Crossroads of Freedom

Antietam

Leslea Pedersen

History 141

October 15, 2009

Dr. Michael Arguello

The Pedulum of War

• September 17, 1862 was the

bloodiest single day in American

history.

• Antietam was a pivotal battle in the

Civil War; critical victory for the

Union.

• The outcome came from

circumstances of misjudgment, valor

and coincidence.

• The Southern losses at Antietam

squashed any hopes they had of

European intervention on their behalf.

• Southern casualties were

tremendous. One week after the

battle, in an area of 75 square miles

“wounded and dying soldiers were in

every neighborhood and nearly every

house.” This actually accounts for

both sides.

The Pedulum of War

• Karl Marx from London wrote that

Antietam “has decided the fate of the

American Civil War.” Many others

agreed.

• General McClellan was a big

problem for President Lincoln.

McClellan always worried about being

outnumbered, as a result didn’t act at

very opportune times.

• Lincoln questioned McClellan’s

moral courage.

• The South was forced to yield a very

important naval yard to the North. The

CSS Virginia was scuttled.

• The South negotiated with Europe

for aid to, among other things, help

unblock the harbors, which stopped the

export of cotton.

• The North was negotiating with

Europe for aid as well.

Taking Off The Kid Gloves

• Southern General Joseph Johnston

was wounded and replaced by Robert

E. Lee. Lee attacked the North right

away which caused McClellan to

retreated. This was beginning of the 7

Days Battles.

• Lincoln sought to beef up the Union

army by bringing generals from the

western campaigns to the east.

• Lincoln also called for 300,000 new

volunteers; the state militia was called

to serve in the Union army.

• The South’s successes in these

battles renewed European interest in

aiding the South.

Taking Off The Kid Gloves

• Foreign opinions on anti-slavery pressured Lincoln to call for emancipation. Up until now the war was not about slavery.

• Slave labor was very important to the Southern army by way of support services. Many of them ran away to the Union armies for refuge, and then became an important part of the support services there.

• The Northern General in Chief gave an order to General Grant to take southern property used in war against the North. This included slaves, and became part of the new policy for “hard war.”

• Lincoln was advised to hold off on the emancipation proclamation lest it be seen as the last shriek on the retreat. Lincoln decided to wait for a Union victory.