Preview

Battle Of Antietam Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
547 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Battle Of Antietam Essay
On the days leading to the battle of Antietam, confederate General Robert E. Lee advanced his army into Maryland where he encountered Union General George B. McClennan to fight for two vital passes through the South Mountain range. Following hard fought battles by both sides, the Union declared victory in South Mountain and prepared for the upcoming battle at Antietam. On September 16, 1862, General Lee and General McClennan would meet again on the northern edge of Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. The battle of Antietam commenced on the morning of September 17 with a massive attack led by Union General Joseph Hooker on General Lee’s left flank. After several attacks and counterattacks by both sides, General Lee would retreat from Antietam to re group and tend to casualties. Many regard the Battle of Antietam …show more content…
Based on the updates from his subordinates, McClennan modified his plan and discontinued the attacks on the confederate defense lines. Instead, McClennan decided it was vital for his men to oversee their casualties, regroup, and prepare for the next phase of the battle. At this point of the battle, General McClennan determined he had the advantage over General Lee and his Army. However, President Lincoln considered this as a miss opportunity to strike and destroy the center of General Lees forces.
Through the help of his subordinate leaders, General McClennan understood the advantages and disadvantages of key terrain on the battlefield. By uncovering weak points of the confederate defenses, McClennan was effective in crippling majority of the confederate forces. Nevertheless, General McClennan failed to capitalize on the Union numerical advantage. By misusing his size and combat power, General McClennan allowed the confederate army to retreat just south of the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Civil War Essay

    • 390 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Civil War was the most divisive war in American history. In the early 1800s, the United States experienced a growth of nationalism and unity, but it was replaced by sectionalism, leading to the Civil War. There were many reasons why the South wanted to secede, reasons the North wanted to maintain the Union, and the controversy surrounding slavery and steps taken to abolish it.…

    • 390 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Battle of Vicksburg was tried to be won over many times by General Ulysses S. Grant all the way from October, 1862. One of his attempts included one on January 2, 1863 where his men marched from the Yazoo River to the Mississippi River. Grant decided he would need assistant generals, so he brought with him McClerland, McPherson, and Sherman, who also had planned to invade Vicksburg. Originally, the plan had been to attack from Rodney, Mississippi, but a local changed his mind, so they attacked from Bruinsburg. Smaller battles were on May 17, and May 19. On May 19, Union forces were pretty bruised up, so Grant decided to try a new strategy.…

    • 310 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    On the same July 4, Robert E. Lee’s army was retreating toward Virginia after defeat in the Battle of Gettysburg and Helena, Arkansas, fell to Union forces. The winds of war had shifted in favor of the North.…

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    When McClellan faced his first major battle, he failed to thrive under pressure. He had a chance to finish off the Union but was too hesitant to attack when he had them retreating. Although they won the war, if McClellan had been less hesitant to attack, they…

    • 150 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Facing pressure from Lincoln, he made a campaign against the Confederate capital along the Virginia Peninsula, known as the Peninsula Campaign. McClellan frequently canceled his attacks, allowing his opponent more than enough time to retreat slowly toward the Richmond defenses. A surprise attack by Rebels at the battle of Seven Pines blunted the already sluggish Federal advance. Although the Union army repulsed the attacks, McClellan to again delayed any further movement, hoping for more reinforcements to come from Washington. During the battle, Confederate General Johnston was wounded, and Robert E. Lee was appointed to replace him. Taking advantage of McClellan's cautious streak. Over the course of the bloody Seven Day Battles, McClellan was forced to abandon its bid to seize Richmond and retreat to the safety of Washington. As a result, Lincoln named Henry Halleck as General-in-Chief of the army, and the Army of the Potomac was given to General John Pope.Following Pope's failure to capture Richmond the subsequent Union defeat at the battle of Second Manassas, McClellan was once again leading the army that had such strong affection for him. In 1864, McClellan became involved in politics when he was nominated to be the Democratic candidate for president against his former boss, Abraham Lincoln. McClellan ran on an anti-war platform, promising that he would…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thursday July 2nd - Union General Meade arrives to Gettysburg at midnight, Confederate General Lee orders two of his generals, James Longstreet and Ewell, to attack the flanks of Union soldiers on Culp's Hill. But Longstreet delays, and attacks much later than Ewell, giving Union army more time to fortify and strengthen their position. After that Union General Daniel Sickles and his forces advance to the front line and end up fighting, the clashing armies then end up fighting some of the fiercest battles (Little Round Top, The Devil’s Den, Peach Orchard, and the Wheatfield). Confederate General Ewell attacks Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill, but the Union armies hold their positions. Confederate General Robert E. Lee decides that on Friday he will attack where he will be least expected, the very center of the Union Line at Cemetery Ridge.…

    • 314 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    After Union General George Mcclellan failed to subjugate richmond. The confederacy planned to reclaim lost land and launch a campaign against Washington D.C. led by Confederate General Robert. E . Lee. Lee intended to weaken the north's will to fight and cause them to abandon the war. While Lee was marching through maryland he thought it would be wise to split off a large portion of his army to take harpers ferry to secure his route back to virginia. Anticipating that McClellan would not attack because of his cautious tactics.…

    • 278 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Lincoln and His Generals is a book by Thomas Williams that focuses on the Civil War as being the first modern war and the way President Lincoln lead his divided nation during this dark historic time. Williams introduces the Union army as one that has no shape to it. This includes the lack of any plan of attack, as the thought of war had not been converted into any type of scheme. The armies lacked organization and communication, and existing generals were old and incompetent. The first task that Lincoln had was the immediate selection of Generals. Lincoln's selection process was sometimes based on political and personal grounds, and he was in the position of selecting from a pool of generals that had no experience leading a large army. Williams tells us that even if the selection was for political reasons, Lincoln had the best interest of the nation in mind. It appears that control was an important factor in Lincoln's selections, however, Williams continually argues that if Lincoln had had generals who were more competent he would not have interfered as much. In Lincoln, one sees a willing amateur, one who had the ability to bring out the best in some men, and also learn from them.…

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bull Run Outline

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages

    This battle lead to Robert E. Lee’s invasion of Maryland. The commanders in this battle were Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson for the Confederate and John Pope, George McClellan for the Union. August 28, Stonewall and Pope were fighting, Stonewall set up a defense line west of the first battle area. Pope was ready to attack Stonewall, but Stonewall knew that Lee would get there to help, Stonewall wasn't worried. But before Lee was there, Pope had 32,000 soldiers going to Stonewall, while Stonewall had 22,000 men. Pope almost beat Stonewall. Pope didn't beat Stonewall there because one of the corps of the Union wasn't there to finish them. The next day Stonewall set up a defensive line again and Pope was attacking, It looks like Pope is on the attacking side while Stonewall is the defensive side. Pope then pulled his forces back. Lee tried trapping them on there way back to Washington, but his men were too tired too, the Union was to strong. Lee on September 2nd pulled his forces…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Great post this week, I really enjoyed it. I like your comment “McClellan was what seems to me as a Trojan Horse.” You are absolutely right. It makes me wonder why Lincoln selected him as the commander of the Union forces. McClellan was a passive leader and wasn’t a good tactician. What would have happened if Lee would have accepted Lincoln’s offer to command the Union forces? I believe it would have been a completely different war because Lee was aggressive and took the fight to the Union. If Lee would have commanded the Union that would have left commanding the South Jeb Stewart or Jackson, either one would have possibly made the war longer and more causalities. Thanks for you post this week!…

    • 125 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This battle all began with Joseph E. Johnston’s (pictured above ) plan to defend the capital. This original plan was supposed to take two thirds of the Confederate army to do defending. The other one third of the army would stay back, and hold Union Army bulk North of the river. Though just recently happening, and having no idea or predictions on how the rest of…

    • 671 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Battle Of Antietam

    • 107 Words
    • 1 Page

    “The Battle of Antietam” by civilwar.org is about the Battle by Antietam Creek and all of the casualties.The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17th, 1862. The North claimed the victory for this battle and there were more than 22,000 casualties. This battle was fought alongside of Antietam Creek and it was one of Americas bloodiest battles. General George McClellan of the Union had a plan to overwhelm General Robert E. Lee the Confederate leader’s left flank, but instead he failed. On September 18th, the second day of the battle, the Union had 10,318 Casualties to George McClellan’s 12,401, And the Union claimed the victory…

    • 107 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Battle of Carchemish was a historic battle fought between Babylon, Media, Assyria, Egypt, and Israel. The battle was over who would dominatence in the Middle East. Babylon and Media hadave long been at war with Assyria for quite some time,, battling for control in the Middle East.** However, in 612 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Nineveh, Assyria’s capital. The Assyrian lLeaders escaped to Haran from Nineveh, and tried to rebuild an army. Nebuchadnezzar then came to Haran in 610 B.C. and completely destroyed it, but the Assyrian leaders oncehad again escaped, this time to Carchemish. With Assyria on the ropes at Carchemish, Nebuchadnezzar would try to deliver the final blow to the Assyrian empire***.…

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    General Robert Lee led the Confederate army and due to the continued victories, he decided to take the battle to the North. Lee set out for the South to win the war. The Union army was led by General George Meade. General Lee’s army traveled up through Maryland and into Pennsylvania to meet the Union army. In July of 1863, there were Confederate soldiers who wondered in to Gettysburg searching for shoes since there was a shoe shortage in the South.…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gettysburg Turning Point

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As one of the biggest turning points and the most important battle in the Civil War takes place from July 1 to July 3 1863. On May 1863 Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had won by a whooping score smashing victory over the Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville. As General Lee was feeling lucky he decides he should go and invaded the North a second time , as the first invasion had ended at Antietam just the previous fall. As bringing the conflict out of Virginia into the North, they were divorcing their northern troops to get recognition of the Confederacy by Britain , France. Northern Copperheads, who favored peace in the war.…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays