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Battle Of Antietam Essay

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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 …show more content…

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

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A few of Magruder’s men attempted an attack once again near Garnett’s and Gouldin’s farms, but just like before, were had barely an impact. As McClellan retreated to the river, Lee gave orders to then pursue McClellan in hopes of destroying his army. While Magruder and Huger fixed the Union rear guard in place, Jackson and D. H. Hill would cross the Chickahominy River while following the army, and Longstreet and A. P. Hill would circle and attempt to disturb the Union retreat. The next day, the Confederates initiated their plan to pursue McClellan. Between the Confederate Generals there was a lot of confusion, as Huger received conflicting orders, and then spent most of the day marching back and forth, while Magruder was unsure whether or not the Union army would attack.

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Lee would use his exquisite leadership in future battles such as the attempt of the Union to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond; he would turn the tables against the Union general George B. McClellan to take

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He was afraid to risk failure so he never would risk doing anything. On the other hand, the Confederates leaders had General Robert E. Lee, who commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. He was considered a big risk taker. McClellan was not too worried about Lee or his army thinking that Lee was weak and too cautious but Lee was anything but that. General Lee gathered as many men as was available and attacked General McClellan on June 26, 1862 repeatedly for seven days.

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Even though the Union won the battle Lee’s reputation still arose. He was a military advisor to President Jefferson Davis until June 1862 when he took control over the wounded General Joseph E. Johnston's

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However, Lee then made a surprising move by launching an offensive defense that left a significant number of his troops to defend the heavily armed forces that entrenched into their land. At the end of the war Lee, troops emerged the victor because he was keen on each step that was made by Hooker. Irrespective of the number of men, Lee had Lee struck hard in any chance that Hooker hesitated (Scott Hartwig, 2014). The Confederate army also had the spirit of a must-win situation as compared to the Union Army that depended on their large number not considering the terrain of the land. McClellan's plans were not coordinated and were poorly executed.

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Grant assumed command of the United States Army. Grant, being a graduate of West Point also, knew exactly what weaknesses to attack of Lee’s and put all of his time and resources into driving the Confederate Army back. Grant knew Lee’s army was hard pressed for men, food, ammunition, and other necessary resources to wage war and used this to his advantage. Despite Lee’s ability to fight a war of attrition against Grant, his actions were all but futile. In the summer of 1864 Lee’s forces were resorting to trench warfare outside of Petersburg; it was at this time that Lee realized he fighting a war that he had no hope of winning.

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If J.E.B Stuart had been there and used his cavalry for reconnaissance General lee would have known the union's position and would have most likely won the

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What led to this battle, was General Robert. E. Lee, was leading his army to Pennsylvania, to try to gain a food advantage over the North. Unbeknownst to both sides, this would be the first battle in the North. Lee had hoped that with a northern victory, external countries would view the south as an organized country, and not a group of “rag tag bandits”, as some northerner’s called the south. He also hoped that a northern victory would finally make the Union allow the South to become its own country.

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General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate army was not successful in defeating General George B. McClellan union army thus leading into European powers backing off the civil war. “Once news of Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation arrived overseas, however, the European powers backed away and remained neutral” (Klein, 2012). Due to the Battle of Antietam, the European powers were waiting for their moment to help Confederate side because of resource they trade like cotton and other material they consumed. From the battle, the South prevails and limited the north forces from gaining support from countries like Britain and England that could have changed American history as we know it. The Emancipation Proclamation would forever change American for the better; it gave people of different race not to be treated like slaves or

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As night came upon them. Thousands of dead soldiers lay on the battlegrounds. Both sides went to collect their dead and wounded. The next day, General Lee moved his troops back to VA. To President Lincoln's shock, Mcclellan did nothing.

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