In this essay, I will be concentrating more on the facts of the Battle of Antietam then the tactical movements, or all the decisions made during this battle. I will however cover some key points that do point to poor leadership and execution of plans. Most of this essay will cover facts of Special Order 191, errors in judgment by General George B. McClellan, the sunken road, the importance of victory needed for General Robert E. Lee, and lastly the overall analysis of the outcome.
At dawn on the morning of September 17, 1862, the nation’s bloodiest battle and bloodiest day in American History occurred. The battle began with an attack by General Joseph Hooker to capture the plateau in which the Dunker Church now called sat upon and a small creek that ran through the battlefield named Antietam Creek; hence, this is where the name The Battle of Antietam originated. One only has to look at the number killed or wounded to
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McClellan, his knowledge of Special Order 191. Special Order 191 was a copy of General Robert E. Lee’s detailed battle plans discovered on the Best Farm in Maryland by Corporal Barton W. Mitchell and First Sergeant John M. Bloss of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. This order outlined the troop movement and detailed plans of Lee’s Army. The oversight was that it is reported that General McClellan who exclaimed “Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home.” (1) Instead the General did not act on this intelligence for 18 hours thus allowing Lee’s army to take Harpers Ferry and to rally his troops at Sharpsburg. Yet another tactical error on the part of General McClellan was not renewing his attack on Lee’s forces on 18 September. Lee’s forces were still in their position and McClellan had that numerical advantage which now included 30,000 fresh troops decided not to attack. This allowed Lees the opportunity and time to retreat across the Potomac and