The Battle of Antietam is also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg took place Maryland and Antietam Creek in 1862 and was the bloodiest single-day battle in the American Civil War. It was an encounter that was between the Union led by General George McClellan and the Confederate under General Robert Lee (Alexander 23-26). Though the Union suffered more causalities of over twelve thousand as compared to over ten thousand to the Confederate, the victory went to the General McClellan forcing Lee to withdraw his troops to Virginia. Antietam was a battle that resulted from various matters that will not be given precedence herein; nevertheless, the paper will be focusing and giving significance to some particular features and phases of the war.
Attack of French’s Division and Richardson’s Division (II Corps) at the Sunken Road
Conferring to Stevens 63-68, it is worth noting that the Sunken Road was not a trench that had been dug out by the soldiers; but rather, it was a well-worn out by rain and wagon local firm road that had been used for trade initially. Over 2600 Confederate men were placed along the road by Gen. Harvey on the September of 1862 awaiting the advancement of the enemy. It was when the Union’s Army led by Gen French veered towards the road when they were fired and attacked with powerful barrage few miles away. The several hours, there was fierce fighting along the way as Gen French aided by Gen. Richardson’s division sought to drive the Southerners back (Stevens 66-72). Although the Confederate managed to hold their position for several hours, they were eventually driven from their high positions thanks to exhaustion and confusion in the battlefield. The fact that over five thousand men were wounded or killed, neither side was able to gain a major significant advantage over the other explaining why it is to-date branded as the Bloody Lane.
Hancock’s report
Williams Hancock was the Major General commanding Second Corps the Army of the Potomac. From his account, he can give the details on how he managed to implement the orders and operations that he was given between June and July along with the challenges that he and his men encountered along the way. Notable is the fact that the report was very comprehensive and meticulous on how he received and implemented orders given to him. He equally noted minor details that included but not limited to the time he and his army executed the orders, where they stopped and by whose orders, among many more particulars. By illustration, it can be construed from his report that under Major-General Hooker’s directive, the Second Corps was required to march from Sugar Loaf Mountain to encamp at Frederick. However, that was not accomplished as they were forced to camp near Monocacy Junction through General Meade orders. Under Meade’s orders, he gives account on how he was able to undertake the survey on the battlefield at the same time detailing how it was fit for a showdown with General Lee’s Confederate Army. From his report, it was clear why he was dubbed “Hancock the Superb” by the other Generals despite suffering high casualties at the Bloody Line. It was equally clear from his report that he played a crucial role in inspiring and motivating his men bringing to light not only his dedication but also his resolute audacity even after taking a bullet in his right thigh and continuing to fight until the battle was decided. Along with his report, he gave a tabular statement of casualties while giving recommendations on Sergeants who deserved recognition for their services (Grossman 141-144).
Turning the Confederate flank at the Sunken Road
The Confederate forces had captured the town of Sharpsburg some days before the Antietam Battle, and General Lee had positioned several forces on the hills adjacent to the city. Armstrong 249 notes that a ferocious battle was raging along the Confederate right flank something that compelled and forced General Ambrose Burnside to position several thousand Union soldiers along the portion of the Confederate line. In the process, they had to cross Antietam Creek where they were attacked by the Confederates forces who were few in numbers in comparison to the Union’s forces. Armstrong 250-252 goes on to reveal that each side suffered a significant number of casualties, and it was only a time-based cease-fire between both parties that allowed the removal of the wounded and dead soldiers from the battlefield. Even though the Union is noted to have suffered more casualties at the Sunken Road battle, they were pronounced as the victor bringing with it notable results and outcome after that. For instance, it led to the formulation and enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln (Armstrong 249-256). To the populace of Ohio, the outcomes brought both hope and anxiety; optimism for the expiration of slavery and apprehension for fear of new invasion from General Lee.
Work Cited
Alexander, Ted. The Battle of Antietam: The Bloodiest Day. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2011. Internet resource.
Armstrong, Marion V. Unfurl Those Colors!: Mcclellan, Sumner, and the Second Army Corps in the Antietam Campaign. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2008. Print.
Grossman, Mark. World Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary. New York, NY: Facts On File, 2007. Internet resource.
Stevens, Norman S. Antietam, 1862: The Civil War's Bloodiest Day. London: Osprey, 1994. Print.
