Transcript September 17, 1862 - Single bloodiest day in American

Bull Run / Manassas
July 21, 1861
First major battle of the war.
Union army invades Virginia and attempt to capture
Richmond.
Bull Run / Manassas
Both sides meet at a stream called Bull Run (on farm
of Wilmer McLean).
Army of the Potomac led by Irvin McDowell.
Army of Northern Virginia led by P.T. Beauregard.
Bull Run / Manassas
Union thought it could invade South and quickly win
the war.
McDowell was initially successful causing a retreat by
the Confederates.
Confederate general Thomas Jackson refused to retreat
and allowed reinforcements to arrive.
Bull Run / Manassas
Many politicians and wealthy come out to watch the battle
and have a picnic.
They saw a chaotic, bloody battle.
Later battles had few spectators.
The Union army retreated.
Bull Run / Manassas
Bull Run / Manassas
Casualties:
Union - 460 killed; 1124 wounded
Confederacy - 387 killed; 1582 wounded
Thomas Jackson becomes known as
“Stonewall” Jackson.
Lincoln is unhappy with McDowell
and replaces him with George
McClellan.
Antietam / Sharpsburg
September 17, 1862
After their wins at Bull Run, Seven Days, and 2nd Bull Run, the
Confederacy decided to invade the north.
Confederate general Robert E. Lee planned to sneak
north into Maryland, turn back south, and invade
Washington D.C.
Assigned to protect
Washington D.C. was
George McClellan.
McClellan accidentally
discovered Lee’s plans
and attacks.
Antietam / Sharpsburg
McClellan could have attacked on September 16 and routed
Lee’s forces. Instead, he spent the day planning and
investigating the terrain.
That whole day the
Confederates were
reinforcing.
Much of the fighting and
dying took place near
Burnside’s Bridge and the
Sunken Road.
Antietam / Sharpsburg
Burnside’s Bridge
Antietam / Sharpsburg
Sunken Road
Called “Bloody Lane”
Antietam / Sharpsburg
Antietam / Sharpsburg
One of the largest cannon engagements of the war.
Described as “Artillery Hell”.
Casualties:
Union - 2108 killed; 9500 wounded
Confederacy - 1512 killed; 7800 wounded
September 17, 1862 Single bloodiest day in
American history.
Antietam / Sharpsburg
Lee retreats. McClellan lets Lee’s forces escape. This
angers Lincoln.
The battle was a draw, but the Union considers it a win they
desperately needed.
Lincoln replaces McClellan with Ambrose Burnside.
Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln needed a win to issue the Emancipation
Proclamation. Antietam was the “win”.
5 days after Antietam, Lincoln issues a document stating
that “all persons held as slaves in any state in rebellion
against the United States shall be forever free.”
Did not include the
border slave states:
- Missouri
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Delaware
West Virginia splits
from Virginia.
Fredericksburg
December 13, 1862
Ambrose Burnside did not want to be the leader of the
Union army. Lincoln was convinced that Burnside would be
a great general. Lincoln was wrong.
Burnside would be remembered for two things: the
mistakes at Fredericksburg and his sideburns.
Union troops advanced on the
town of Fredericksburg to
attack Robert E. Lee’s forces.
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg is situated on the
Rappahannock River.
Union on the east side.
Confederates on the west side in town.
Fredericksburg
The Union army needed to cross the river to reach the city.
Burnside Mistake #1: He ordered pontoon bridges.
When they did not arrive on time, he chose to wait.
This gave Lee time to set up an ambush in town.
Fredericksburg
After the ambush in town, the
Confederates retreated west of town
and up Marye’s Heights.
They took up fortifications on the hill
behind a stone wall.
Burnside Mistake #2: He sent the
Union army on suicidal charges up
the hill.
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg
The Union was forced to retreat. Luckily, Lee’s forces were
to beat up to counterattack.
Casualties:
Union - 1284 killed; 9600 wounded
Confederacy - 608 killed; 4116 wounded
Many of the officers at Fredericksburg would meet again.
- Lee, Longstreet, Hill, Early, Stuart
- Hancock, Sickles, Sykes, Chamberlain
“It is well that war is terrible, we should grow to fond of it.”
- Robert E. Lee
Fredericksburg
Richard Kirkland - “The Angel of Marye’s Heights”
Chancellorsville
May 2, 1863
After Fredericksburg, Burnside was replaced by Joseph
Hooker. “Fighting” Joe was known as a ferocious leader.
Before the battle, he suddenly became very cautious.
The Union was camped at Chancellorsville, just west of
Fredericksburg.
As the Confederates (led by Lee) advanced on the Union
camp, Hooker spent the day planning a double
envelopment.
Chancellorsville
“Stonewall” Jackson disrupted Hooker’s plan by leading a
sneak attack on the Union’s west flank.
For 2 days, the Union attempted to fend of the Confederates,
but they were forced to retreat by a force half their size.
Chancellorsville
May 2
May 3
May 4
Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville
Though Hooker’s caution caused the Union to be defeated,
Lincoln did not replace him. He remained the leader of the
Army of the Potomac until 2 weeks before Gettysburg.
Despite the victory, the Confederates had their own loss.
As “Stonewall” Jackson was returning from a scouting
mission, he was mistakenly shot by his own soldiers. His
left arm was amputated and he died a few days later.
“He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right.”
- Robert E. Lee
After Chancellorsville, the Confederates win very few battles.