Download The Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam
Antietam

Fought on September 17,
1862, near Sharpsburg,
Maryland, and Antietam
Creek, as part of the
Maryland Campaign, was
the first major battle in
the American Civil War to
take place on Northern
soil. It was the bloodiest
single-day battle in
American history, with
about 23,000 casualties.
Antietam

Losses for the day were heavy on both sides. The Union
had 12,401 casualties with 2,108 dead. Confederate
casualties were 10,318 with 1,546 dead. This
represented 25% of the Federal force and 31% of the
Confederate.
Antietam

Despite having superiority
of numbers, McClellan's
attacks failed to destroy
Lee's army. Nevertheless,
Lee's invasion of Maryland
was ended; but, he was
able to withdraw his army
back to Virginia without
interference from the
cautious McClellan.
Although the battle was
tactically inconclusive, it
had unique significance as
enough of a victory to
give President Abraham
Lincoln the confidence to
announce his
Emancipation
Proclamation.


Antietam is considered a turning point of the war and a
victory for the Union because it ended Lee's strategic
campaign (his first invasion of the North) and it allowed
President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
on September 22, which took effect on January 1, 1863.
Although Lincoln had intended to do so earlier, he was
advised by his Cabinet to make this announcement after a
Union victory to avoid the perception that it was issued out
of desperation.
The Union victory and Lincoln's proclamation also played a
considerable role in dissuading the governments of France
and Britain from sending aid to the Confederacy.
Battle of Vicksburg

In May and June of 1863,
Maj. Gen. Ulysses S.
Grant’s armies converged
on Vicksburg, investing the
city and entrapping a
Confederate army under
Lt. Gen. John Pemberton.
Vicksburg

On July 4, Vicksburg surrendered after prolonged siege
operations. This was the culmination of one of the most
brilliant military campaigns of the war. With the loss of
Pemberton’s army and this vital stronghold on the
Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in half.
Vicksburg

With the Mississippi under
Union control – it was almost
impossible for the
Confederate Army to get
supplies and troops from the
East to the West. Grant's
successes in the West
boosted his reputation,
leading ultimately to his
appointment as General-inChief of the Union armies.