James Baquet

Sept. 17, 1862, has been called the bloodiest day in U.S. history; 22,717 northern and southern men were dead, wounded, or missing at the Battle of Antietam (also called the Battle of Sharpsburg) in the American Civil War.

The Confederates had won at the second Battle of Bull Run less than three weeks earlier, and emboldened by their success, planned to push further into Union territory. They assumed the people of Maryland — a northern state, but with southern sympathies — would support them. But by late 1862 pro-Union sentiment was growing, and the people cast a cold eye on the Confederate troops.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee fielded about 38,000 men, and lost over a quarter of them. Union General George B. McClellan had over 87,000, of whom over 12,000 were lost.

Someone on Lee’s staff had made a terrific blunder. “Special Order 191,” sometimes called the “Lost Dispatch” or the “Lost Order,” was a copy of Confederate plans found by a couple of Union soldiers. Northern General McClellan was able to use this information in defeating the southern troops.

Meanwhile, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was hoping that a victory on Union soil would convince foreign powers like England and France that the Confederacy had a strong chance of winning, and they would come in on the south’s side.

Not only was this not to be, but the Union victory was enough to give President Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue his Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the 3.5 million black slaves in states that were in rebellion (that is, the southern states).

In the bloody battle, McClellan attacked Lee’s troops in entrenched positions. The Union pierced the center of Lee’s troops, but this advantage was not followed up. But then southern reinforcements arrived and launched a surprise counterattack. This allowed Lee, who saw slim chance of winning, a strategic retreat during the night.

Overly cautious — believing that he was outnumbered — McClellan did not follow Lee’s force and destroy it, even though he had ample troops to do so. Lee had been halted, but was able to regroup and continue the fight for several years. For this error, Lincoln removed McClellan from command in November.

Vocabulary:

Which words above mean:

1. feelings, sympathy

2. territory

3. announcement

4. mistake

5. made brave

6. plenty (of)

7. setting free

8. message from headquarters

9. look at

10. dug in, fortified