Battle of Antietam Although the Battle of Antietam was bloodiest battle in American history, it induced European powers to turn neutral furthermore it allowed Abraham Lincoln to publishing the Emancipation proclamation. The Bloodiest Battle in American History On September 16, 1862, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan and his Union Army of the Potomac confronted Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Civil War Trust organization concluded that there were more than 23.000 casualties on both sides. It was the first battle of the Civil War to be fought on Union soil, and thus it held great prestige and political importance. The following morning on September the 17th, the Union Army launched an attack on the Confederates …show more content…
An important mention for the battle of Antietam, was the Union Army’s heavy use and reliance on Artillery. Which in the future would prove to be one of the most important deciding factors when it came to winning the Civil War. Union’s technological and industrial superiority would be the downfall of the Confederate forces, which at many times had better leadership and advantages. Said battle was one of the first where the 3 inch Ordinance Rifle was used. Developed by the Phoenix Iron Company, which introduced new ways to build artillery pieces from wrought iron, rather than the old bronze pieces. The 3 inch rifle was well known for its accuracy, even out to its range limits, and sometimes even sported up to three sights to improve aim. The guns were famously completely reliable mechanically and had a range of more than a mile (Antietam Road and Civil War Artillery, 2016). The core artillery piece that was used in the battle was the 12 pounder “Napoleon” cannon, which there was 108 pieces in battle of Antietam alone. The cannon was capable of firing solid shot for reducing defenses and buildings, exploding shells for artillery duels and antipersonnel, and canister rounds for devastating …show more content…
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