InvitationToACW-PartThree

7/27/2019 InvitationToACW-PartThree

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~ Background ~

Ask American Civil War enthusiasts

which battle encapsulates the themes

of the war and which was the most

important, then stand back and

watch the fur fly . We all have our

particular hobby horses:Chancellorsville, Second Manassas,

Gettysburg, of course, Shiloh, or my

particular favourite, Antietam. That

battle fought in September 1862,

contains all the themes discussed in

parts I and II: it was the most

important battle politically; and, it

was a transition battle that defined

how the rest of the war would be

fought.

The Antietam campaign began while

the hapless John Pope and his Army

of Virginia sat around Manassas atthe end of August 1862, caught in the

headlights of Lee s seemingly

everywhere-at-once Army of

Northern Virginia. George McClellanwas supposed to help Pope and

combine their armies, but he was

dithering as usual. Lee pounced on

Pope at Second Manassas, leaving

him and his army shattered.

Washington was now in real danger

and Lincoln had little choice but to

appoint McClellan to take command

of the combined Army of the

Potomac with orders to find Lee and

beat him.

Lee was at Frederick, Maryland,

having crossed the Potomac. Whenhe found out that McClellan was back

in charge, Lee took the extra time he

knew was coming to dispatch a lar ge

part of his army to capture Harper sFerry just off to the West. Lee took

the remainder of his army behind the

Blue Ridge Mountains to await

events, leaving covering forces

across the passes. But then something

unexpected happened; the ponderous

Army of the Potomac accelerated,

pushing into the passes, which could

not hold. Lee did not know that

McClellan had been handed the

rebels orders after they were found

by a soldier wrapped in cigars. Lee

called his army back together and

took up positions behind AntietamCreek around the town of Sharpsburg

to await its assembly . Even though

Above:

Union troops

march across

Burnsides

Bridge.

All photos

unless stated by

Cyrille Barillot.

Miniatures by

Perry andFoundry.

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AN INVITATION TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Pt. III By R.Neil SmithTHE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM

~ Armies Clash Near Sharpsburg, Maryland! ~

"The vast army of McClellan spread out before me. The marching

columns extended back as far as eye could see in the distance. Itwas a grand and glorious spectacle, and it was impossible to look

at it without admiration."

- General D.H. Hill

Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:15 Page 1


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heavily outnumbered, Lee banked

again on McClellan s singular lack

of haste; Little Mac seldom

disappointed on that score.

On the morning of 17 September

1862, McClellans army of 80,000

stood in full array, a spectacular sight

by all accounts. Across the creek,

Lees ragtag army of less than

40,000 stood ready to receive. When

day broke, the cannons roared.

~ Terrain & Deployment ~

The Antietam battlefield stretches

out from the small town of

Sharpsburg across rolling farmland

and woods to the hills on the other

side of Antietam Creek. Three roads

emit from the town; the Harper s

Ferry Road runs south; theBoonsboro Turnpike heads over the

Middle Bridge and into the hills to

the east; and the Hagerstown

Turnpike trails away to the north.

Lees army sat astride these roads,

shielding the town and their line of

retreat. The famous creek flows from

the south to almost northeast; thus,

the northern portion of the open field

was more open with no obvious

impediment to a Union assault.

McClellan hoped that a well-directed

assault on Lee s northern flankwould roll up the Confederates and

tasked Fighting Joe Hooker s 1st

Corps and Mansfields 12th Corps to

do the job. In the centre, stood

Sumners 2nd Corps and Porters 5th

Corps, and in the south Burnside s

9th Corps waited for the order to

cross the creek by the Rohrbach

Bridge, soon to be named after the

Union General.

Opposing the Union men on the

northern flank were Stonewall

Jacksons, gathered around theDunker Church and carefully

positioned across a cornfield and

into the woods. Jackson had artillery

support on his western flank to

enfilade the Federals if they

advanced. D.H. Hill s Division

occupied a seemingly excellent

defensive position along a sunken

road just south of the Dunker Church

and facing northeast. Longstreet s

Division secured the southern flank

of Sharpsburg with a few regiments

of Georgians and South Carolinians

dug in along the heights opposite theRohrbach Bridge.

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Photo 1

From

Confederate

positions at the

cornfield look-

ing north.

Relates to first

phase map.

Photo 2

Looking from

the site of A.P.

Hill's

Division's

arrival point.

Relates to third

phase map.

Photo 3

Looking across

Burnside's

Bridge from

the

Confederate

sharpshooter

positions.

Relates to third

phase map.



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~ Wargaming Antietam ~

If you are the designated Union player , I

know what you are thinking: Im going to

order attacks left, right, and centre, and

crush some rebel dreams. After all, you

might be five foot two with a Napoleonic

complex but you are certainly not the

over-cautious George McClellan. You

could well be right, and it might be worth

a try. But, I suspect all you are likely to see

is a Confederate army in full retreat

through the town, and you would not berecreating Antietam. On that fateful

morning, Lee had once again gambled on

McClellans proclivity for indecision and

caution. He reasoned that he would be

able to shift his men around to meet

danger where it presented itself, and if

McClellan did opt for a full-out assault,

the Army of Northern Virginia would

withdraw down the road to the rear . Lee

got it right, again, but not without sending

messages to A.P. Hill to come up from

Harpers Ferry with all the alacrity he

could muster.

McClellans attack came piecemeal in

three clearly defined stages; from the

north, the centre, and the south. The best

way I found to reflect the circumstances of

the Union actions was to split the

wargame into three phases with some

built-in mechanics for variety in decision

making. If you are fighting at a smaller

scale, you can achieve that all on the same

table, fighting one-third at a time. For

larger scales, three back-to-back actions

are required on separate tables with the

results impacting the next phase.

~ Battle Management ~

For both sides, forces are deployed as they

were at the start of Antietam. As

commander, you can move your forces to

reinforce or assault from one sector to the

next, but not across two sectors. Therefore,

you can move forces from the centre to the

flanks or flanks to centre, but not flank to

flank. Any reallocated Union forces will

arrive 1D6 turns after the phase begins in

which they wish to interfere. The

Confederates, can enter the phase when

their commander orders them to. Moreover,

as much as the Union commander wouldlove to throw forces down the Boonsboro

Turnpike, that is not permitted.

If the Confederates are beaten in any

phase but still have a line of retreat, they

can withdraw onto the adjacent section but

in disorder. They will enter the new phase

in the condition they left the previous one

i.e. routed units are still routing. However,

Confederate units retreating or routing

onto a section that has already been

decided are deemed destroyed. For

example, a Confederate unit in phase II is

pushed back onto the phase I table; that

unit will be destroyed even if the

Confederates won phase I.

~ Victory Conditions ~

The Union wins if it breaks through the

Confederates in any of the phases. It is a total

Union victory if they cut off the Confederate

line of retreat through Sharpsbur g i.e.

complete domination of any phase.

The Confederacy wins if the Union fails

to break through in any phase.

The battle is drawn if the Confederates

keep their line of retreat open toSharpsburg and can maintain a fighting

withdrawal.

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~ PHASE I ~

CORNFIELD - DUNKER CHURCH

The action begins with Hooker s Corps

attacking out of the north woods against

Jackson, holding positions in the west

woods and around Dunker Church (seeMap I). All units are represented on the

initial battlefield. The Confederates also

have off-table artillery support along the

western edge of the table, providing

enfilade fire. Their artillery is represented

on the table, but cannot be attacked by

infantry or cavalry . The Union has of f-

table counter-battery fire available from

the eastern edge which need not be

represented and can only be used against

the Confederate artillery.

For the Union, Mansfield s Corps is

approaching from the north and can enterthe field at any point on the northern edge

1D6 moves after the Union player

announces their arrival. At the midpoint of

the game, the Union may bring on

Sumners Corps 1D6 moves after the

Union player declares their arrival. But

note, any elements of Sumners Corps that

enters Phase I will count as reinforcements

for Phase II and only if they remain intact.

For the Confederates, Hoods Division can

be brought on to the southern edge of the

table at any time. The Confederates begin

the game and must defend the southern

edge of the table at all costs.

The time frame is two hours.

1945

"As we appeared at the edge of the corn, a long line of men in butternut and

gray rose up from the ground. Simultaneously, the hostile battle lines

opened a tremendous fire upon each other. Men, I cannot say fell; they wereknocked out of the ranks by the dozens. But we jumped over the fence, and

pushed on, loading, firing, and shouting as we advanced."

- Major Rufus R. Dawes



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THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM IN 6mm

Above: Hooker's advancing brigades on the Union right flank, where Jackson's infantry and artillery

batteries are positioned.

Below: Richardson's division advancing to the initial assault. Left: Ambrose Burnside

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PHOTOS CURTESY OF BACCUS 6mm

Above: Rickett's division moving up to the cornfield, where Ewell's Confederates await them. Dunker Church is in the background.

Above: Fighting in the Cornfield. Below: Confederate troops of D.H. Hill's division in position on the line of the sunken road.

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UNION

~ First Corps: Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker ~

First Division: Brig. Gen. Abner Doubleday

First Brigade: Col Walter Phelps: 22nd NY, 24th NY, 30th NY, 84th NY, 2nd US

Sharpshooters

Second Brigade: Lt. Col. J. Hoffman: 7th IN, 76th NY, 95th NY, 56th PA

Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. Marsena Patrick: 21st NY, 23rd NY, 35th NY, 80th NY

Fourth Brigade: Brig. Gen. John Gibbon: 19th IN, 2nd WI, 6th WI, 7th WI

Artillery: Captain J. Monroe: NH Lt 1st Btty , 1st RI Btty D, 1st NY Lt Btty L,

4th US Btty B

Second Division: Brig. Gen. James Ricketts

First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Abram Duryea: 97th NY, 104th NY, 105th NY, 107th PA

Second Brigade: Col. William Christian: 26th NY, 94th NY, 88th PA, 90th PA

Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. George Hartsuff: 12th Mass, 13th Mass, 83rd NY ,

11th PA

Artillery: 1st PA Lt Btty. F, PA Lt Btty C

Third Division: Brig. Gen. George Meade

First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour: 1st PA, 2nd PA, 5th PA, 6th PA, 13th PA

Second Brigade: Col. Albert Magilton: 3rd PA, 4th PA, 7th PA, 8th PA

Third Brigade: Lt. Col. Robert Anderson: 9th PA, 10th PA, 11th PA, 12th PA

Artillery: 1st PA Lt Btty A & B, 5th US Btty C

~ Twelfth Corps: Maj. Gen. Joseph Mansfield ~

(reinforcements)

First Division: Brig. Gen. Alpheus Williams

First Brigade: Brig. Gen. S Crawford: 10th ME, 28th NY , 46th PA, 124th PA,

125th PA, 128th PA

Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. George Gordon: 27th IN, 13th NJ, 107th NY, 3rd WI,

2nd MA

Second Division: Brig. Gen. George Greene

First Brigade: Lt. Col. Hector Tyndale: 5th OH, 7th OH, 66th OH, 28th PA

Second Brigade: Col. Henry Stainrook: 3rd MD, 111th PA, 102nd NY

Third Brigade: Col. William Goodrich: 3rd DE, 60th NY , 78th NY, Purnell

Legion MD

Corps Artillery: Capt. Clermont Best: ME Lt 4th & 6th Btty, 1st NY Lt Btty M,

NY Lt 10th Btty, PA Lt Btty E&F, 4th US Btty F

~ Second Corps: Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner ~

(reinforcements)

First Division: Ma. Gen. Israel B. RichardsonFirst Brigade: Brig. Gen. John Caldwell: 5th NH, 7th NY, 61st NY, 64th NY, 81st PA

Second Brigade: Brig. Gen. Thomas Meagher: 63rd NY, 69th NY, 88th NY, 29th MA

Third Brigade: Col. John Brooke: 2nd De, 52nd NY, 57th NY, 66th NY, 53rd PA

Artillery: 1st NY Lt Btty B, 4th US Btty A&C

Second Division: Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick

First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Willis Gorman: 15th MA, 1st Minn, 34th NY, 82nd NY

Second Brigade: Brig. Gen. Oliver Howard: 69th PA, 71st Pa, 72nd PA, 106th PA

Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. N. Dana: 19th Ma, 20th Ma, 7th MI, 42nd NY, 59th NY

Artillery: 1st RI Lt Btty A, 1st US Btty I

Third Division: Brig. Gen. William French

First Brigade: Brig. Gen. Nathan Kimball: 14th IN, 8th OH, 132nd PA, 7th WV

Second Brigade: Col. Dwight Morris: 14th Conn, 108th NY, 130th PA

Third Brigade: Brig. Gen. Max Weber: 1st DE, 5th MD, 4th NY

Artillery (unattached): 1st NY Lt Btty G, 1st RI Lt Btty B & G

CONFEDERATE

~ Jacksons Corps: Maj. Gen Thomas Jackson ~

Ewells Division: Brig. Gen. Alexander Lawton

Lawtons Brigade: Col. Marcellus Douglas: 13th GA, 26th GA, 31st GA, 38th

GA, 60th GA, 61st GA

Earlys Brigade: Brig. Gen. Jubal Early: 13th VA, 25th VA, 31st VA, 44th VA,

49th VA, 52nd VA, 58th VA

Trimbles Brigade: Col. James Walker: 15th AL, 12th GA, 21st GA, 21st NC, 1st

NC Battalion

Hays Brigade: Brig. Gen. Harry Hays: 5th LA, 6th LA, 7th LA, 8th LA, 14th LA

Artillery: Maj. Courtney: DAquins Btty, Balthiss Btty, Johnsons Btty

Jacksons Division: Brig. Gen. John Jones

Winders Brigade: Col. Andrew Grigsby: 4th VA, 5th Va, 27th VA, 33rd VA

Taliaferros Brigade: Col. James Jackson: 47th AL, 48th AL, 23rd VA, 37th VA

Jones Brigade: Capt. John Penn: 21st VA, 42nd VA, 48th VA, 1st VA Battalion

Starkes Brigade: Brig. Gen. William Starke: 1st LA, 2nd LA, 9th LA, 10th LA,

15th La, 1st LA Battalion

Artillery: Maj. Shumaker: Carpenter s Btty, Woodings Btty, Raines Btty,

Poagues Btty, Brockenbroughs Btty

Hoods Division: Brig. Gen. John B. Hood

(Part of Longstreets Corps) (reinforcements)

Hoods Brigade: Col. William Wofford: 18th GA, 1st TX, 4th TX, 5th TX,

Hamptons SC Legion

Laws Brigade: Col. Evander Law: 4th AL, 2nd MISS, 11th MISS, 6th NC

Artillery: Maj. Frobel: German Arty, Palmetto Arty, Rowan Arty

Off-Table Artillery: Maj. John Pelham: Pelhams Btty, Chews Btty, Harts Btty

~ PHASE I FORCES ~

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8/12

MAP I - PHASE I

The map shows the significant areas of the battlefield around Dunker Church and the cornfield. The areas between the woods should

be filled with fields with fences, verges etc. all offering cover to various degrees. Also, this area of the Antietam battlefield undulates

heavily and the cornfield slopes down towards the Union positions (see Photo 1 earlier).

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~ PHASE II ~

SUNKEN ROAD

Phase II opens once Phase I is complete.

This phase represents Sumners attack on

the West Woods round Dunker church and

its diversion to attack the Sunken Road.

All units are available from the start (see

Map II). The Confederates occupy their

positions in the Sunken Road. All other

positions are dictated by the results of the

action in Phase One. Sumners Corps will

approach from the northeast.

There is no of f-table

artillery fire available

for this phase.

The time frame for

this assault is thr ee

hours.

"These men are going to stay here,

General, till the sun goes down or victory

is won." Writing many years later ,

Gordon would add sadly, "Alas! many of

the brave fellows are there now."

Colonel John Brown Gordon,

referring to the Sunken Road

UNION

~ Second Corps: Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner ~

(See Phase I)

If you have used Sumner s Corps for Phase I, then all Union forces for Phase II

will be considered as reinforcements and will have to march onto the table from

the north under those restrictions. However, at Antietam, French and Richardsons

divisions did not make it to the fighting around Dunker Church and the Cornfield

(Phase I) and attacked to their south against the Confederates in and around the

Sunken Road. Therefore, they are shown as being deployed on the Phase II map

CONFEDERATE

~ Jacksons Corps: Maj. Gen Thomas Jackson ~

Hills Division: Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill (Part of Jackson s Corps)

Ripleys Brigade: Brig. Gen. Roswell Ripley: 4th GA, 44th GA, 1st NC, 3rd NC

Rodess Brigade: Brig. Gen. Robert Rodes: 3rd AL, 5th AL, 6th AL, 12th AL,

26th AL

Garlands Brigade: Col. D. McRae: 5th NC, 12th NC, 13th NC, 20th NC, 23rd NC

Andersons Brigade: Brig. Gen. George Anderson: 2nd NC, 4th NC, 14th NC,

30th NC

Colquitts Brigade: Brig. Gen. Alfred Colquitt: 13th Al, 6th GA, 23rd GA, 27th

GA, 28th GA

Artillery: Maj. Pierson: Joness Btty, Hardaways Btty, King William Arty, Jeff

Davis Arty

Andersons Division: Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson

(reinforcements. Part of Longstreets Corps)

Wilcoxs Brigade: Col. Alfred Cumming: 8th AL, 9th AL, 10th AL, 11th AL

Featherstons Brigade: Col. Carnot Posey: 12th MISS, 16th MISS, 19th MISS,

2nd MISS bttn

Armisteads Brigade: Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: 9th VA, 14th VA, 38th VA,

53rd VA, 57th VA

Pryors Brigade: Brig. Gen. Roger Pryor: 14th AL, 2nd FL, 5th FL, 8th FL, 3rd VA

Mahones Brigade: Col. William Parham: 6th VA, 12th VA, 16th VA, 41st VA,

61st VA

Wrights Brigade: Brig. Gen. Ambrose Wright: 44th AL, 3rd GA, 22nd GA, 48th GA

Artillery: Capt. Grimes: Maurins Btty, Hugers Btty, Grimess Btty, Moormans Btty

~ PHASE II FORCES ~

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MAP II - PHASE II

The map for Phase II looks bare, but don t be deceived. The Sunken Road runs east-west but rises towards the corner turning sou th

(see Photo below). The ground to the north of the sunken road is elevated with the crest about 100 yards north of the road. The marked

area behind the sunken road is an orchard with the rest of the ground filled with undulating fields. A stone wall runs north-south where

marked and provides excellent enfilade firing for units along its length facing the orchard.

"We were in the very maelstrom of the battle. Men were falling

every moment. The horrible noise was incessant and almost

deafening. Except that my mind was absorbed in my duties, I donot know how I could have endured the strain.

Lt. Frederick L. Hitchcock, 132nd Pennsylvania,

at Bloody Lane, Sept. 17, 1862

Above: - Looking west along sunken road from modern day

observation tower.

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~ PHASE III ~

BURNSIDES BRIDGE

Burnsides assault took place to the

southeast of Sharpsbur g. The bulk of

Burnsides force begins east of Antietam

Creek with the exception of Rodmans 3rd

Division which has moved south to find a

ford from which they can flank the

Confederate defenders they may enter the

field 1D6 turns after they have been

deemed to move into position i.e. however

many moves it takes them to march from

Burnsides main position to their entry

point on the flank. Burnsides troops begin

the phase with low morale but that may be

changed to high morale on a throw of 6 on

a D6 for every turn they try to cross (that

simulates the famous shot of whisky

incentive to the infantry trying to cross the

bridge under accurate fire).

Confederate sharpshooters and skirmishers

occupy the heights on the west bank with a

sizeable reserve covering Sharpsburg. The

skirmishers should be considered as

occupying hard cover. A.P. Hills Division

is on its way from Harper s Ferry and will

arrive from the Southwest 1D6 turns after

Rodmans Division reaches its crossing

point i.e. both sides will roll simultaneously

for the arrival of their reinforcements.

Burnside has three hours to get acr oss

the bridge and drive towards

Sharpsburg. He may only cross via the

bridge, and he gets only three attempts

to complete his crossing.

"He immediately sent forward the Second

Maryland (Lieutenant-Colonel Duryea)

and the Sixth New Hampshire (Colonel

Griffin), which regiments made several

successive attacks in the most gallant

style, but were driven back by the galling

fire of the enemy"

Major General Ambrose Burnside

UNION

~ Ninth Corps: Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside ~

First Division: Brig. Gen. Orlando Wilcox

First Brigade: Col. Benjamin Christ: 28th Mass, 17th Mich, 79th NY, 50th PA

Second Brigade: Col. Thomas Welsh: 8th Mich, 46th NY, 45th PA, 100th PA

Artillery: Mass Lt 8th Btty, US Btty E

Second Division: Brig. Gen. Samuel Sturgis

First Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Nagle: 2nd MD, 6th NH, 9th NH, 48th PA

Second Brigade: Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero: 21st Mass, 35th Mass, 51st NY ,

51st PA

Artillery: PA Lt Btty D, 4th US Btty E

Third Division: Brig. Gen. Isaac Rodman

First Brigade: Col. Harrison Fairchild: 9th NY, 89th NY, 103rdNY

Second Brigade: Col. Edward Harland: 8th Conn, 11th Conn, 16th Conn, 4th RI

Artillery: 5th US Btty A

Kanawha Division: Col. Eliakim Scammon

First Brigade: Col. Hugh Ewing: 12th OH, 23rd OH, 30th OH: Ohio Lt 1st Btty:

Gilmore and Harrisons Cos WV Cavalry

Second Brigade: Col. George Crook: 1 1th OH, 36th OH, 28th OH: KY Lt

Simmonds Btty: Schambecks Co Chicago Dragoons

Unattached Artillery: 2nd NY Btty L, 3rd US Btty L & M

Unattached Cavalry: 8 Cos 6th NY, OH Cav 3rd Inependent Co

CONFEDERATE

Joness Division: Brig. Gen. David Jones (Part of Longstreets Corps)

Toombss Brigade: Brig. Gen. Robert Toombs: 2nd Ga, 15th Ga, 17th Ga, 20th

Ga

Draytons Brigade: Brig. Gen. Thomas Drayton: 50th Ga, 51st Ga, 15th SC, 3rd

SC Bttn

Picketts Brigade: Brig. Gen. Richard Garnett: 8th Va, 18th Va, 19th Va, 28th Va,

56th Va

Kempers Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Kemper: 1st Va, 7th Va, 11th Va, 17th Va,

24th Va

Jenkinss Brigade: Col. Joseph Walker: 1st SC (vol), 6th SC, 4th SC, 2nd SC

Rifles, Palmetto Sharpshooters

Artillery: Wise Arty Va, JS Browns Btty

Hills Light Division: Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill (reinforcements. Part of Jackson s

Corps)

Branchs Brigade: Brig. Gen. L. OBrien Branch: 7th NC, 18th NC, 28th NC,

33rd NC, 37th NC

Greggs Brigade: Grig. Gen. Maxcy Gregg: 1st SC (prov), 1st SC Rifles, 12th

SC, 13th SC, 14th SC

Fields Brigade: Col. John Brockenbrough: 40th Va, 47th Va, 55th Va, 22nd Va

Bttn

Archers Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Archer: 19th Ga, 1st Tn, 7th Tn, 14th Tn

Penders Brigade: Brig. Gen. William Pender: 16th NC, 22nd NC, 34th NC, 38th

NC

Artillery: Lt. Col. R. L. Walker: Braxtons Btty, McIntoshs Btty, Pegrams Btty,

Crenshaws Btty

~ PHASE I FORCES ~

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12/12

MAP III - PHASE III

The ground west of the creek is higher than on the east with lar ge wooded areas bordering the riverbank (see Photo III earlier) . The

ground between Sharpsburg and the woods is relatively open and flat with fields and small copses of trees (see Photo II earlier ).

~ HISTORICAL OUTCOME ~

As reflected in the game, the Union

assaults came piecemeal. That allowed

Lee to shuffle his troops around with great

effect using interior lines. Hooker and

Mansfield became bogged down in the

cornfield between the North and West

woods and could not break through.

Sumners attack against the West Woods

and the Sunken Road failed initially too,

as his men broke against the Confederate

defenders. The Sunken Road was also a

death trap for the Confederates, however ,

once Sumner got on to their flank and

could bring enfilade fire to bear . Only aquick shifting of forces to cover the

ground behind the Sunken Road prevented

the Confederates from defeat in this sector.

The Union attacks in the South could also

have succeeded but for a series of blundersand an apparent lack of full commitment

on Burnsides part. There is some debate

over whether the bridge was required at all

as the creek appears to have been readily

crossable then and now. Viewing the field

at this point, you cannot help but wonder

what an early and determined push would

have achieved against the Confederate left

flank. Burnside finally made it over and

Rodmans flanking march and attack

drove the Confederates back into their last

lines of defence around the town. But

precious time had been wasted, and Hill s

Division arrived just in time to blunt theunion assault.

At the end of the day , the dispositions of

both armies were similar to those when the

battle started; Lee s line maintained itsintegrity and the Union forces lay all

around them to the east. Between them,

both sides had suf fered over 26,000

casualties the single bloodiest day of the

war. For most observers and historians,

McClellan had missed a glorious

opportunity. He had, however, pushed Lee

back onto southern soil and given Lincoln

the precious opportunity to claim a victory

that would make potential foreign enemies

back off their support for the Confederacy.

Moreover, Lincoln now issued the famous

Emancipation Proclamation, which seized

the moral high ground for the Union andensured the war would be fought very

differently from that time forwards.

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred

and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a

State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall

be then, thenceforward, and forever free;..."

- The Emancipation Proclamation, 1 Jan 186353


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