7/30/2019 America's Bloodiest Day: Remembering Antietam

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By Bill Potter, Vision Forum Scholar in Residence

This week marks the 150th anniversary of the bloodiest day in American history. Approximately23,000 men, Union and Confederate, fell on September 17, 1862 along Antietam Creek nearSharpsburg, Maryland. The battle marked the end of Confederate General Robert E. Lees firstattempt to take the war outside the borders of the Confederacy. To give a little perspective: 12,000

Allied soldiers fell on D-Day, the invasion of Europe at Normandy. If you add in the Germancasualties, the total still falls far short of Antietam.

Lees army had crossed the Potomac River on August 30; Stonewall Jacksons Corp had beendetailed off to capture Harpers Ferry; and much of Longstreets Corp sent to Hagerstown. TheUnion army had been defeated at Manassas in late August and Abraham Lincoln had now returnedGeorge B. McClellan to command. McClellan was slowly moving his army from Washington, D.C. totry and find the elusive Confederates somewhere in western Maryland.

Then a remarkable providence occurred which changed everything. A couple of Federal soldiersfound General Lees order detailing the disposition of his army, wrapped around three cigars.McClellan realized not only that his enemy was scattered, but that Lee was just over South Mountain,not far from the Union position. The Federal army moved to crush the rebels once and for all. Lee

called in his disparate forces and fought the battle outnumbered about two to one and with his backto the Potomac River.

The segments of the battle have been immortalized in Civil War lore farmer Millers cornfield, theDunkard Church, the sunken road, and Burnsides Bridge. For close in fighting, full use of artilleryagainst infantry, deadly courage, and ferocious slaughter, no other day in American historycompares. Some historians believe it was General Lees greatest battle since he was at such greatdisadvantage, yet held his own in every part of the engagement. The Confederate army remainedon the field the entire next day awaiting another attack, which never came. Lee took his army backto Virginia the following day.

Though a military draw, the Union army was left in possession of the field, and they proclaimed thebattle as a victory. President Abraham Lincoln chose the occasion to issue the EmancipationProclamation, which declared the slaves behind Confederate lines to be free.

It is good for us to remember the enormous sacrifices made by our fathers for independence or forpreservation of the Union. They were willing to lay down their lives for their respective causes for thefuture of their children and country. The monuments at such places of battle offer powerful testimonyof Gods providences that are hard for us to understand but easy for us to thank Him for, as weremember the examples of courage, resolve, and perseverance that are our heritage.