Battle of Antietam

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Recommended: Essays on the battle of antietam

The following case study will be about the Battle of Antietam that took place on September 17, 1862 in Sharpsburg, Maryland along the Antietam Creek. Known as “…the bloodiest single day in American History,” by the end of the day there would be approximately twenty-three thousand casualties of which forty-five hundred to six thousand were dead. The first topic of discussion will be on the history leading up to the morning of the seventeenth in order to establish the mindset of the commanders on both sides of the creek. After the stage is set for the battle the dialogue will be guided through the three major battles of the day that encompass the Battle of Antietam. Lastly the dissertation will wrap up the Battle of Antietam and focus on the lessons learned and/or mistakes that lead to the withdrawal of the confederate forces and the bitter sweet victory of the Union that left so many Americans dead or wounded.

History

The battle at Antietam Creek occurred in the fall of 1862. The following section of this case study will cover the key events in the months leading up to the battle, which will help to understand the state of mind of the military commanders on both sides of the engagement. During the summer of 1862 the Confederacy was feeling defeated after going sometime without a decisive victory over the Union forces. Additionally President Davis had not received any good news from the battle fronts in months.

During this time The Army of the Potomac (Union) under the command of General George B. McClellan is putting on a show of force in the vicinity of Williamsburg road. This show of force, known as the engagement of King’s School house, brought General McClellan’s forces within six miles of downtown Richmond, V...

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...l War Preservation Trust. http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/south-mountain.html (accessed 11 14, 2010).

Gallagher, Gary W. Antietam Essays on the 1862 Maryland Campaign. Kent: The Kent University Press, 1989.

Henley, Brian. Hooves, Heels and Wheels. http://hovesheelswheels.blogspot.com/2010/04/antietam-national-battlefield-hiking.html (accessed November 15, 2010).

Hickman, Kennedy. About.com. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/civilwar/p/southmountain.htm (accessed 11 14, 2010).

McPherson, James M. Battle Chronicles of the Civil War 1862. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1989.

Nelson, Harold W, and Luvaas Nelson. The U.S. Army War College Guide to the Battle of Antietam: The Maryland Campaign of 1862. New York: Harper & Row, 1987.

Priest, John Michael. Before Anteitam: The Battle for South Mountain. Shippensburg: White Mane Publishing Company, 1992.

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