After the start of the American Civil War in 1861 many battles took place between the northern Union and the southern Confederate Armies with both sides gaining and losing ground on an ever-changing basis. As the fighting continued, the Confederacy was striving for legitimacy from Europe (Lanning, Historyplace.com). To achieve this legitimacy the South decided to advance into the North and attack the Union troops on their own soil (Lanning, Historyplace.com). This was the reasoning to begin the Maryland Campaign in 1862; to fight the northern Army on their own land because this would win the hearts and minds of the northern population and swing the tides of war in the South’s favor (Hartwig, Civilwar.org). Of all the battles that took
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Lieutenant George Breck of the 1st New York Artillery had the most inserts taken from his letters simply titled, “Dear Union (Hennessy, Historynet.com).” His reflection on his experiences were extremely detailed, and told the story of his battle experiences nearly to make the reader feel as if they were there themselves. In his letters taken from an article titled, “An Artilleryman at Antietam”, he writes, “We opened with our battery on some high ground in the field, where we encamped during the night, firing on a rebel battery about 150 yards opposite us, more or less concealed by woods. Their reply was directed to our left, principally where our infantry were engaged, supported by other batteries (Hennessy, …show more content…
“An Artilleryman at Antietam,” he states, “We fired for about an hour and a half, when one of Gen. Patrick's aide's, riding up, told Captain Reynolds that the General wanted us to come and support his brigade… On reaching here Gen. Hooker ordered us to file to the left and try and form in battery on the right of a piece of woods. It was at this time that our forces had been flanked by the enemy and driven back very nearly a mile and the rebels were charging on them in a cornfield not many yards in front of us (Hennessy, Historynet.com).” He wrote many letters that gave great detail of the tactics used by the artillery leadership, and also gave credit to, what he seems to paint the picture as the great leadership on the battlefield of the
Lieutenant George Breck of the 1st New York Artillery had the most inserts taken from his letters simply titled, “Dear Union (Hennessy, Historynet.com).” His reflection on his experiences were extremely detailed, and told the story of his battle experiences nearly to make the reader feel as if they were there themselves. In his letters taken from an article titled, “An Artilleryman at Antietam”, he writes, “We opened with our battery on some high ground in the field, where we encamped during the night, firing on a rebel battery about 150 yards opposite us, more or less concealed by woods. Their reply was directed to our left, principally where our infantry were engaged, supported by other batteries (Hennessy, …show more content…
“An Artilleryman at Antietam,” he states, “We fired for about an hour and a half, when one of Gen. Patrick's aide's, riding up, told Captain Reynolds that the General wanted us to come and support his brigade… On reaching here Gen. Hooker ordered us to file to the left and try and form in battery on the right of a piece of woods. It was at this time that our forces had been flanked by the enemy and driven back very nearly a mile and the rebels were charging on them in a cornfield not many yards in front of us (Hennessy, Historynet.com).” He wrote many letters that gave great detail of the tactics used by the artillery leadership, and also gave credit to, what he seems to paint the picture as the great leadership on the battlefield of the