September 22, 1862.  Upon the urging of his cabinet, Abraham Lincoln waited till the strategic victory at Antietam before issuing his war-changing Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 - just 5 days after the battle.

September 22, 1862.  Upon the urging of his cabinet, Abraham Lincoln waited till the strategic victory at Antietam before issuing his war-changing Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 - just 5 days after the battle.

September 22, 1862.  Upon the urging of his cabinet, Abraham Lincoln waited till the strategic victory at Antietam before issuing his war-changing Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 - just 5 days after the battle.

The Battle of South Mountain. Near sunset on September 14, 1862, Union 9th Corps commander Jesse L. Reno was killed while observing the progress of his troops at South Mountain.

The Battle of South Mountain. Near sunset on September 14, 1862, Union 9th Corps commander Jesse L. Reno was killed while observing the progress of his troops at South Mountain.

The Battle of South Mountain. Near sunset on September 14, 1862, Union 9th Corps commander Jesse L. Reno was killed while observing the progress of his troops at South Mountain.

Irwin McDowell.  McDowell commanded the nucleus of what became the Union Army of the Potomac at the First Battle of Bull Run and subsequently commanded a corps under John Pope.  However, on September 17, 1862, he was nowhere near the action at Antietam.

Irwin McDowell.  McDowell commanded the nucleus of what became the Union Army of the Potomac at the First Battle of Bull Run and subsequently commanded a corps under John Pope.  However, on September 17, 1862, he was nowhere near the action at Antietam.

Irwin McDowell.  McDowell commanded the nucleus of what became the Union Army of the Potomac at the First Battle of Bull Run and subsequently commanded a corps under John Pope.  However, on September 17, 1862, he was nowhere near the action at Antietam.

Joseph Hooker.  Hooker's 1st Corps was ordered to attack down the Hagerstown Turnpike at dawn.  His 8,600 soldiers were engulfed in the heavy fighting within Miller's Cornfield and the West Woods.  Hooker, late in the attack, was struck in the foot by a Confederate bullet.

Joseph Hooker.  Hooker's 1st Corps was ordered to attack down the Hagerstown Turnpike at dawn.  His 8,600 soldiers were engulfed in the heavy fighting within Miller's Cornfield and the West Woods.  Hooker, late in the attack, was struck in the foot by a Confederate bullet.

Joseph Hooker.  Hooker's 1st Corps was ordered to attack down the Hagerstown Turnpike at dawn.  His 8,600 soldiers were engulfed in the heavy fighting within Miller's Cornfield and the West Woods.  Hooker, late in the attack, was struck in the foot by a Confederate bullet.

The 1st Texas Regiment.  Ordered to charge into the maelstrom of the Cornfield, the 1st Texas lost 82% of its force at Antietam - the highest casualty rate for any Confederate regiment in any battle of the Civil War.

The 1st Texas Regiment.  Ordered to charge into the maelstrom of the Cornfield, the 1st Texas lost 82% of its force at Antietam - the highest casualty rate for any Confederate regiment in any battle of the Civil War.

The 1st Texas Regiment.  Ordered to charge into the maelstrom of the Cornfield, the 1st Texas lost 82% of its force at Antietam - the highest casualty rate for any Confederate regiment in any battle of the Civil War.

John B. Gordon.  Colonel of the 6th Alabama, John Brown Gordon vowed to hold his position in the Sunken Road “until the sun goes down or victory is won” and his conviction was put to the test.  He was wounded five times during the contest and only relinquished command when the last of these wounds—a bullet to the face—rendered him unconscious.

John B. Gordon.  Colonel of the 6th Alabama, John Brown Gordon vowed to hold his position in the Sunken Road “until the sun goes down or victory is won” and his conviction was put to the test.  He was wounded five times during the contest and only relinquished command when the last of these wounds—a bullet to the face—rendered him unconscious.

John B. Gordon.  Colonel of the 6th Alabama, John Brown Gordon vowed to hold his position in the Sunken Road “until the sun goes down or victory is won” and his conviction was put to the test.  He was wounded five times during the contest and only relinquished command when the last of these wounds—a bullet to the face—rendered him unconscious.

Rohrbach.  Before Ambrose E. Burnside’s controversial fight to seize control of the lower bridge over Antietam Creek, the Burnside Bridge was named for Henry Rohrbach, on whose farm the span was located.

Rohrbach.  Before Ambrose E. Burnside’s controversial fight to seize control of the lower bridge over Antietam Creek, the Burnside Bridge was named for Henry Rohrbach, on whose farm the span was located.

Rohrbach.  Before Ambrose E. Burnside’s controversial fight to seize control of the lower bridge over Antietam Creek, the Burnside Bridge was named for Henry Rohrbach, on whose farm the span was located.

Whiskey.  As punishment for an earlier infraction Colonel Ferrero had forbidden the 51st Pennsylvania from receiving their whiskey ration.  When exhorting these men to take Burnside’s Bridge the Pennsylvanians asked if they might receive their whiskey as reward for the accomplishing the deed to which Ferrero replied, “Yes, by God.”  Ferrero’s men seized the bridge and their whiskey.

Whiskey.  As punishment for an earlier infraction Colonel Ferrero had forbidden the 51st Pennsylvania from receiving their whiskey ration.  When exhorting these men to take Burnside’s Bridge the Pennsylvanians asked if they might receive their whiskey as reward for the accomplishing the deed to which Ferrero replied, “Yes, by God.”  Ferrero’s men seized the bridge and their whiskey.

Whiskey.  As punishment for an earlier infraction Colonel Ferrero had forbidden the 51st Pennsylvania from receiving their whiskey ration.  When exhorting these men to take Burnside’s Bridge the Pennsylvanians asked if they might receive their whiskey as reward for the accomplishing the deed to which Ferrero replied, “Yes, by God.”  Ferrero’s men seized the bridge and their whiskey.

Harpers Ferry.  Hill’s “Light Division” had been left behind to finalize the surrender of the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry, leaving them some seventeen miles from the action at Sharpsburg.  “Little Powell’s” men, however, covered the distance in less than eight hours, arriving just in time to blunt the Federal assault and secure Lee’s wavering right flank.

Harpers Ferry.  Hill’s “Light Division” had been left behind to finalize the surrender of the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry, leaving them some seventeen miles from the action at Sharpsburg.  “Little Powell’s” men, however, covered the distance in less than eight hours, arriving just in time to blunt the Federal assault and secure Lee’s wavering right flank.

Harpers Ferry.  Hill’s “Light Division” had been left behind to finalize the surrender of the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry, leaving them some seventeen miles from the action at Sharpsburg.  “Little Powell’s” men, however, covered the distance in less than eight hours, arriving just in time to blunt the Federal assault and secure Lee’s wavering right flank.

Six.  Six different generals, three Confederates and three Union, were killed or mortally wounded at Antietam: Brig. Gen. George Anderson (CSA), Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch (CSA), Maj. Gen. Joseph Mansfield (USA), Maj. Gen. Israel Richardson (USA), Brig. Gen. Isaac Rodman (USA), and Brig. Gen. William Starke (CSA).  Remarkably, another twelve generals were wounded in the battle.

Six.  Six different generals, three Confederates and three Union, were killed or mortally wounded at Antietam: Brig. Gen. George Anderson (CSA), Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch (CSA), Maj. Gen. Joseph Mansfield (USA), Maj. Gen. Israel Richardson (USA), Brig. Gen. Isaac Rodman (USA), and Brig. Gen. William Starke (CSA).  Remarkably, another twelve generals were wounded in the battle.

Six.  Six different generals, three Confederates and three Union, were killed or mortally wounded at Antietam: Brig. Gen. George Anderson (CSA), Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch (CSA), Maj. Gen. Joseph Mansfield (USA), Maj. Gen. Israel Richardson (USA), Brig. Gen. Isaac Rodman (USA), and Brig. Gen. William Starke (CSA).  Remarkably, another twelve generals were wounded in the battle.

The Hagerstown Pike.  This photo of the Confederate dead of William E. Starke’s Louisiana Brigade was taken west of the Hagerstown Pike (just left of the post and rail fence).  When seen by the Northern population, these photos brought home the terrors of battle to many who could not directly witness the real costs of war.

The Hagerstown Pike.  This photo of the Confederate dead of William E. Starke’s Louisiana Brigade was taken west of the Hagerstown Pike (just left of the post and rail fence).  When seen by the Northern population, these photos brought home the terrors of battle to many who could not directly witness the real costs of war.

The Hagerstown Pike.  This photo of the Confederate dead of William E. Starke’s Louisiana Brigade was taken west of the Hagerstown Pike (just left of the post and rail fence).  When seen by the Northern population, these photos brought home the terrors of battle to many who could not directly witness the real costs of war.

The Battle of Antietam.  D-Day (2,499 KIA), Pearl Harbor (2,459 KIA), and the 9/11 Attacks (2,996 Killed) all have lower death tolls than the Battle of Antietam (2,108 Union and 1,546 Confederate = 3,654 KIA).  And while the Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day in American history, several multi-day Civil War battles produced even more casualties than Antietam (ex. Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Shiloh).

The Battle of Antietam.  D-Day (2,499 KIA), Pearl Harbor (2,459 KIA), and the 9/11 Attacks (2,996 Killed) all have lower death tolls than the Battle of Antietam (2,108 Union and 1,546 Confederate = 3,654 KIA).  And while the Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day in American history, several multi-day Civil War battles produced even more casualties than Antietam (ex. Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Shiloh).

The Battle of Antietam.  D-Day (2,499 KIA), Pearl Harbor (2,459 KIA), and the 9/11 Attacks (2,996 Killed) all have lower death tolls than the Battle of Antietam (2,108 Union and 1,546 Confederate = 3,654 KIA).  And while the Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day in American history, several multi-day Civil War battles produced even more casualties than Antietam (ex. Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Shiloh).

Piecemeal Attacks.  While there were many challenges facing the Army of the Potomac at Antietam, not least among them the skill and fighting prowess of the Army of Northern Virginia, many senior Civil War figures and historians today place the central blame for the Union failure to produce a decisive victory on McClellan's overall attack plan which had his major offenses following one after another.  Lee was thus able to quickly maneuver forces from one portion of the battlefield to another.  A more coordinated assault should have produced the victory that Lincoln and the North so highly coveted.

Piecemeal Attacks.  While there were many challenges facing the Army of the Potomac at Antietam, not least among them the skill and fighting prowess of the Army of Northern Virginia, many senior Civil War figures and historians today place the central blame for the Union failure to produce a decisive victory on McClellan's overall attack plan which had his major offenses following one after another.  Lee was thus able to quickly maneuver forces from one portion of the battlefield to another.  A more coordinated assault should have produced the victory that Lincoln and the North so highly coveted.

Piecemeal Attacks.  While there were many challenges facing the Army of the Potomac at Antietam, not least among them the skill and fighting prowess of the Army of Northern Virginia, many senior Civil War figures and historians today place the central blame for the Union failure to produce a decisive victory on McClellan's overall attack plan which had his major offenses following one after another.  Lee was thus able to quickly maneuver forces from one portion of the battlefield to another.  A more coordinated assault should have produced the victory that Lincoln and the North so highly coveted.

Issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.  Though Lincoln was extremely frustrated with McClellan’s failure to destroy the Rebel Army, the strategic Union victory at Antietam was nevertheless significant enough that the president issued the preliminary emancipation proclamation stating that as of January 1, 1863, slaves in the rebelling states would be forever free.

Issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.  Though Lincoln was extremely frustrated with McClellan’s failure to destroy the Rebel Army, the strategic Union victory at Antietam was nevertheless significant enough that the president issued the preliminary emancipation proclamation stating that as of January 1, 1863, slaves in the rebelling states would be forever free.

Issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.  Though Lincoln was extremely frustrated with McClellan’s failure to destroy the Rebel Army, the strategic Union victory at Antietam was nevertheless significant enough that the president issued the preliminary emancipation proclamation stating that as of January 1, 1863, slaves in the rebelling states would be forever free.