The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest one day battle of the American Civil War which was from 1861-1865.It started on September 17,1862. The battle took place in northwestern Maryland. This battle is also called the battle of Sharpsburg, which is a nearby town. The Union General George B. McClellan led an army of about 90,000 troops and Confederate General Robert E. Lee led about 55,000 troops. After the battle President Abraham Lincoln pass the Emancipation Proclamation that led to the end of slavery in the United States of America.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee divided his army and send half of them with General Stonewall Jackson to Harpers Ferry. McClellan replaced Pope as commander of the Union army. On September 13 Union soldier found a copy of Lees orders in his office and they took it to the Union commander. Lee found out that the orders were lost so he stayed at Sharpsburg Maryland, a town near Antietam Creek. Union General McClellan knew Lees plan, but he did not immediately attack.
On September 15 Union force surrendered to Jackson at Harpers Ferry.Jackson left with his troops and joined Lee while General A.P Hill stayed behind to oversee the Union army. On September 15 McClellan attacked Lee, but Jacksons troops were there to reinforce Lee. McClellan ordered small, separated attacks, but the Confederate were there to meet the attacks. At 6 A.M Union General Joseph Hooker attacked the Confederate and he pushed them toward Dunker Church the northern end of the battlefield, but Jackson stopped the push.Jackson also stopped two other Union attacks. The attacks lasted for five hours and about 7,000 Union soldiers were killed or wounded. .
On the same day at 10 A.M , south of Dunker Church, Union troops attacked the Confederates. The Confederate line was on a road that became known as the Bloody Lane. After the fight the Union troops fought the Confederates out of the road, but there werent enough Union troops that can go any farther so McClellan chose to hold back reinforcements that might have overwhelmed the Confederates.
