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The battle of Antietam
Background:
On September 17, 1862, The Potomac Army of the Union under the command of George McClellan engaged in combat with the Confederate army under the command of Robert E. Lee near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Goal of the Confederate army was to gain political power by invading the North. Antietam was the first battle fought on Northern Soil. It is known as the "Bloodiest Day" in military history. The Union forces recieved over twelve thousand casualties, while the Confederacy recieved ten thousand.
Sources:
Bailey, Ronald H. The Bloodiest Day: The Battle of Antietam. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life, 1984. Print.
Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. <http://www.civilwar.org/>.
"Battle of Antietam." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2016. <http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam>.
Goals:
McClellan's Goal at Antietam was to cut off Lee's advance into the North. He moved to advance towards Lee's Left Flank and push him back to the Potomac River. Lee after his victory at Second Bull Run deemed invading the North a profitable gain toward political power to the Confederacy.
Battle and Outcome:
The Battle compromised of three parts. First, the battle waged on thirty-acres of corn field. Next head on union attacks on Lee's center. This came to be known as the "Bloody Lane". This push then lead to the Union forces piercing the line, only to be stopped by late Confederate reinforcements. Ultimately the Confederacy dealed far more damage, but the Confederate retreat lead to the Union victory. The Victory gave Lincoln political strength to issue the Emancipation Proclomation.
Pictures: The Background Picture depicts the Unions final push against the Confederate Forces. To the left, the picture potrays Union forces advancing the Confederate line. This is part of the Bloody Lane.
Picture Sources:
Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj71KCf7rTKAhUJdj4KHanXC0gQjRwIBw&url=%2Furl%3Fsa%3Di%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dimages%26cd%3D%26cad%3Drja%26uact%3D8%26ved%3D0ahUKEwj71KCf7rTKAhUJdj4KHanXC0gQjRwIBw%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FBattle_of_Antietam%26psig%3DAFQjCNE-CpgL2pXhpBTAOa-d29KLttleGw%26ust%3D1453258037708301&psig=AFQjCNE-CpgL2pXhpBTAOa-d29KLttleGw&ust=1453258037708301>.
Digital image. Battle Of Antietam. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Battle_of_Antietam_by_Thulstrup.jpg>.
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