Antietam is a Battle Beyond Imagination

The Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg, Maryland marks the spot of the first battle of the American Civil War to take place on northern, or Union, soil. But it is also a battle and a place known for the overwhelming number of casualties that occurred. The Battle of Antietam (or the Battle of Sharpsburg to Confederate soldiers) is known as the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, claiming over 23,000 lives.

The battle took place fairly early in the war during September of 1862. The southern Confederacy had been steadily moving towards Washington, D.C. and President Abraham Lincoln sent his troops under Major General George B. McClellan to stop their advance. McClellan’s forces succeeded and followed Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s forces into Sharspburg where Lee decided to make a stand and engage his enemy.

The armies were not equally matched in number, with Union forces outnumbering Confederates at a ratio of three to one. But some of this advantage was diminished by the Confederates being able to take the strongest defensive positions on the battlefield. The Union troops were placed on the flanks and center of the Confederate army. When the battle began it took the Union over eight hours to push the Rebels from their positions, and resulted in more than 15,000 casualties. Locations now famous for the ferocity of the battle that took place include the Sunken Road and the Cornfield.

The Confederates would also hold a key position on the now-famous “Burnside Bridge,” at the far right flank of the Rebel line. Positioned on high ground the Rebel forces were able to successfully repel wave after wave of assault, and the bridge was taken after three hours of combat. The advance that crossed the bridge was repelled by Rebel forces that had arrived late in the day.

At the end of the twelve hour battle no ground had been gained by either side and over 23,000 casualties had occurred. Gen. Robert E. Lee withdrew his forces and crossed the Potomac River back into Virginia, or Confederate lands.

Visitors to Antietam National Battlefield today can walk the fields and lanes, cross the famous bridge and only try to imagine the chaos that reigned in that short and bloody battle. There are many Park Rangers and visitor’s informational resources; maps and audio tours are available, documentaries run throughout the day in the visitor center and guided-tours are regularly scheduled for many of the most historic locations on the battlefield.