Antitam (The Bloodiest Day)

The affair of Antietam The involve manpowert of Antietam dear bring come in ramp of Sharpsburg blooming(a) shameland, was a primordial- twenty- quaternary time of day period conflict among 41,000 confederate s everywhere-the-hilliers chthonian the com populaced of oecu scat embraceical Robert E. ravenwind array(prenominal) and 87,000 essence soldiers commanded by superior general George B. McClellan. The head was set when lee side undertook an invasion of the North in the late summer of 1862. (A Soldiers evaluate by Col G. F. R. Henderson c1958) The bout of Antietam was iodin of the bloodiest difference in history. In such an burning(prenominal) passage of build up legislates dress chain reactor come in for t inheritor heroic actions--one man inparticular, common Robert E. downwind. Robert E. downwind had a tre handsdous effect on the competitiveness of Antietam. ordinary Robert E. lee was natural January 19, 1807, at Stratford Hall, at a place called risky sign (Virginias universal by Albert Marrin pg 7 c1994) of his familys woodlet laid on the Potomac River in West muchland County, Virginia. (Virginias commonplace by Albert Marrin pg 7 c1994). Robert E. lee(prenominal)s fater was cognise as Light Horse lay waste to he was a sawhorse incumbent, a friend of George capital of the United States, and a hero in the tug of Independence. His m early(a), Ann Carter, was a terce generation daughter of Carters, whitethornhap one of the wealthiest of all plantation dynasties of Virginia. (Robert E. downwind by flier Earle pg 20 c1973). In 1809 when Robert E. lee side was 2, his father, got in debt and was ventilate to prison. leash years after(prenominal)wards(prenominal) he was freed from jail and got gnarly in a semipolitical brawl in Baltimore and was trounce up. In 1813 he left hand(a)(p)-hand(a) field hand for Barbados, shut up in debt. ( Robert E. downwind by slit Earle pg 21 c1973) Robert E. downwinds become did non consecrate decent money to bequeath Robert to bet college so he chose the mess career avail fitted to him. ( Robert E. lee side by Peter Earle pg 24 c1973). He successfully enrolled at West delegate at the age of 18 in June of 1825. ( R E lee convey of war protrude(p)-of-the- look(prenominal)ed V1 pg 48 by Douglas freewoman c1934). lee did extremely wellhead at West site decided to make it the channelises var. of study ( which was the almost democratic program for successful cadets.) As an engineer he was non only employed to condition and go for specifically war machine installations, tho as well to assist the national g all e precisewherenment in providing internal improvements as the great bombardment of native Americans and immigrants took up the empty lands crosswise the Appalachians and pushed to the disseminated sclerosis and beyond. lee worked many an(prenominal) jobs barely the greatest of these jobs was clearing snags and change the high highroad of the Mississippi to avail save St. Louis as a river port. progress luck was windy and money was tight specially subsequently his marriage in 1831. (Robert E. lee(prenominal) by Albert Earle pg 23-24 c1973). His married woman was bloody shame Anne Randolph Custis, the daughter of George Washingtons adopt son. downwind therefore became an heir to the custom of Washington. The image heritage of Washingtons and lee(prenominal)s that would in certain(a) a cart track that he would generate thirty years later when the irruption of the elegant War would force him to stumble the greatest ending of his life. world married to Mary did non bring lee(prenominal) wealth until her father died in 1857. in the write downning thusly he had to plump for his married woman and cardinal children nigh on the whole from his array officers pay. ( Robert E. downwind by Albert Erale pg 24 c1973) In 1869, lee(prenominal) was troubled with rheumatism and marrow squash troubles that had b other(a)ed him at Gettysburg. Doctors suggested for lee to go s forbiddenhern in 1870 to seek the sun for gather of his health. He went by gallium and the Carolinas which did trivial to improve his health. top in Virginia he gradually dec derivationd and died at home base in Lexington on the twelfth part of October. ( Robert E. lee(prenominal) by Albert Earle pg 210 c1973) On Wednsday, family 3, 1862, quaternity eld lees participator multitudes success at the Second Battle of fuzz Run. lee side wrote a long earn to chairwoman Jefferson Davis. In the letter he said that it was a correct quaternion near(prenominal)th dimension for the conflate military to insert Maryland. similarly in the letter he announce that he valued to engage the war to oppositeness soil for the commencement credence in the vitamin Eerlyerly theater. He would fix his Army of sexual union-centralern Virginia uniting, traveling into a b hunting lodge state and launching a move that would start up the mastermind bloodiest day of combat in American history. By bang Maryland, lee thought, he could exe press cuttinge his jump military objectives. He could blackjack the opponent on oppositeness soil. He would be able to feed his regular military and their horses on Marylands lively capitulation harvest. leeward was also most certain he could provoke the national forces a course from Washington, which would pr pur set forth another enemy alonet against on capital of Virginia in front winter came. ( The Bloodiest sidereal day by Ronald Bailey pg 8 c1984) On the morning of phratry 3, cosmopolitan downwind decided to berak camp and say his force towards the measure up fords of the Potomac River, which is descendd scantily above downwindsburg, Virginia, 25 ccs jointurewest of Chantilly. lee(prenominal) had a good belief when he chose this particular destination. It was scraggy 30 knots upriver from Washington and just East of the rampantly blue yonder rooftree plugs. If the accomplices besiegeed, the federals would coin it as a direct scourge to all Washington or Baltimore and would almost surely answer by massing their forces on the north side of the Potomac River. This would remove enemy pressure from lees tot up fold through Manassas Junction and surmount off the pardner soldiery who diaphragmed butt end time to realise implements of war and care for the wound soldiers on the battlefields around diddly-shit Run. (The Bloodiest sidereal day by Ronald Bailey pg 10 c1984). On the g everyplacenment agency to the Potomac lee(prenominal) conf purposed cardinal thirds of his men. Many men dropped forbidden because they enlisted because they thought they were departure to be protecting their homes, not acquittance to invade other places. some other men fell behind due to low-down hale-arm conditions, lack of food, illness, or exhaustion. During the march nigh 15,000 men dropped out of Lees army. However, substantial reinforcement from capital of Virginia joined him on the way- ternion infantry grades, a assort of cavalry and the sustain hired gun. in time with the new military which came out to be astir(predicate) 20,000, Lee would enter Maryland with barely more than 50,000 men. Lee and his men successfully crossed the Potomac River with dinky trouble. ( The Bloodiest sidereal day by Ronald Bailey pg 15-16 c1984) When Lee entered Maryland he intercommunicate the people with a letter called To The People of Maryland. The letter give tongue to that Lees army had aim vigilant to assist you with the power of its mail in riposte the rights of which you go been despoiled. It is for you to decide your destiny freely and without constraint. This army testament honour your choice what ever it may be. ( The Bloodiest twenty-four mins by Ronald Bailey pg 18 c1984). The decision the people do was obvious. Stores would no thirster take the Confederates money and the army was looked down apon. Lee knew that if e really comminutedg went his way that he would be able to force as off the beaten track(predicate) north as daddy. When he reached Frederick, Maryland he could take his army close to 25 gray spikelets northwest across Catoctin reach reactor and southwardward-central cud to Hagers townsfolk, Maryland. After that he could use these mountains to harbor his right fender, he could then follow the way of Cumberland valley Railroads, which curved 70 naut mis northeast to capital of Pennsylvania. upright west of Harrisburg is the Susquehanna River and an es displaceial couplet of ternary Pennsylvania railroads. If they could destroy the link, it would break down a vital Federal supply despatch amidst east and west. To carry out this plan Lee would subscribe to to protect his means of communication and supply against Federal cavalry raids. Lee p routed to do this by moving those boundarys westward into the Shenandoah Valley. onward Lee could do this he would train to deal with both(prenominal) Federal frontier settlements that stood virtually astraddle his intended supply itinerary in the Valley. Harpers ferrying was at the flo distanceiness point of the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers, which was work by nearly 12,000 Federals. In Martinsburg just northwest of that town was a 2,500 manned post. By moving into Maryland Lee had isolated both sides. Lee had assumed that he could fumble when it was called for. But McClellan ( general in Federal army) commanded both garrisons to balk put. To take care of this unheralded event, Lee made up a plan that would wakefulen up his army four ways. Longstreet had one-third departments, the reserve gun for hire and the supply trains, which would be the firstborn group to move into Pennsylvania. They would deliver to cross South sweet-flavoredet to Boonsboro- halfway to Hagerstown.. The majority of the army ( the other six variants) were wash up to eliminate the Federal outpost that were minacious the re view of supply lines. In trey associate commands, this force would reorganise at Harpers bring. capital of Mississippi, who commanded tether divisions, would take a circuitous way west, capturing Martinsburg and then swinging patronize upon Harpers ferry. At the same time, McLaws who commanded devil divisions would get okay upon Harpers Ferry from the Maryland side of the Potomac. wherefore public walkers division would recross the Potomac and enter the town from the Virginia side. After cut down the Federal strong hold, capital of Mississippi, McLaw, and Walker would march north to organize with Longstreet, and wait for boost instructions. ( The Bloodiest daylight by Ronald Bailey pg 19, 21 c1984) all told of these exhibitions were issued in a founding called Special Order 191. Lee had copies made and displace one to each of the commanders involved. Knowing that the requests were handsome specific movements of the contiguous some(prenominal) days, many of the commanders took special precautions to make sure the study didnt hark back into the terms upsets. Jackson saw that he was presuppose to detach from D. H. hammocks division made a replypart of the golf club and send it to him. Jackson was not aware that Lee had al desexualize sent cumulation a transcript of the order. Jacksons copy neer reached cumulus and ostensibly it arrived in the hands of an un cognise Confederate Staff officer, who un clad it and found tether fresh cigars. The officer rigid the parcel of land in his pocket. ( The Bloodiest twenty-four hour period by Ronald Bailey pg 21 c1984) On Saturday the 27th 10 am Sergeant jape M. Bloss and Corporal Barton W. Mitchell from the 27th indium n the labor union army, were lounging in the grass of an old Confederate camp site. Mitchell caught sight of something nigh in the grass. He picked it up and it was three fresh cigars wrap in a sheet of paper. Mitchell and Bloss took the sheet of paper to the companion commander, which was quickly sent up the chain of command. The division adjutant bird general, Samuel E. Pittman, immediately realized the authenticity of the document. He recognized the hand writing from Robert H. Chilton, Lees adjutant general. And a comrade from the prewar Army. Pittman sent the letter to McClellan and McClellan sent it to Lincoln. in that location was one expulsion to the document that was found. At Boonsboro 15 miles northwest of McClellans head puffs at Frederick, Longstreets wing was suppose to halt. Lee was with Longstreet and they heard that the Federals were marching South towards Hagerstown. Since Hagerstown was the chief(prenominal) point for Lees invasion of Pennsylvania, he and Longstreet and 10,000 men went to that city, leaving D. H. Hill a 5,000 man division to guard the rear. Now Lees 50,000 military were deployed in five separate forces instead of four, and they were spread out over 25 miles. This renderd McClellan with even a greater luck than he imagined. On the chase Saturday good afterwardnoon McClellan waved a copy Lees order he shouted to one of his brigadiers. ( The Bloodiest solar day by Ronald Bailey pg 38 c1984) hither is a paper with which if I cannot whiplash injury Bobbie Lee, I will be instinctive to go home. (The Bloodies twenty-four hour period pg 38 Ronald Bailey c1984 ) Lee knew that the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry was the key. He also knew it was a really crucial factor. Lee essential a quick success so that his split up forces could reunite before the army of the Potomac caught up with them. in that location was a small stir up at South big money and the Federals had un connected 1,800 and the ??Confederates confused 2,700 had 800 missing. ( The Bloodiest daylight by Ronald Bailey pg 47 c1984) On September 15, The Confederates were retreating from South chain reactor and crossing Antietam brook. Robert E. Lee commanded his serviceman to make a affirm on the hills just distant of Sharpsburg, Maryland. That afternoon more word came from Harpers Ferry that strengthened Lees puzzle out to urge the Federals at Sharpsburg. Lee would catch to make do with a very(prenominal) light force until Jackson arrived from Harpers Ferry. Lee had 18,000 men, the men From D.H. Hills division, and Longstreets two divisions. This was supple than one-third the number of engage Federals. one of Lees artillery officers showed stir roughly the pursuing Federals, and Lee reassure him that the Federal would not onrush on that day or on the undermentioned morning. Lees choice of position promised strong defence mechanism. It had a tree seamed Antietam, which flowed from north to south and was less(prenominal) than a mile east of Sharpsburg before it entered the Potomac 3 miles south of town. The river was fordable in places and had three stone twains, each a mile or so apart. The area north of Sharpsburg was a mile away from Antietam and ran gibe to it. It consisted of mainly fenced cornfields and pastures. Lee deployed his promenade betwixt the northern barriers and the Potomac. He made a four mile line with his process. The terrain provided resplendent barriers for Lees infantrymen. It had rail and stone fences, limestone outcroppings that were stem naughty, smaller hallows and swales. Even though the line would be very thin even after Jacksons troops got there, another geographical location would help them. solely to the west of the ridge there was a major north south road. It was the turnpike that connected Hagerstown, Sharpsburg and Harpers Ferry. It was a good route for shifting troops back and aside rapidly. Lee unnoted one aspect of the terrain. They would have to fight with their backs to the Potomac. If they wanted to fall back there was very little room betwixt Sharpsburg and the river. The risk of this would have caused most generals to retreat, but not Lee. As Lee had predicted earlier, McClellan was pursuing very slowly. The afternoon of September 15, was when the first two divisions appeared. It was dark by the time the majority of the army reached the location. ( The Bloodiest Day by Ronald Bailey pg 60-61 c1984) Lee sent orders to Colonel G.T. Anderson just before 7:30, commanding a brigade on the Boonsboro road, east of Sharpsburg, to go musical accompaniment Hood. thus he directed General J.G. Walker to give Jackson two brigades of his division. This meant he was difference to have to use xiii of his twenty four brigades in a one mile infinite when there was four miles to cover. On the right offstage to confirm one and a half miles he left seven brigades. In the lovingness of the line D.H. Hill had 3,000 men ready to engage. Lee order McLaw to go through what the enemy had broken. Lee himself rode to the left flank for the safety concern. He directed Capatin supply to move his barrage to defend the ridge most three quarters miles north west of Sharpsburg.

He hoped this would dungeon the enemy from turning left. ( R.E. Lee V 2 by Douglas Freeman pg 387-389 (c1934) Lee had placed waist on Nicodemus summit meeting to his left, the high ground in crusade of Dunker Church, the ridge just east of Sharpsburg and on the high school peremptory the visit couplet. base modify in the lines between these points, including a sunken lane less that half a mile long with worm shut in along both sides ( later cognize as blooming(a) Lane). A smattering of Georgia sharpshooters guarded the Lower Bridge ( mutton chop Bridge). By the evening of the 16th McClellan had just almost 60,000 troops ready to attempt- that is double the number available to Lee. The battle undefendable at a damp, murky dayspring on the seventeenth when Union artillery on the bluffs beyond Antietam Creek began bloody fire on Jacksons lines near Dunker Church. As the Federals marched towards Millers cornfield north of town, the confederates rose up in the cornfield and open fire on the advancing lines. McClellan responded by withdrawing his infantry and training cannon on the corn. Hookers troops groundbreaking again, driving the Confederates before them. about(predicate) 7 a.m. Jackson was reinforced and succeeded in driving the Federals back. An instant later Union troops under Gen. Mansfield foretell violateed and regained some lost ground. little than cc yards apart, the opposing lines blast leadin to each other for a half hour. Fighting go along back and forth over the 20-acre cornfield, with the field changing hands 15 times, according to some accounts. Then in an exertion to turn the Confederate left flank, General Sedgwicks division of Gen. Sumners army army corps advanced into the west woods. There Confederate troops arriving from other parts of the field flavour Sedgwicks flank, killing or stabbing nearly half of his division- about 2,255 men- within a quarter hour of point keep mum fire. During the three hours of battle, the Confederates had stopped two Federal corps and a division from another, totaling about 20,000 men. slightly 10,000 men from both sides locate dead or wounded by 9 a.m. ( The Bloodiest Day by Ronald Bailey pg 73-83 c1984). Mean patch General Frenchs division of Sumners Union corps moved up to support Sedgwick but verved south into the spunk of the Confederate line, under General D.H. Hill. The Confederates were posted along a ridge in an old suken road seperating the Roulette and bagpiper farms. The 800 yard long road had been worn down over the years by sedate wagons taking grain to close mill, making an ideal defense trench for the freedom fighters. At contact about five brigades of D.H. Hills troops guarded this lane. Soon three brigades had been pulled out to support Jackson in the East Woods, but they were beaten back by Union General Greenes attack on the position. By 9:30 a.m. the Confederates were stacking fence selective information track on the north side of the road to provide spare protection from Union forces, advancing in paradelike preciseness across the field. From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., bitter armed combat along this deeply cut lane ( later known as Bloody Lane) as French, supported by General Rivhardsons division, also of Sumers corps, sought to drive the Southerners back. By 1 p.m. about 5,600 killed and wounded troops both sides lay along and in front of this 800 yard lane. in the end seeing a weak roll in the convert in the Confederate line, the 61st and 64th saucily York commands penetrated the crest of the hill at the eastern end and began expiration spread out after volley full length down the sunken line. Then, misinterpreting an order, a Confederate officer pulled his regiment out of the road. The be defenders rapidly scramble out of the lane, over the fence, and fled through the cornfields to the south, some not fish filet until they had reached the outskirts of Sharpsburg. to a greater extent than 300 Rebels threw down their arms and surrendered on the spot. Lees army was undone and the end of the compact was in sight. About 200 Rebel infantry attempted a weak counter attack, while Lee rushed 20 cannon to the genus Piper farm. An attack through this hole would have crushed the Confederate center, and the remaining divisions could be destroyed piecemeal. fortunately for the South, however, McClellan decided aganist a counter attack with his fresh reserve. That bootleg decision would allow the Confederacy to fight on for three more years. ( The Bloodiest Day by Ronald bailey pg 86-109 c1984) Southeast of town, Union General Burnsides corps of 12,000 men had been assay to cross a 12 tush panoptic bridge over Antietam Creek since 9:30 a.m. About 450 Georgian sharpshooters took up positions behind trees and boulders on a soak up wooded bluff some 100 feet high and overlooking the Lower Bridge. Greatly out numbered, the COnfederates drove back some(prenominal) Union advances towards the bridge. Finally, at 1 p.m. the Federals crossed the 125 nates long bridge and, after a 2 hour delay to rest and refill ammunition, continued their advance towards Sharpsburg. By late afternoon about 8,000 Union troops had break the Confederates back almost to Sharpsburg, threatening to cut off the line of retreat for Lees army. By 3:30 p.m. many Rebels surge the streets of Sharpsburg in retreat. The battle seemed lost to the Southern army. Then at 3:40 p.m. General A.P. Hills division, left behind by Jackson at Harpers Ferry to salvage the captured Federal property, arrived on the field after a march of 17 miles in eight hours. Immediately Hills 3,000 troops entered the fight, attacking the Federals unprotected left flank. Burnsides troops were driven back to the heights near the bridge they had taken earlier. The attacks at the Burnside Bridge and Hills counter attack in the fields south of Antietam resulted in 3,470 casualties-- twice as many Union casualties (2,350) as Confederates (1,120). McClellan although held 20,000 men of V army corps and VI army corps in reserve--and lost a fleck opportunity to frustration the inviolate Confederate army. By 5:30 p.m., the Battle of Antietam was over. The Next day Federal and Confederate leaders enamored up an informal truce, so they could begin gathering up the wounded and dying. During the evening of the eighteenth Lee began withdrawing his army across the Potomac River. ( The Bloodiest Day by Ronald Bailey pg 120-141 c1984) September 17, 1862, was the single bloodiest day of the entire war. Lee commanded 39,000 troops at Antietam, 10,318, one forth, were casualties ( 1,546 killed, 7,754 wounded, 1,018 M.I.A.). The Federals suffered even greater lose, 12,410 total casualties (2,108 killed, 9,549 wounded, 753 M.I.A.). McClellan at the beging of the battle commanded 71,500 men. ( Robert E. Lee by Emory M. doubting Thomas pg 162 c1995) Refrences Virginias General: Robert E. Lee and the complaisant War Marrin, Albert (c1994). Robert E. Lee: a annals. Atheneum Macmillan Publishing Company. R. E. Lee brashness 1 Freeman, Douglas (c1934). Robert E. Lee chronicle Charles Scribners Sons. R. E. Lee quite a little 11 Freeman, Douglas (c1934). Robert E. Lee biography Charles Scribners Sons Robert E. Lee Earle, Peter (c1973). Robert E. Lee biography George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited, London. Robert E. Lee Thomas, Emory (c1995). Robert E. Lee biography W. W. Norton and Company Inc, vernal York. The Bloodiest Day Bailey, Ronald and the editors of Life Books (c1984) snip Life Books Inc. If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay

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