Battle Of Antietam Essay

The Battle Of Antietam was the battle that issued Lincoln’s Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation speech, the battle lasted September 16th to 18th. On September 16th 1862, General Lee had many plans as to what he wanted to do in this battle such as seize the railroads to isolate the town, after that he wanted to march to Pennsylvania he wanted to put war on them and for Lincoln to surrender. After, Lee was getting to the border of Pennsylvania he stopped his army and divided them into two groups for them to go to Harper Ferry which was a good move as he knew his opponent was overly cautious. McClellan wouldn’t know that Lee had divided his army but if he did he was too slow to react. However, McClellan did have some luck as a southern courier lost a copy of Lee’s orders and a Union soldier got ahold of it, even if

He would still cautiously attack at the Southern army. He had a plan that was working until Lee figured it out and stopped it. He proved more effective on the Union’s advances Yet, the fighting was awful by night there was so many people either dead or wounded. Union troops were able to break Confederate line of defense on Bloody Lane. But McClellan didn’t want to give up but in the end neither sides had a big advantage. However, Lee did not think that McClellan would resume attack in the morning so when McClellan didn’t attack Lee and his army headed south to Virginia. After, the battle ended with a draw with some advantage to the North. But overall the results of lack of commitment was way for the North then the South. Following, Great Britain was debating recognizing the Confederates. The huge industries were important and they depended on the South’s cotton. Diplomats of the south had worked for this dependance toward British government. Recognition would lead to use of British supplies and if the south were to trade with Britain it would protect the trade with the British