The Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest single day in American military history. This is how the battle of Antietam is described. It was fought on September 17,1862 and, for Confederate commander Robert E. Lee it was the first time attacking in Northern land, due that all previous battles were fought in Southerner territory. The General planned on attacking on the Antietam Creek, in Sharpsburg, Maryland. Lee complicated attacking plans were found attached with three cigars by Union commander, Major General George B. McClellan. McClellan, with the new acquired knowledge planned to overwhelmed Lee’s fleet with his two to one numerical superiority. After four hours of inconclusive fighting the Union troops finally succeeded to break into the enemy line. Union was looking at an easy win until Confederate reinforcers came. They made Union troops draw back to original conformation. Later Lee and his soldiers retreated across the river on September 18. The Confederate army, on one single day, suffered a little more than 10,300 men out of 38,000 soldiers. The Union army suffered a loss of approximately 12, 400 out of a total of 75,000 men. With this win, President Lincoln had the moral booster necessary to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
200 words
200 words