led 61st and 64th New York forward pouring enfilade fire into Confederate line turning it deadly trap. Attempting wheel around meet threat command Rodes misunderstood Lt. Colonel James N. Lightfoot who ordered men about-face march away order all five regiments thought applied them well. Confederate troops streamed toward Sharpsburg their line lost most George Anderson's brigade withdrew caught up retreat Richard Anderson's division. Richardson men hot pursuit when massed artillery hastily assembled by General Longstreet drove them back counterattack 200 men led D.H. Hill got around Federal left flank near sunken road though driven back fierce charge fifth New Hampshire stemmed collapse center. Reluctantly Richardson ordered division fall back north ridge facing sunken road his division lost about 1,000 men. Colonel Barlow severely wounded while Richardson mortally wounded Winfield S. Hancock assumed division command.

Burnside Bridge Afternoon Struggle

Action moved to southern end battlefield where McClellan planned Major General Ambrose Burnside IX Corps conduct diversionary attack support Hooker I Corps hoping draw Confederate attention away intended main attack north. However Burnside instructed wait explicit orders before launching attack those orders did not reach him until 10 a.m. Burnside largely passive during preparations battle IX Corps had clumsy command structure Burnside earlier commanded one wing Union army composed I and IX Corps despite I Corps detached from Burnside control still acted if he were wing commander Orders IX Corps went Burnside who then passed directly Jacob Cox. Cox assumed temporary command corps after death Reno South Mountain. Burnside four divisions 12,500 troops 50 guns east Antietam Creek facing force greatly depleted Lee movement units bolster Confederate left flank. At dawn divisions Brigadier Generals David R. Jones John G. Walker stood defense but by 10 a.m. all Walker's men Colonel George T. Anderson Georgia brigade removed. Jones only about 3,000 men 12 guns available meet Burnside. Four thin brigades guarded ridges near Sharpsburg primarily low plateau known Cemetery Hill remaining 400 men second 20th Georgia regiments under command Brigadier General Robert Toombs two artillery batteries defended Rohrbach Bridge three-span 125-foot stone structure southernmost crossing Antietam. It would become known history Burnside Bridge because notoriety coming battle bridge difficult objective main road leading exposed enemy fire farm lane allowed more protected approach around 50 yards from bridge. Bridge dominated steep bluff west bank trees old quarry provided cover defenders Confederates also strengthened position breastworks made logs fence rails. Historians question why Burnside spent so much time bridge Antietam Creek when creek could forded variety places out enemy range commanding terrain across sometimes shallow creek made crossing water comparatively easy part difficult problem. Burnside concentrated plan instead storming bridge simultaneously crossing ford McClellan engineers identified half mile downstream but when Burnside men reached it banks too high negotiate. While Colonel George Crook Ohio brigade prepared attack bridge support Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis division rest Kanawha Division Brigadier General Isaac Rodman struggle thick brush trying locate Snavely Ford two miles downstream intending flank Confederates. Crook assault bridge led skirmishers 11th Connecticut ordered clear bridge Ohioans cross assault bluff after receiving punishing fire 15 minutes Connecticut men withdrew 139 casualties one-third their strength including commander Colonel Henry W. Kingsbury fatally wounded. Crook main assault went awry unfamiliarity terrain caused men reach creek quarter mile upstream where exchanged volleys Confederate skirmishers next few hours. By noon McClellan losing patience sent succession couriers motivate Burnside move forward ordered aide "Tell him costs 10,000 men must go now." Increased pressure sending inspector general Colonel Delos B. Sackett confront Burnside reacted indignantly "McClellan appears think I not trying best carry this bridge; you third fourth one been me morning similar orders." Third attempt take bridge 12:30 p.m. Sturgis other brigade commanded Brigadier General Edward Ferrero led 51st New York 51st Pennsylvania adequate artillery support promise recently canceled whiskey ration restored successful charged downhill took positions east bank maneuvering captured light howitzer position fired double canister down bridge got within 40 yards enemy. By 1 p.m. Confederate ammunition running low word reached Toombs Rodman men crossing Snavely Ford flank ordered withdrawal Georgians cost Federals more than 500 casualties giving fewer than 160 themselves stalled Burnside assault southern flank more three hours.

Casualties And Battlefield Photography

Battle over by 5:30 p.m. On morning September 18 Lee army prepared defend Federal assault never came improvised truce both sides recover exchange wounded Lee forces began withdrawing across Potomac evening return Virginia Losses battle heavy both sides Union had 12,410 casualties 2,108 dead Confederate casualties 10,316 1,547 dead This represented 25% Federal force 31% Confederates Overall both sides lost combined total 22,727 casualties single day almost same amount losses shocked nation two-day Battle Shiloh five months earlier Several generals died result battle including major generals Joseph K. Mansfield Israel B. Richardson Brigadier General Isaac P. Rodman Union side brigadier generals Lawrence O. Branch William E. Starke Confederate side Confederate Brigadier General George B. Anderson shot ankle during defense Bloody Lane survived battle died later October after amputation Six generals each side wounded All brigadiers except Union Major General Hooker Confederate Major General Richard H. Anderson Union generals Crawford Dana Hartsuff Hooker Sedgwick Weber wounded Confederate generals Anderson Gregg John R. Jones Lawton Ripley Wright wounded Antietam saw most casualties single-day battle war described bloodiest day all American history battle ranks top ten terms total casualties American Civil War battles One source battle ranked fifth falling Gettysburg Chickamauga Chancellorsville Spotsylvania Court House Another source ranks Antietam eighth additional battles Wilderness Shiloh Stones River ranked higher Among those assisting undersupplied army surgeons during after battle Clara Barton brought wagonload medical supplies battlefield She later founded American Red Cross disaster relief organization Photographers Alexander Gardner James F. Gibson arrived battlefield September 17 or 18 took number photographs battlefield work done between September the 19th of September 22 Additional portraits made October visit Lincoln Union army Union public showed great interest photographs particularly those taken corpses field first time American battlefield photographed before casualties removed.

Political Ramifications And Emancipation

President Lincoln disappointed McClellan performance believed overly cautious poorly coordinated actions field forced battle draw rather crippling Confederate defeat president even more astonished from September the 17th of October 26 despite repeated entreaties War Department president himself McClellan declined pursue Lee across Potomac citing shortages equipment fear overextending forces General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck wrote official report "long inactivity so large army face defeated foe favorable season rapid movements vigorous campaign matter great disappointment regret." Lincoln relieved McClellan command Army Potomac November effectively ending general military career replaced November 9 General Burnside Casualties comparable both sides though Lee lost higher percentage army Lee withdrew battlefield first technical definition tactical loser Civil War battle However strategic sense despite tactical draw Antietam considered turning point war victory Union because ended Lee strategic campaign his first invasion Union territory American historian James M. McPherson summed up importance Battle Antietam book Crossroads Freedom results Antietam also allowed President Lincoln issue preliminary Emancipation Proclamation September 22 gave Confederate states until the 1st of January 1863 end rebellion else lose slaves Although Lincoln intended do earlier Secretary State William H. Seward cabinet meeting advised wait until Union won significant victory avoid perception issued desperation Union victory Lincoln proclamation played considerable role dissuading governments France Britain recognizing Confederacy some suspected planning do aftermath another Union defeat When emancipation linked progress war neither government political will oppose United States since linked support Confederacy support slavery Both countries already abolished slavery neither French public British tolerated respective governments militarily supporting foreign state actively fighting preserve slavery.

When did the Battle of Antietam take place?

The Battle of Antietam took place on the 17th of September 1862. Fighting began at dawn around 5:30 a.m. and concluded by 5:30 p.m. that same day.

Who commanded Confederate forces during the Battle of Antietam?

Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia into Maryland with approximately 55,000 men. Key commanders under Lee included Stonewall Jackson, James Longstreet, D.H. Hill, and Richard H. Anderson.

How many casualties occurred during the Battle of Antietam?

Union forces suffered 12,410 casualties including 2,108 dead while Confederates lost 10,316 men with 1,547 killed. The combined total of 22,727 casualties represented the bloodiest single day in American history.

What was Special Order 191 found by Union soldiers?

Special Order 191 was an intelligence cache wrapped around three cigars discovered by Corporal Barton W. Mitchell and First Sergeant John M. Bloss. This document detailed Lee's divided forces scattered to Harpers Ferry and Hagerstown allowing McClellan to isolate segments.

Why did President Lincoln relieve George B. McClellan from command?

President Lincoln relieved Major General George B. McClellan on November 9 because he failed to pursue Lee across the Potomac after the battle. Lincoln cited McClellan's excessive caution and failure to achieve a decisive victory despite having a large army.

Battle of Antietam.

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