Antietam

The Confederacy has become overly confident especially their General due to their victories. The Union is only getting stronger and my sons are ready to show General Lee what the north can do. In September 1862, Lee had marched his troops to Maryland with the hopes of starting a pro-Confederate uprising. They also hoped that since most of the battles were in southern territory that the change to fighting in the north could gain recognition from Europe. I think that the south went into this war too bold. Lee's army didn't need to fight they needed food but this battle did end well for the north so hopefully we won't become over confident with our results. My son, Adam, wrote to me about this battle because James has fallen ill but he will hopefully be better soon. On September 8 trouble for the south began as Lee's plan started to unravel and it turned into a result he wouldn't have wished for. Lee started by issuing a "Proclamation to the People of Maryland" inviting Maryland to join the rest of the south but as a loyal part of the north Lee didn't get the result he had hoped. Adam then told me about he and some other Union soldiers found a rebel campsite with Lee's plan. This war has proven to be all about surprise attacks but the crucial element of surprise that the Confederate troops planed was ruined. My son has told me that when they handed the plan to McClellan he exclaimed, "Here is a paper with which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home." The armies met at Sharpsburg, Maryland and the Union spread along Antietam Creek and the Confederacy was attacked in three phases on September 17. This battle was the bloodiest seen; my son says he can't even describe the gory details and he is glad James didn't go. Adam left the war with some shards metal in his shoulder but I consider this far more lucky than the 23,000 soldiers that died or were greatly wounded. The Battle of Antietam lead Lee to retreat to Virginia and it has given the north a renewed amount of energy. I believe that we can win this war, I always have, and now with Lincoln believing it we can conquer anything.

"The Battle of Antietam Video." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

"Battle of Antietam." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

"Antietam: A Savage Day In American History." Antietam: A Savage Day In American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.