Battle of Antietam

Warm Up Why was the North struggling to win this war? What strategies has the South used to even up the playing field? How did technology change the way battles were fought?

Robert E. Lee B. January 19, 1807 D. October 12, 1870 Graduated from West Point 1829 2nd in a class of 46 A captain during the Mexican War Recommended for numerous awards 1852-1855: Military commander at West Point Improved the quality of West Point so much, that it rivaled the best European military academies 1859: Sent against John Brown at Harper’s Ferry 1861: Resigned his commission when his state, Virginia, seceded Felt he was obligated to his state

Robert E. Lee A reluctant supporter of secession Superb soldier Arguably the best General in the entire war!! He was the stereotypical Southern gentleman Polite, courteous, humble A psychologist on the battlefield Tactful, unassuming, and level headed Tried to understand each Union General, and their tendencies Then planned his strategy to counter their strengths

Robert E. Lee 1862: Lee given overall command of the Southern army Lee’s army had superior confidence in their leader and his ability to win battles This is a powerful weapon Lee believed that a dramatic blow had to be delivered on northern soil To persuade the U.S. that victory was impossible If not, the South would be crushed in the long run Due to the North’s superior resources Lee marched his army north, around Washington

Robert E. Lee

Lee and Traveller

Battle of Antietam Union General McClellan received a copy of Lee’s orders They captured a Confederate dispatch rider This gave McClellan a minute by minute detail of Lee’s exact movements and plans He knew exactly where Lee’s army would be McClellan took full advantage of this--wanted to attack and surprise Lee Sept. 17, 1862: The armies met at Sharpsburg, Maryland, between the Potomac River and Antietam Creek North identified battles by nearby bodies of H2O South by nearby towns

Battle of Antietam Lee’s invasion of the North was a huge gamble BUT… could hold huge rewards Could win Maryland for the South Could gain European support Could force the North to ask for peace Did take his army out of war plagued Virginia The battlefield offered Lee no room for maneuver 70,000 Union soldiers clashed with 40,000 Confederates

Battle of Antietam From dawn till dark the two armies threw frontal attacks at each other, littering the fields with their dead and wounded "The whole landscape for an instant turned red," one northern soldier later wrote. Another veteran recalled, "[The cornfield] was so full of bodies that a man could have walked through it without stepping on the ground.” Over 23,000 DEAD AFTER ONE DAYS BATTLE

Battle of Antietam No clear victor emerged The battle stopped because of sheer exhaustion Casualties were evenly divided Confederates slipped back across the Potomac into Virginia Bloodiest day in American combat history!!! Lee’s invasion failed--his army decimated McClellan did not try to wipe out Lee, and let him go Lincoln dismissed him from his command

Map of Antietam

Burnside Bridge

Lincoln at Antietam

Casualties Union South Killed: 2,100 Wounded: 9,550 Missing/Captured: 750 Total: 12,400 South Killed: 1,550 Wounded: 7,750 Missing/Captured: 1,020 Total: 10,320