The Battle of Antietam

Antietam

The battle of Antietam, also known as the battle of Sharpsburg, took place on September 17, 1862 in the state of Maryland. The lead generals of this war were George B. McClellan who fought for the union, and Robert E. Lee who fought for the confederates; their leadership would have to be more than astounding for this battle would determine whether or not the confederates had what it takes to fight and win the war or if they were outmatched by the north. The reason the war was fought near a small town was because in an earlier battle on of the union soldiers found the confederates battle plan and realized that the confederates were planning an attack on many of the major cities and they were taking a route through the tiny town of Sharpsburg Maryland. The armies met at Antietam creek were the fighting broke out all over from the creek all up to Miller's corn field, while general McClellan charged from the front Joseph Hooker's men charged the flanks of the confederate army. In the end the war ended with a victory that was inconclusive with union casualties at 12,400 and confederate casualties at 10,316. This war was important because it kept other countries like Great Britain, Spain, and France out of the war and gave Abraham Lincoln the confidence to pass the Emancipation proclamation.