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~ Armies Clash Near Sharpsburg, Maryland! ~
THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM
AN INVITATION TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Pt. III By R.Neil Smith
~ Background ~
Ask American Civil War enthusiasts
which battle encapsulates the themes
of the war and which was the most
important, then stand back and
watch the fur fly . We all have our
particular
hobby horses:
Chancellorsville, Second Manassas,
Gettysburg, of course, Shiloh, or my
particular favourite, Antietam. That
battle fought in September 1862,
contains all the themes discussed in
parts I and II: it was the most
important battle politically; and, it
was a transition battle that defined
how the rest of the war would be
fought.
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The Antietam campaign began while
the hapless John Pope and his Army
of Virginia sat around Manassas at
the end of August 1862, caught in the
headlights of Lee’ s seemingly
Above:
Union troops
march across
Burnside’s
Bridge.
All photos
unless stated by
Cyrille Barillot.
Miniatures by
Perry and
Foundry.
"The vast army of McClellan spread out before me. The marching
columns extended back as far as eye could see in the distance. It
was a grand and glorious spectacle, and it was impossible to look
at it without admiration."
- General D.H. Hill
everywhere-at-once
Army
of
Northern Virginia. George McClellan
was supposed to help Pope and
combine their armies, but he was
dithering as usual. Lee pounced on
Pope at Second Manassas, leaving
him and his army shattered.
Washington was now in real danger
and Lincoln had little choice but to
appoint McClellan to take command
of the combined Army of the
Potomac with orders to find Lee and
beat him.
Lee was at Frederick, Maryland,
having crossed the Potomac. When
he found out that McClellan was back
in charge, Lee took the extra time he
knew was coming to dispatch a lar ge
part of his army to capture Harper ’s
Ferry just of f to the West. Lee took
the remainder of his army behind the
Blue Ridge Mountains to await
events, leaving covering forces
across the passes. But then something
unexpected happened; the ponderous
Army of the Potomac accelerated,
pushing into the passes, which could
not hold. Lee did not know that
McClellan had been handed the
rebel’s orders after they were found
by a soldier wrapped in cigars. Lee
called his army back together and
took up positions behind Antietam
Creek around the town of Sharpsburg
to await its assembly . Even though
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heavily outnumbered, Lee banked
again on McClellan’ s singular lack
of haste; Little Mac seldom
disappointed on that score.
On the morning of 17 September
1862, McClellan’s army of 80,000
stood in full array, a spectacular sight
by all accounts. Across the creek,
Lee’s ragtag army of less than
40,000 stood ready to receive. When
day broke, the cannons roared.
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Photo 1
From
Confederate
positions at the
cornfield looking north.
Relates to first
phase map.
~ Terrain & Deployment ~
The Antietam battlefield stretches
out from the small town of
Sharpsburg across rolling farmland
and woods to the hills on the other
side of Antietam Creek. Three roads
emit from the town; the Harper ’s
Ferry Road runs south; the
Boonsboro Turnpike heads over the
Middle Bridge and into the hills to
the east; and the Hagerstown
Turnpike trails away to the north.
Lee’s army sat astride these roads,
shielding the town and their line of
retreat. The famous creek flows from
the south to almost northeast; thus,
the northern portion of the open field
was more open with no obvious
impediment to a Union assault.
McClellan hoped that a well-directed
assault on Lee’ s northern flank
would roll up the Confederates and
tasked “Fighting Joe” Hooker ’s 1st
Corps and Mansfield’s 12th Corps to
do the job. In the centre, stood
Sumner’s 2nd Corps and Porter’s 5th
Corps, and in the south Burnside’ s
9th Corps waited for the order to
cross the creek by the Rohrbach
Bridge, soon to be named after the
Union General.
Opposing the Union men on the
northern flank were “Stonewall”
Jackson’s, gathered around the
Dunker Church and carefully
positioned across a cornfield and
into the woods. Jackson had artillery
support on his western flank to
enfilade the Federals if they
advanced. D.H. Hill’ s Division
occupied a seemingly excellent
defensive position along a sunken
road just south of the Dunker Church
and facing northeast. Longstreet’ s
Division secured the southern flank
of Sharpsburg with a few regiments
of Georgians and South Carolinians
dug in along the heights opposite the
Rohrbach Bridge.
Photo 2
Looking from
the site of A.P.
Hill's
Division's
arrival point.
Relates to third
phase map.
Photo 3
Looking across
Burnside's
Bridge from
the
Confederate
sharpshooter
positions.
Relates to third
phase map.
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~ Wargaming Antietam ~
If you are the designated Union player , I
know what you are thinking: “I’m going to
order attacks left, right, and centre, and
crush some rebel dreams”. After all, you
might be five foot two with a Napoleonic
complex but you are certainly not the
over-cautious George McClellan. You
could well be right, and it might be worth
a try. But, I suspect all you are likely to see
is a Confederate army in full retreat
through the town, and you would not be
recreating Antietam. On that fateful
morning, Lee had once again gambled on
McClellan’s proclivity for indecision and
caution. He reasoned that he would be
able to shift his men around to meet
danger where it presented itself, and if
McClellan did opt for a full-out assault,
the Army of Northern Virginia would
withdraw down the road to the rear . Lee
got it right, again, but not without sending
messages to A.P. Hill to come up from
Harper’s Ferry with all the alacrity he
could muster.
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McClellan’s attack came piecemeal in
three clearly defined stages; from the
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north, the centre, and the south. The best
way I found to reflect the circumstances of
the Union actions was to split the
wargame into three phases with some
built-in mechanics for variety in decision
making. If you are fighting at a smaller
scale, you can achieve that all on the same
table, fighting one-third at a time. For
larger scales, three back-to-back actions
are required on separate tables with the
results impacting the next phase.
~ Battle Management ~
For both sides, forces are deployed as they
were at the start of
Antietam. As
commander, you can move your forces to
reinforce or assault from one sector to the
next, but not across two sectors. Therefore,
you can move forces from the centre to the
flanks or flanks to centre, but not flank to
flank. Any reallocated Union forces will
arrive 1D6 turns after the phase begins in
which they wish to interfere.
The
Confederates, can enter the phase when
their commander orders them to. Moreover,
as much as the Union commander would
love to throw forces down the Boonsboro
Turnpike, that is not permitted.
If the Confederates are beaten in any
phase but still have a line of retreat, they
can withdraw onto the adjacent section but
in disorder. They will enter the new phase
in the condition they left the previous one
i.e. routed units are still routing. However,
Confederate units retreating or routing
onto a section that has already been
decided are deemed destroyed. For
example, a Confederate unit in phase II is
pushed back onto the phase I table; that
unit will be destroyed even if the
Confederates won phase I.
~ Victory Conditions ~
The Union wins if it breaks through the
Confederates in any of the phases. It is a total
Union victory if they cut off the Confederate
line of retreat through Sharpsbur g i.e.
complete domination of any phase.
The Confederacy wins if the Union fails
to break through in any phase.
The battle is drawn if the Confederates
keep their line of retreat open to
Sharpsburg and can maintain a fighting
withdrawal.
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~ PHASE I ~
CORNFIELD - DUNKER CHURCH
The action begins with Hooker ’s Corps
attacking out of the north woods against
Jackson, holding positions in the west
woods and around Dunker Church (see
Map I). All units are represented on the
initial battlefield. The Confederates also
have off-table artillery support along the
western edge of the table, providing
enfilade fire. Their artillery is represented
on the table, but cannot be attacked by
infantry or cavalry . The Union has of ftable counter-battery fire available from
the eastern edge which need not be
represented and can only be used against
the Confederate artillery.
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"As we appeared at the edge of the corn, a long line of men in butternut and
gray rose up from the ground. Simultaneously, the hostile battle lines
opened a tremendous fire upon each other. Men, I cannot say fell; they were
knocked out of the ranks by the dozens. But we jumped over the fence, and
pushed on, loading, firing, and shouting as we advanced."
- Major Rufus R. Dawes
For the Union, Mansfield’ s Corps is
approaching from the north and can enter
the field at any point on the northern edge
1D6 moves after the Union player
announces their arrival. At the midpoint of
the game, the Union may bring on
Sumner’s Corps 1D6 moves after the
Union player declares their arrival. But
note, any elements of Sumner’s Corps that
enters Phase I will count as reinforcements
for Phase II and only if they remain intact.
For the Confederates, Hood’s Division can
be brought on to the southern edge of the
table at any time. The Confederates begin
the game and must defend the southern
edge of the table at all costs.
The time frame is two hours.
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THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM IN 6mm
Above: Hooker's advancing brigades on the Union right flank, where Jackson's infantry and artillery
batteries are positioned.
Below: Richardson's division advancing to the initial assault. Left: Ambrose Burnside
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PHOTOS CURTESY OF BACCUS 6mm
Above: Rickett's division moving up to the cornfield, where Ewell's Confederates await them. Dunker Church is in the background.
Above: Fighting in the Cornfield. Below: Confederate troops of D.H. Hill's division in position on the line of the sunken road.
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~ PHASE I FORCES ~
UNION
~ First Corps: Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker ~
First Division: Brig. Gen. Abner Doubleday
First Brigade: Col Walter Phelps: 22nd NY, 24th NY, 30th NY, 84th NY, 2nd US
Sharpshooters
Second Brigade: Lt. Col. J. Hoffman: 7th IN, 76th NY, 95th NY, 56th PA
Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. Marsena Patrick: 21st NY, 23rd NY, 35th NY, 80th NY
Fourth Brigade: Brig. Gen. John Gibbon: 19th IN, 2nd WI, 6th WI, 7th WI
Artillery: Captain J. Monroe: NH Lt 1st Btty , 1st RI Btty D, 1st NY Lt Btty L,
4th US Btty B
Second Division: Brig. Gen. James Ricketts
First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Abram Duryea: 97th NY, 104th NY, 105th NY, 107th PA
Second Brigade: Col. William Christian: 26th NY, 94th NY, 88th PA, 90th PA
Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. Geor ge Hartsuff: 12th Mass, 13th Mass, 83rd NY ,
11th PA
Artillery: 1st PA Lt Btty. F, PA Lt Btty C
Third Division: Brig. Gen. George Meade
First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour: 1st PA, 2nd PA, 5th PA, 6th PA, 13th PA
Second Brigade: Col. Albert Magilton: 3rd PA, 4th PA, 7th PA, 8th PA
Third Brigade: Lt. Col. Robert Anderson: 9th PA, 10th PA, 11th PA, 12th PA
Artillery: 1st PA Lt Btty A & B, 5th US Btty C
~ Twelfth Corps: Maj. Gen. Joseph Mansfield ~
(reinforcements)
First Division: Brig. Gen. Alpheus Williams
First Brigade: Brig. Gen. S Crawford: 10th ME, 28th NY , 46th PA, 124th PA,
125th PA, 128th PA
Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. George Gordon: 27th IN, 13th NJ, 107th NY, 3rd WI,
2nd MA
Second Division: Brig. Gen. George Greene
First Brigade: Lt. Col. Hector Tyndale: 5th OH, 7th OH, 66th OH, 28th PA
Second Brigade: Col. Henry Stainrook: 3rd MD, 111th PA, 102nd NY
Third Brigade: Col. William Goodrich: 3rd DE, 60th NY , 78th NY, Purnell
Legion MD
Corps Artillery: Capt. Clermont Best: ME Lt 4th & 6th Btty, 1st NY Lt Btty M,
NY Lt 10th Btty, PA Lt Btty E&F, 4th US Btty F
~ Second Corps: Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner ~
(reinforcements)
Second Brigade: Brig. Gen. Thomas Meagher: 63rd NY, 69th NY, 88th NY, 29th MA
Third Brigade: Col. John Brooke: 2nd De, 52nd NY, 57th NY, 66th NY, 53rd PA
Artillery: 1st NY Lt Btty B, 4th US Btty A&C
Second Division: Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick
First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Willis Gorman: 15th MA, 1st Minn, 34th NY, 82nd NY
Second Brigade: Brig. Gen. Oliver Howard: 69th PA, 71st Pa, 72nd PA, 106th PA
Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. N. Dana: 19th Ma, 20th Ma, 7th MI, 42nd NY, 59th NY
Artillery: 1st RI Lt Btty A, 1st US Btty I
Third Division: Brig. Gen. William French
First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Nathan Kimball: 14th IN, 8th OH, 132nd PA, 7th WV
Second Brigade: Col. Dwight Morris: 14th Conn, 108th NY, 130th PA
Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. Max Weber: 1st DE, 5th MD, 4th NY
Artillery (unattached): 1st NY Lt Btty G, 1st RI Lt Btty B & G
CONFEDERATE
~ Jackson’s Corps: Maj. Gen Thomas Jackson ~
Ewell’s Division: Brig. Gen. Alexander Lawton
Lawton’s Brigade: Col. Marcellus Douglas: 13th GA, 26th GA, 31st GA, 38th
GA, 60th GA, 61st GA
Early’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Jubal Early: 13th VA, 25th VA, 31st VA, 44th VA,
49th VA, 52nd VA, 58th VA
Trimble’s Brigade: Col. James Walker: 15th AL, 12th GA, 21st GA, 21st NC, 1st
NC Battalion
Hay’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Harry Hays: 5th LA, 6th LA, 7th LA, 8th LA, 14th LA
Artillery: Maj. Courtney: D’Aquin’s Btty, Balthis’s Btty, Johnson’s Btty
Jackson’s Division: Brig. Gen. John Jones
Winder’s Brigade: Col. Andrew Grigsby: 4th VA, 5th Va, 27th VA, 33rd VA
Taliaferro’s Brigade: Col. James Jackson: 47th AL, 48th AL, 23rd VA, 37th VA
Jones’ Brigade: Capt. John Penn: 21st VA, 42nd VA, 48th VA, 1st VA Battalion
Starke’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. William Starke: 1st LA, 2nd LA, 9th LA, 10th LA,
15th La, 1st LA Battalion
Artillery: Maj. Shumaker: Carpenter ’s Btty, Wooding’s Btty, Raine’s Btty,
Poague’s Btty, Brockenbrough’s Btty
Hood’s Division: Brig. Gen. John B. Hood
(Part of Longstreet’s Corps) (reinforcements)
Hood’s Brigade: Col. William Wofford: 18th GA, 1st TX, 4th TX, 5th TX,
Hampton’s SC Legion
Law’s Brigade: Col. Evander Law: 4th AL, 2nd MISS, 11th MISS, 6th NC
Artillery: Maj. Frobel: German Arty, Palmetto Arty, Rowan Arty
Off-Table Artillery: Maj. John Pelham: Pelham’s Btty, Chew’s Btty, Hart’s Btty
First Division: Ma. Gen. Israel B. Richardson
First Brigade: Brig. Gen. John Caldwell: 5th NH, 7th NY, 61st NY, 64th NY, 81st PA
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MAP I - PHASE I
The map shows the significant areas of the battlefield around Dunker Church and the cornfield. The areas between the woods shou ld
be filled with fields with fences, ver ges etc. all offering cover to various degrees. Also, this area of the Antietam battlefield undulates
heavily and the cornfield slopes down towards the Union positions (see Photo 1 earlier).
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~ PHASE II ~
SUNKEN ROAD
"These men are going to stay here,
General, till the sun goes down or victory
is won." Writing many years later ,
Gordon would add sadly, "Alas! many of
the brave fellows are there now."
Colonel John Brown Gordon,
referring to the Sunken Road
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Phase II opens once Phase I is complete.
This phase represents Sumner ’s attack on
the West Woods round Dunker church and
its diversion to attack the Sunken Road.
All units are available from the start (see
Map II). The Confederates occupy their
positions in the Sunken Road. All other
positions are dictated by the results of the
action in Phase One. Sumner’s Corps will
approach from the northeast.
There is no of f-table
artillery fire available
for this phase.
The time frame for
this assault is thr ee
hours.
~ PHASE II FORCES ~
UNION
~ Second Corps: Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner ~
(See Phase I)
If you have used Sumner ’s Corps for Phase I, then all Union forces for Phase II
will be considered as reinforcements and will have to march onto the table from
the north under those restrictions. However, at Antietam, French and Richardson’s
divisions did not make it to the fighting around Dunker Church and the Cornfield
(Phase I) and attacked to their south against the Confederates in and around the
Sunken Road. Therefore, they are shown as being deployed on the Phase II map
CONFEDERATE
~ Jackson’s Corps: Maj. Gen Thomas Jackson ~
Hill’s Division: Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill (Part of Jackson’ s Corps)
Ripley’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Roswell Ripley: 4th GA, 44th GA, 1st NC, 3rd NC
Rodes’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Robert Rodes: 3rd AL, 5th AL, 6th AL, 12th AL,
26th AL
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Garland’s Brigade: Col. D. McRae: 5th NC, 12th NC, 13th NC, 20th NC, 23rd NC
Anderson’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. George Anderson: 2nd NC, 4th NC, 14th NC,
30th NC
Colquitt’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Alfred Colquitt: 13th Al, 6th GA, 23rd GA, 27th
GA, 28th GA
Artillery: Maj. Pierson: Jones’s Btty, Hardaway’s Btty, King William Arty, Jeff
Davis Arty
Anderson’s Division: Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson
(reinforcements. Part of Longstreet’s Corps)
Wilcox’s Brigade: Col. Alfred Cumming: 8th AL, 9th AL, 10th AL, 11th AL
Featherston’s Brigade: Col. Carnot Posey: 12th MISS, 16th MISS, 19th MISS,
2nd MISS bttn
Armistead’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: 9th VA, 14th VA, 38th VA,
53rd VA, 57th VA
Pryor’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Roger Pryor: 14th AL, 2nd FL, 5th FL, 8th FL, 3rdVA
Mahone’s Brigade: Col. William Parham: 6th VA, 12th VA, 16th VA, 41st VA,
61st VA
Wright’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Ambrose Wright: 44th AL, 3rd GA, 22nd GA, 48th GA
Artillery: Capt. Grimes: Maurin’s Btty, Huger’s Btty, Grimes’s Btty, Moorman’s Btty
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MAP II - PHASE II
The map for Phase II looks bare, but don’ t be deceived. The Sunken Road runs east-west but rises towards the corner turning sou th
(see Photo below). The ground to the north of the sunken road is elevated with the crest about 100 yards north of the road. The marked
area behind the sunken road is an orchard with the rest of the ground filled with undulating fields. A stone wall runs north-south where
marked and provides excellent enfilade firing for units along its length facing the orchard.
"We were in the very maelstrom of the battle. Men were falling
every moment. The horrible noise was incessant and almost
deafening. Except that my mind was absorbed in my duties, I do
not know how I could have endured the strain.”
Lt. Frederick L. Hitchcock, 132nd Pennsylvania,
at Bloody Lane, Sept. 17, 1862
Above: - Looking west along sunken road from modern day
observation tower.
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~ PHASE III ~
BURNSIDE’S BRIDGE
"He immediately sent forward the Second
Maryland (Lieutenant-Colonel Duryea)
and the Sixth New Hampshire (Colonel
Griffin), which regiments made several
successive attacks in the most gallant
style, but were driven back by the galling
fire of the enemy"
Major General Ambrose Burnside
Burnside’s assault took place to the
southeast of Sharpsbur g. The bulk of
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Burnside’s force begins east of Antietam
Creek with the exception of Rodman’s 3rd
Division which has moved south to find a
ford from which they can flank the
Confederate defenders – they may enter the
field 1D6 turns after they have been
deemed to move into position i.e. however
many moves it takes them to march from
Burnside’s main position to their entry
point on the flank. Burnside’s troops begin
the phase with low morale but that may be
changed to high morale on a throw of 6 on
a D6 for every turn they try to cross (that
simulates the famous “shot of whisky”
incentive to the infantry trying to cross the
bridge under accurate fire).
Confederate sharpshooters and skirmishers
occupy the heights on the west bank with a
sizeable reserve covering Sharpsbur g. The
skirmishers should be considered as
occupying hard cover. A.P. Hill’s Division
is on its way from Harper ’s Ferry and will
arrive from the Southwest 1D6 turns after
Rodman’s Division reaches its crossing
point i.e. both sides will roll simultaneously
for the arrival of their reinforcements.
Burnside has three hours to get acr oss
the bridge and drive towards
Sharpsburg. He may only cr oss via the
bridge, and he gets only thr ee attempts
to complete his crossing.
~ PHASE I FORCES ~
UNION
CONFEDERATE
~ Ninth Corps: Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside ~
Jones’s Division: Brig. Gen. David Jones (Part of Longstr eet’s Corps)
Toombs’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Robert Toombs: 2nd Ga, 15th Ga, 17th Ga, 20th
Ga
Drayton’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Thomas Drayton: 50th Ga, 51st Ga, 15th SC, 3rd
SC Bttn
Pickett’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Richard Garnett: 8th Va, 18th Va, 19th Va, 28th Va,
56th Va
Kemper’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Kemper: 1st Va, 7th Va, 11th Va, 17th Va,
24th Va
Jenkins’s Brigade: Col. Joseph Walker: 1st SC (vol), 6th SC, 4th SC, 2nd SC
Rifles, Palmetto Sharpshooters
Artillery: Wise Arty Va, JS Brown’s Btty
First Division: Brig. Gen. Orlando Wilcox
First Brigade: Col. Benjamin Christ: 28th Mass, 17th Mich, 79th NY, 50th PA
Second Brigade: Col. Thomas Welsh: 8th Mich, 46th NY, 45th PA, 100th PA
Artillery: Mass Lt 8th Btty, US Btty E
Second Division: Brig. Gen. Samuel Sturgis
First Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Nagle: 2nd MD, 6th NH, 9th NH, 48th P A
Second Brigade: Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero: 21st Mass, 35th Mass, 51st NY ,
51st PA
Artillery: PA Lt Btty D, 4th US Btty E
Third Division: Brig. Gen. Isaac Rodman
First Brigade: Col. Harrison Fairchild: 9th NY, 89th NY, 103rdNY
Second Brigade: Col. Edward Harland: 8th Conn, 11th Conn, 16th Conn, 4th RI
Artillery: 5th US Btty A
Kanawha Division: Col. Eliakim Scammon
First Brigade: Col. Hugh Ewing: 12th OH, 23rd OH, 30th OH: Ohio Lt 1st Btty:
Gilmore and Harrison’s Co’s WV Cavalry
Second Brigade: Col. George Crook: 1 1th OH, 36th OH, 28th OH: KY
Lt
Simmond’s Btty: Schambeck’s Co Chicago Dragoons
Unattached Artillery: 2nd NY Btty L, 3rd US Btty L & M
Unattached Cavalry: 8 Cos 6th NY, OH Cav 3rd Inependent Co
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Hill’s Light Division: Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill (reinforcements. Part of Jackson’ s
Corps)
Branch’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. L. O’Brien Branch: 7th NC, 18th NC, 28th NC,
33rd NC, 37th NC
Gregg’s Brigade: Grig. Gen. Maxcy Gregg: 1st SC (prov), 1st SC Rifles, 12th
SC, 13th SC, 14th SC
Field’s Brigade: Col. John Brockenbrough: 40th Va, 47th Va, 55th Va, 22nd Va
Bttn
Archer’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Archer: 19th Ga, 1st Tn, 7th Tn, 14th Tn
Pender’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. William Pender: 16th NC, 22nd NC, 34th NC, 38th
NC
Artillery: Lt. Col. R. L. Walker: Braxton’s Btty, McIntosh’s Btty, Pegram’s Btty,
Crenshaw’s Btty
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MAP III - PHASE III
The ground west of the creek is higher than on the east with lar ge wooded areas bordering the riverbank (see Photo III earlier) . The
ground between Sharpsburg and the woods is relatively open and flat with fields and small copses of trees (see Photo II earlier ).
~ HISTORICAL OUTCOME ~
As reflected in the game, the Union
assaults came piecemeal. That allowed
Lee to shuffle his troops around with great
effect using interior lines. Hooker and
Mansfield became bogged down in the
cornfield between the North and
West
woods and could not break through.
Sumner’s attack against the West Woods
and the Sunken Road failed initially too,
as his men broke against the Confederate
defenders. The Sunken Road was also a
death trap for the Confederates, however ,
once Sumner got on to their flank and
could bring enfilade fire to bear . Only a
quick shifting of forces to cover the
ground behind the Sunken Road prevented
the Confederates from defeat in this sector.
The Union attacks in the South could also
have succeeded but for a series of blunders
and an apparent lack of full commitment
on Burnside’s part. There is some debate
over whether the bridge was required at all
as the creek appears to have been readily
crossable then and now. Viewing the field
at this point, you cannot help but wonder
what an early and determined push would
have achieved against the Confederate left
flank. Burnside finally made it over and
Rodman’s flanking march and attack
drove the Confederates back into their last
lines of defence around the town. But
precious time had been wasted, and Hill’ s
Division arrived just in time to blunt the
union assault.
At the end of the day , the dispositions of
both armies were similar to those when the
battle started; Lee’ s line maintained its
integrity and the Union forces lay all
around them to the east. Between them,
both sides had suf fered over 26,000
casualties – the single bloodiest day of the
war. For most observers and historians,
McClellan had missed a glorious
opportunity. He had, however, pushed Lee
back onto southern soil and given Lincoln
the precious opportunity to claim a victory
that would make potential foreign enemies
back off their support for the Confederacy.
Moreover, Lincoln now issued the famous
Emancipation Proclamation, which seized
the moral high ground for the Union and
ensured the war would be fought very
differently from that time forwards.
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a
State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall
be then, thenceforward, and forever free;..."
- The Emancipation Proclamation, 1 Jan 1863
53