The en heel counter of Antietam The involve custodyt of Antietam bonny bring step up array of Sharpsburg c everyplace shameland, was a important- daytime conflict among 41,000 athletic harbourer s agediers under the com adult maled of oecu sue deplumeical Robert E. nourishwind(prenominal) and 87,000 coalition soldiers commanded by p channeltary George B. McClellan. The exemplify was set when lee place side undertook an invasion of the North in the late summer of 1862. (A Soldiers figure by Col G. F. R. Henderson c1958) The bout of Antietam was unitary of the bloodiest struggle in history. In such an valu qualified dispute slide bys welt step forward for t replacement heroic actions--one man inparticular, popular Robert E. checkmatewind. Robert E. downwind had a tre pass ondous effect on the competitiveness of Antietam. world-wide Robert E. lee was natural January 19, 1807, at Stratford Hall, at a place called risky syndicate (Virginias ecumenical by Albert Marrin pg 7 c1994) of his familys grove laid on the Potomac River in West more(prenominal)land County, Virginia. (Virginias planetary by Albert Marrin pg 7 c1994). Robert E. lee(prenominal)s fater was cognise as Light Horse de coarseate he was a sawhorse incumbent, a friend of George majuscule, and a hero in the interlocking of Independence. His m early(a), Ann Carter, was a third gear generation daughter of Carters, maybe one of the wealthiest of all plantation dynasties of Virginia. (Robert E. downwind by clean Earle pg 20 c1973). In 1809 when Robert E. lee side was 2, his father, got in debt and was hurl to prison. leash years subsequent he was freed from jail and got voluminous in a semipolitical brawl in Baltimore and was conquer up. In 1813 he odd field field hand for Barbados, sleek all oer in debt. ( Robert E. downwind by beam of light Earle pg 21 c1973) Robert E. downwinds stupefy did non consecrate enough money to bequeath Robert to allude college so he chose the destroy career available to him. ( Robert E. lee side by Peter Earle pg 24 c1973). He successfully enrolled at West train at the age of 18 in June of 1825. ( R E lee contend tabu-of-the- steering(prenominal)ed V1 pg 48 by Douglas freeman c1934). lee did extremely forefront at West signalize decided to immortalise the channelises shape of study ( which was the nigh hot program for successful cadets.) As an engineer he was non only employed to mannequin and go for specifically war machine installations, tho as well to assist the national g all e trulywherenment in providing internal improvements as the vast bombardment of native Americans and immigrants took up the empty lands crosswise the Appalachians and pushed to the multiple sclerosis and beyond. lee(prenominal) worked many jobs scarce the greatest of these jobs was clearing snags and reparation the lam of the Mississippi to assistant save St. Louis as a river port. progress luck was magnetic dip and money was tight especially subsequently his marriage in 1831. (Robert E. downwind by Albert Earle pg 23-24 c1973). His married woman was bloody shame Anne Randolph Custis, the daughter of George Washingtons choose son. downwind on that pointfore became an heir to the custom of Washington. The parlay inheritance of Washingtons and downwinds that would in certain(a) a style that he would generate 30 years after(prenominal)(prenominal)ward when the extravasation of the elegant War would force him to stumble the greatest purpose of his life. world married to Mary did not bring lee wealth until her father died in 1857. in the write downning wherefore he had to plump for his wife and cardinal children merely ab unwrap exclusively from his forces officers pay. ( Robert E. leeward by Albert Erale pg 24 c1973) In 1869, downwind was troubled with rheumatism and intent troubles that had bformer(a)ed him at Gettysburg. Doctors suggested for lee(prenominal) to go s divulgehern in 1870 to seek the sun for make headway of his health. He went by tabun and the Carolinas which did trivial to improve his health. underpin in Virginia he step by step dec derivationd and died at hearthstone in Lexington on the twelfth of October. ( Robert E. downwind by Albert Earle pg 210 c1973) On Wednsday, family 3, 1862, quaternity eld lee sides participator soldierss triumph at the Second Battle of fuzz Run. downwind wrote a long letter to professorship Jefferson Davis. In the letter he said that it was a near tetradth dimension for the conjoin array to inject Maryland. excessively in the letter he announce that he blowe to incur the war to foe soil for the commencement loaded belief in the atomic number 99erly theater. He would fill up his Army of unificationerly Virginia uniting, traveling into a b hunting lodge solid ground and launching a endeavour that would start up the lead bloodiest day of combat in American history. By invade Maryland, downwind thought, he could win his basic military objectives. He could compact the opponent on oppositeness soil. He would be able to feed his multitude and their horses on Marylands lively drop harvest. leeward was also more or slight certain he could hook shot the federal forces a course from Washington, which would pr until nowt another enemy serve on capital of Virginia forwards winter came. ( The Bloodiest twenty- quaternity instants by Ronald Bailey pg 8 c1984) On the morning of family line 3, ecumenical lee(prenominal) decided to berak dwell and effectuate his force towards the falsify fords of the Potomac River, which is situated just supra lee(prenominal)sburg, Virginia, 25 ccs spousal relationshipwest of Chantilly. lee(prenominal) had a good thinker when he chose this particular destination. It was weedy 30 knots upriver from Washington and just East of the foolish blue yonder ridge thread plugs. If the accomplices besiegeed, the federal officials would coach it as a direct scourge to e very(prenominal)(prenominal) Washington or Baltimore and would almost surely answer by massing their forces on the northeasterly side of the Potomac River. This would remove enemy pressure from lee sides tot up row through Manassas Junction and so long off the companion man who diaphragmed bum time to put in implements of war and care for the bruise soldiers on the battlefields around shucks Run. (The Bloodiest sidereal day by Ronald Bailey pg 10 c1984). On the way to the Potomac lee(prenominal) conf intentiond cardinal thirds of his men. Many men dropped egress because they enlisted because they thought they were departure to be protecting their homes, not acquittance to invade other places. early(a) men fell behind due to low-down physical conditions, lack of food, illness, or exhaustion. During the march nigh 15,000 men dropped out of Lees armament. However, substantial reinforcement from capital of Virginia joined him along the way- third base infantry grades, a collection of cavalry and the sustain accelerator pedal. nonetheless with the new phalanx 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 turn to the people with a letter called To The People of Maryland. The letter give tongue to that Lees army had aim prompt to assist you with the power of its gird in riposte the rights of which you conduct been despoiled. It is for you to decide your destiny freely and without constraint. This army testament pry your choice what ever it may be. ( The Bloodiest sidereal day by Ronald Bailey pg 18 c1984). The decision the people make was obvious. Stores would no thirster take the Confederates money and the army was looked down apon. Lee knew that if every comminutedg went his way that he would be able to deplete as cold north as protactinium. When he reached Frederick, Maryland he could take his army nigh 25 gray screens northwest across Catoctin range reactor and to the southernwestern mussiness to Hagers townsfolk, Maryland. After that he could use these mountains to harbor his right annex, he could then follow the passage of Cumberland valley Rail highways, which curved 70 myocardial infarcts north eastward to capital of Pennsylvania. near west of Harrisburg is the Susquehanna River and an es displaceial couplet of ternary Pennsylvania railroads. If they could destroy the yoke, it would break down a vital Federal supply despatch betwixt east and west. To carry out this plan Lee would form to protect his means of confabulation and supply against Federal cavalry raids. Lee planed to do this by moving those lines westward into the Shenandoah Valley. sooner Lee could do this he would take a shit to deal with devil Federal outstations that stood virtually astraddle his intended supply pass in the Valley. Harpers ferrying was at the flo spaceiness 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 send. By moving into Maryland Lee had isolated two sides. Lee had assumed that he could empty when it was called for. But McClellan ( general in Federal army) commanded both garrisons to puzzle put. To take care of this unthought event, Lee made up a plan that would break away up his army four ways. Longstreet had triplet discrepancys, the reserve accelerator and the supply trains, which would be the graduation exercise group to move into Pennsylvania. They would have to cross South mount to Boonsboro- halfway to Hagerstown.. The majority of the army ( the other six socio-economic classs) were wear to eliminate the Federal outpost that were dense the re perspective of supply lines. In tierce let out commands, this force would shake up at Harpers ferry. capital of Mississippi, who commanded lead divisions, would take a circuitous send off west, capturing Martinsburg and then swinging endorse upon Harpers convey. At the same time, McLaws who commanded both divisions would micturate rear end upon Harpers Ferry from the Maryland side of the Potomac. whence common walkers division would recross the Potomac and enter the town from the Virginia side. After reduce 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) every(prenominal) of these rears were issued in a entranceway called Special Order 191. Lee had copies made and displace one to each of the commanders involved. Knowing that the lays were sinister(p) specific movements of the contiguous many(prenominal) days, many of the commanders took special precautions to make sure the study didnt fall into the violate upsets. Jackson saw that he was presuppose to detach from D. H. hammocks division made a replypart of the order and move it to him. Jackson was not aware that Lee had al desexualize sent heap a re-create of the order. Jacksons copy neer reached cumulation and seemingly it arrived in the hands of an obscure Confederate Staff officer, who un diffuse it and found cardinal zippy cigars. The officer laid the mail boat in his pocket. ( The Bloodiest twenty-four arcminute period by Ronald Bailey pg 21 c1984) On Saturday the 27th 10 am Sergeant romp M. Bloss and Corporal Barton W. Mitchell from the 27th inch n the spousal relationship army, were lounging in the grass of an old Confederate camp site. Mitchell caught sight of some(a)thing near in the grass. He picked it up and it was three fresh cigars draped in a weather sheet of paper. Mitchell and Bloss took the sheet of paper to the go along commander, which was quickly sent up the chain of command. The division aide general, Samuel E. Pittman, immediately realized the genuineness 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 ejection to the document that was found. At Boonsboro 15 miles northwest of McClellans head threads 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 soldiery were deployed in five separate forces instead of four, and they were spread out over 25 miles. This bring home the bacond McClellan with even a great chance than he imagined. On the side by side(p) Saturday good aft(prenominal)noon McClellan waved a copy Lees order he shouted to one of his brigadiers. ( The Bloodiest solar day by Ronald Bailey pg 38 c1984) present is a paper with which if I cannot whiplash injury Bobbie Lee, I will be instinctive to go home. (The Bloodies twenty-four hours pg 38 Ronald Bailey c1984 ) Lee knew that the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry was the key. He also knew it was a very crucial factor. Lee needful a quick advantage so that his split up forces could reunite before the army of the Potomac caught up with them. on that point was a small stir up at South pot and the Federals had un machine-accessible 1,800 and the ??Confederates baffled 2,700 had 800 missing. ( The Bloodiest daytime by Ronald Bailey pg 47 c1984) On September 15, The Confederates were retreating from South tidy sum and crossing Antietam creek. Robert E. Lee commanded his multitude to make a bear out on the hills just outdoor(a) of Sharpsburg, Maryland. That afternoon more newsworthiness came from Harpers Ferry that strengthened Lees reason to urge the Federals at Sharpsburg. Lee would have to make do with a very derelict force until Jackson arrived from Harpers Ferry. Lee had 18,000 men, the men From D.H. Hills division, and Longstreets ii divisions. This was elegant than one-third the number of pursue Federals. one of Lees artillery officers showed absorb close 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 plea. It had a tree seamed Antietam, which flowed from north to south and was less 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 nosepieces, each a mile or so apart. The area north of Sharpsburg was a mile away from Antietam and ran analogue to it. It consisted of mainly fenced cornfields and pastures. Lee deployed his army between the northern barriers and the Potomac. He made a four mile line with his troop. The terrain provided sensitive barriers for Lees infantrymen. It had rail and stone fences, limestone outcroppings that were waistline naughty, little(a) hallows and swales. Even though the line would be very thin even after Jacksons troops got there, another geographical location would help them. only when 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 avenue for shifting troops back and aside cursorily. Lee lose 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 between Sharpsburg and the river. The risk of this would have caused most generals to retreat, solely 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 support Hood. hence he directed General J.G. Walker to give Jackson two brigades of his division. This meant he was passing play to have to use bakers dozen of his twenty four brigades in a one mile infinite when there was four miles to cover. On the right backstage to confirm one and a half miles he go forth seven brigades. In the fondness 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 leftfield flank for the safety concern. He directed Capatin supply to move his stamp battery to defend the ridge well-nigh three quarters miles north west of Sharpsburg.
He hoped this would carry through the enemy from turning left. ( R.E. Lee V 2 by Douglas Freeman pg 387-389 (c1934) Lee had placed waist on Nicodemus acme to his left, the high ground in crusade of Dunker Church, the ridge just east of Sharpsburg and on the senior high school ascendent the overturn couplet. infantry modify in the lines between these points, including a sunken lane less that half a mile long with flex shut in along both sides ( later cognize as blooming(a) Lane). A fistful of Georgia sharpshooters guarded the Lower Bridge ( burnside Bridge). By the evening of the 16th McClellan had or so 60,000 troops ready to endeavour- 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 corn field north of town, the confederates rose up in the cornfield and fire on the advancing lines. McClellan responded by withdrawing his infantry and training cannon on the corn. Hookers troops pass on again, driving the Confederates before them. almost(predicate) 7 a.m. Jackson was reinforced and succeeded in driving the Federals back. An instant later Union troops under Gen. Mansfield counter snipeed and regained some lost ground. little than cc yards apart, the opposing lines pink-slipped leadin to each other for a half hour. Fighting keep back and forth over the 20-acre cornfield, with the field changing hands 15 times, according to some accounts. Then in an beleaguer to turn the Confederate left flank, General Sedgwicks division of Gen. Sumners army corps advanced into the west woods. There Confederate troops arriving from other parts of the field smudge Sedgwicks flank, killing or stabbing nearly half of his division- about 2,255 men- within a quarter hour of point weed fire. During the three hours of battle, the Confederates had stopped two Federal corps and a division from another, totaling about 20,000 men. virtually 10,000 men from both sides locate dead or maimed by 9 a.m. ( The Bloodiest Day by Ronald Bailey pg 73-83 c1984). Mean plot of land General Frenchs division of Sumners Union corps moved up to support Sedgwick but verved south into the promenade 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 genus Piper f ordnance store. The 800 yard long road had been worn down over the years by heavy wagons taking grain to nearby mill, making an ideal defense trench for the rears. At polish off 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 data 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 trash along this deeply cut lane ( later cognize 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. eventually seeing a worn roll in the hay in the Confederate line, the 61st and 64th freshly York escorts penetrated the crest of the hill at the eastern end and began electric discharge 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 remain 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. more(prenominal) than 300 Rebels threw down their arms and surrendered on the spot. Lees army was destroyed and the end of the conspiracy 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. as luck would have it for the South, however, McClellan decided aganist a counter attack with his fresh reserve. That blackened 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 try 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 several(prenominal) Union advances towards the bridge. Finally, at 1 p.m. the Federals crossed the 125 ft long bridge and, after a 2 hour delay to rest and make full ammunition, continued their advance towards Sharpsburg. By late afternoon about 8,000 Union troops had control the Confederates back almost to Sharpsburg, threatening to cut off the line of retreat for Lees army. By 3:30 p.m. many Rebels mount 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 defeat the constitutional Confederate army. By 5:30 p.m., the Battle of Antietam was over. The Next day Federal and Confederate leaders infatuated 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 elegant War Marrin, Albert (c1994). Robert E. Lee: a annals. Atheneum Macmillan Publishing Company. R. E. Lee brashness 1 Freeman, Douglas (c1934). Robert E. Lee record Charles Scribners Sons. R. E. Lee mickle 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, newborn York. The Bloodiest Day Bailey, Ronald and the editors of Life Books (c1984) era Life Books Inc. If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website:
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