The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history. A battle so decisive, that it changed the course of the American Civil War. This battle brought the North a great victory and the South an utter defeat. Many lives were lost, up to 6,500 Union and Confederates on September 17, 1862, with many more wounded, with limbs and souls. The losses that day will be felt for many years to come.
Many battles were fought between the North and South during the Civil War. There were highs when armies won and low when armies lost. Not only did this affect the soldiers fighting, it affected the mood of the nation. This is highlighted in James M. McPherson’s book, Antietam, The Battle That Changed the Course of the Civil War. As the winner of each battle changed the tides of sentiment in the nation changed. The Battle of Shiloh is a good example, on the first day of …show more content…
Over 6,500 lives were lost on that one single day, with many wounded. The carnage was great, bodies lying everywhere, weapons smashed, soldiers personal effects scattered across the battlefield. A Pennsylvania solider wrote in his diary, “No tongue can tell, no mind can conceive, no pen portray the horrible sights I witnessed”. The battle brought a morale boost to the North. The Union was so dark and depressed just one week prior to the battle, they went “from the depths of despondency to the height of exultation, from defeat to glorious victory”. (135) The Northern newspapers declared, “GREAT VICTORY”. (135) Confidence was restored in the North and enthusiasm to the troops. The Southerners were “shocked and disbelief” (136) with the Battle of Antietam. Southern morale sank even lower as the war raged on.
The Battle of Antietam not only changes the course of the war, it changed the course of the nation. After the battle, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, thus changing America
Many battles were fought between the North and South during the Civil War. There were highs when armies won and low when armies lost. Not only did this affect the soldiers fighting, it affected the mood of the nation. This is highlighted in James M. McPherson’s book, Antietam, The Battle That Changed the Course of the Civil War. As the winner of each battle changed the tides of sentiment in the nation changed. The Battle of Shiloh is a good example, on the first day of …show more content…
Over 6,500 lives were lost on that one single day, with many wounded. The carnage was great, bodies lying everywhere, weapons smashed, soldiers personal effects scattered across the battlefield. A Pennsylvania solider wrote in his diary, “No tongue can tell, no mind can conceive, no pen portray the horrible sights I witnessed”. The battle brought a morale boost to the North. The Union was so dark and depressed just one week prior to the battle, they went “from the depths of despondency to the height of exultation, from defeat to glorious victory”. (135) The Northern newspapers declared, “GREAT VICTORY”. (135) Confidence was restored in the North and enthusiasm to the troops. The Southerners were “shocked and disbelief” (136) with the Battle of Antietam. Southern morale sank even lower as the war raged on.
The Battle of Antietam not only changes the course of the war, it changed the course of the nation. After the battle, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, thus changing America