| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | American Civil War |
| Date | September 17, 1862 |
| Place | Near Sharpsburg, Maryland |
| Result | Union slight victory |
| Combatants | |
| United States of America | Confederate States of America |
| Commanders | |
| Major General George B. McClellan | General Robert E. Lee |
| Strength | |
| 87,000 soldiers | 40,000 soldiers |
| Casualties | |
| 12,410 | 10,700 |
The Battle of Antietam (known as the Battle of Sharpsburg in the South), fought on Wednesday, September 17, 1862 near Sharpsburg, Maryland, was the first major battle of the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with over 20,000 casualties.
South of Sharpsburg, Lee deployed his army along Antietam Creek along a low ridge. Gen. McClellan had 87,000 soldiers at his disposal.
The battle opened at dawn when Union Major General Joseph Hooker's artillery opened fire on Lieutenant General Stonewall Jackson's men. When the latter were reinforced, they attacked, but were driven back when Union Major General Joseph Mansfield counterattacked.
In the center, bitter fighting raged along the sunken road between the men of Union Major General Edwin Sumner's corps and those of Confederate Major General D.H. Hill .
Southeast of the town, Major General Ambrose Burnside's troops, at 1:00, finally succeeded in crossing a bridge over Antietam Creek against fierce opposition of Georgians. At the end of the afternoon, Burnside threatened to take Sharpsburg and envelop Lee's position; however, he blundered by wasting troops and time to attempt to cross a bridge south of the town (later named Burnside's Bridge), instead of crossing at one of the many fords nearby. This allowed Major General A.P. Hill to bring his Light Division to effectively halt the attack.
Losses were heavy on both sides. The Union had 12,000 casualties with about 2,100 dead. Confederate casualties were 10,000 wounded and missing with about 2,700 dead.
Following the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln announced his intention to issue an Emancipation Proclamation. Although Lincoln had intended to do so earlier, he was advised to make this announcement after a Union victory to avoid the perception that it was issued out of desperation. The winning of the Battle of Antietam also prevented France and England from recognizing the Confederacy, whom they were planning on recognizing in lieu of another Union defeat.