The Battle of Antietam

             The Battle of Antietam was the first major battle of the Civil War on Northern soil as well as the bloodiest single day battle in American History. (Civil War, American) The battle took place on September 17, 1862 at Antietam Creek near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. Almost 50,000 Confederate troops led by General Robert E. Lee attempted to invade the North, but were intercepted by 70,000 Union troops under General George McClellan. The Confederate army retreated after less than one day of fighting, and the battle was considered a Union victory. However, Antietam changed the course of the Civil War while taking 23,000 casualties, including almost 14,000 Union soldiers (Antietam, Battle of). .
             The Battle of Antietam was the result of Confederate General Lee's first invasion of the North. After a victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Lee decided to invade Maryland, an effort to move the fighting away from war-torn Virginia as well as cut off the North's supply lines. (Civil War, American) In addition, he hoped that a successful invasion might force European nations to recognize the Confederacy. He moved from Virginia across the Potomac River into Maryland and sent most of his men under General Jackson to Harper's Ferry. The remainder of the troops pushed forward under Lee to Antietam Creek, near Sharsburg, Maryland. Meanwhile, Union General McClellan was moving his men south into Maryland where he had the good fortune of receiving General Lee's battle plan No. 191. He led his troops to Antietam Creek, where General Lee and his men waited on the opposite side. Fighting began early that morning as Union troops fired on the Confederate army camping in a cornfield north of Sharpsburg. The battle that would result would be the bloodiest of the Civil War.
             The fighting at Antietam resulted in more than 23,000 casualties. It was, and still is, the bloodiest single day battle in American History.