Battle Of Sharpsburg Essay

When the Civil War began in April of 1861, both Union and Confederacy entered the conflict with excitement. Each side expected to quickly defeat the other side in a short, glorious battle. Sixteen months later, the realities of war had shocked both sides.

Vicksburg

Confederate General Robert E. Lee wanted to bring the fight to the North. His plan was to move into Pennsylvania and destroy a railroad center at Harrisburg. Lee believed this would also allow his underfed soldiers to live off the farmlands of Pennsylvania. Both Lee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis thought that a victory in the North might encourage Europe to recognize the South and possibly come to their aid. On July 1-3, 1863 lead to the biggest, bloodiest battle

Lee needed to take pressure off the constant attacks to his army. He thought that if he took his army to the North, then the Union forces might become too spread out. So he took his army northward toward Pennsylvania. Union General McClellan pursued Lee. McClellan’s Union was twice the size of Lee’s army. Many historians believe that had McClellan attacked Lee, he would have won the battle, and The Civil War had been over early. The armies finally met at the small town of Sharpsburg , Maryland, near Antietam Creek. On September 17, 1862, they fought the Battle of Antietam (called the Battle of Sharpsburg in the

It included a river crossing under fire,street-to-street fighting, and the unsuccessful assault of strongly-held Confederate positions. It was also a stunning defeat for the Union.Battles at Antietam and Fredericksburg 15The Plan General Burnside’s plan was to cross the Rappahannock River and take the war to Richmond. Until his troops reached the Rappahannock River,he had speed and surprise on his side. At the river, however, his plans began to fall apart. e flat-bottomed boats needed to build bridges across the river had not yet arrived. Instead of changing his plans, Burn side ordered the army to wait. is delay gave Lee a week in which to bring his army to Fredericksburg and arrange his men in strong and defensible positions. Confederate rifleman set up sniper positions in waterfront homes and buildings. From there, they could fire at Union engineers when construction of the bridges finally began on December 11. Burnside had three brigades built downstream from the town and these were completed under cover fire from the Union. “My loyalty is growing weak……. I am sick and tired of disaster and the fools that bring disaster upon us.” —Union soldier, after the Battle of