THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM

Transcription

1 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:15 Page 1 ~ Armies Clash Near Sharpsburg, Maryland! ~ THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM AN INVITATION TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Pt. III By R.Neil Smith 42 ~ 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 at the end of August 1862, caught in the headlights of Lee s seemingly Above: Union troops march across Burnside s Bridge. All photos unless stated by Cyrille Barillot. Miniatures by Perry and Foundry. "The vast army of McClellan spread out before me. The marching columns extended back as far as eye could see in the distance. It was a grand and glorious spectacle, and it was impossible to look at it without admiration." everywhere-at-once Army of Northern Virginia. George McClellan was 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. When he found out that McClellan was back in charge, Lee took the extra time he - General D.H. Hill knew was coming to dispatch a lar ge part of his army to capture Harper s Ferry just of f 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 rebel s orders after they were found by a soldier wrapped in cigars. Lee called his army back together and took up positions behind Antietam Creek around the town of Sharpsburg to await its assembly. Even though

2 Antietam:Article Template 30/9/08 12:25 Page 2 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, McClellan s army of 80,000 stood in full array, a spectacular sight by all accounts. Across the creek, Lee s ragtag army of less than 40,000 stood ready to receive. When day broke, the cannons roared. Photo 1 From Confederate positions at the cornfield looking north. Relates to first phase map. ~ 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; the Boonsboro Turnpike heads over the Middle Bridge and into the hills to the east; and the Hagerstown Turnpike trails away to the north. Lee s 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 flank would roll up the Confederates and tasked Fighting Joe Hooker s 1st Corps and Mansfield s 12th Corps to do the job. In the centre, stood Sumner s 2nd Corps and Porter s 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 Jackson s, gathered around the Dunker 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 the Rohrbach Bridge. 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. 43

3 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:16 Page 3 44 ~ Wargaming Antietam ~ If you are the designated Union player, I know what you are thinking: I m 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 be recreating Antietam. On that fateful morning, Lee had once again gambled on McClellan s 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 Harper s Ferry with all the alacrity he could muster. McClellan s 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 would love 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 to Sharpsburg and can maintain a fighting withdrawal.

4 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:17 Page 4 ~ 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 (see Map 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. "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 were knocked 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 For the Union, Mansfield s Corps is approaching from the north and can enter the 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 Sumner s Corps 1D6 moves after the Union player declares their arrival. But note, any elements of Sumner s Corps that enters Phase I will count as reinforcements for Phase II and only if they remain intact. For the Confederates, Hood s 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

5 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:18 Page 5 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 46

6 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:18 Page 6 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. 47

7 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:19 Page 7 ~ PHASE I FORCES ~ UNION ~ First Corps: Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker ~ 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 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 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 ~ Jackson s Corps: Maj. Gen Thomas Jackson ~ 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. Richardson First Brigade: Brig. Gen. John Caldwell: 5th NH, 7th NY, 61st NY, 64th NY, 81st PA Ewell s Division: Brig. Gen. Alexander Lawton Lawton s Brigade: Col. Marcellus Douglas: 13th GA, 26th GA, 31st GA, 38th GA, 60th GA, 61st GA Early s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Jubal Early: 13th VA, 25th VA, 31st VA, 44th VA, 49th VA, 52nd VA, 58th VA Trimble s Brigade: Col. James Walker: 15th AL, 12th GA, 21st GA, 21st NC, 1st NC Battalion Hay s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Harry Hays: 5th LA, 6th LA, 7th LA, 8th LA, 14th LA Artillery: Maj. Courtney: D Aquin s Btty, Balthis s Btty, Johnson s Btty Jackson s Division: Brig. Gen. John Jones Winder s Brigade: Col. Andrew Grigsby: 4th VA, 5th Va, 27th VA, 33rd VA Taliaferro s 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 Starke s Brigade: Brig. Gen. William Starke: 1st LA, 2nd LA, 9th LA, 10th LA, 15th La, 1st LA Battalion Artillery: Maj. Shumaker: Carpenter s Btty, Wooding s Btty, Raine s Btty, Poague s Btty, Brockenbrough s Btty Hood s Division: Brig. Gen. John B. Hood (Part of Longstreet s Corps) (reinforcements) Hood s Brigade: Col. William Wofford: 18th GA, 1st TX, 4th TX, 5th TX, Hampton s SC Legion Law s 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: Pelham s Btty, Chew s Btty, Hart s Btty 48

8 Antietam:Article Template 25/9/08 14:00 Page 8 MAP I - PHASE I The map shows the significant areas of the battlefield around Dunker Church and the cornfield. The areas between the woods shou ld be filled with fields with fences, ver ges 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). 49

9 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:21 Page 9 ~ PHASE II ~ SUNKEN ROAD "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 Phase II opens once Phase I is complete. This phase represents Sumner s 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. Sumner s 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. ~ PHASE II FORCES ~ 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 Richardson s 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 ~ Jackson s Corps: Maj. Gen Thomas Jackson ~ Hill s Division: Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill (Part of Jackson s Corps) Ripley s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Roswell Ripley: 4th GA, 44th GA, 1st NC, 3rd NC Rodes s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Robert Rodes: 3rd AL, 5th AL, 6th AL, 12th AL, 26th AL Garland s Brigade: Col. D. McRae: 5th NC, 12th NC, 13th NC, 20th NC, 23rd NC Anderson s Brigade: Brig. Gen. George Anderson: 2nd NC, 4th NC, 14th NC, 30th NC Colquitt s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Alfred Colquitt: 13th Al, 6th GA, 23rd GA, 27th GA, 28th GA Artillery: Maj. Pierson: Jones s Btty, Hardaway s Btty, King William Arty, Jeff Davis Arty Anderson s Division: Maj. Gen. Richard Anderson (reinforcements. Part of Longstreet s Corps) Wilcox s Brigade: Col. Alfred Cumming: 8th AL, 9th AL, 10th AL, 11th AL Featherston s Brigade: Col. Carnot Posey: 12th MISS, 16th MISS, 19th MISS, 2nd MISS bttn Armistead s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: 9th VA, 14th VA, 38th VA, 53rd VA, 57th VA Pryor s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Roger Pryor: 14th AL, 2nd FL, 5th FL, 8th FL, 3rd VA Mahone s Brigade: Col. William Parham: 6th VA, 12th VA, 16th VA, 41st VA, 61st VA Wright s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Ambrose Wright: 44th AL, 3rd GA, 22nd GA, 48th GA Artillery: Capt. Grimes: Maurin s Btty, Huger s Btty, Grimes s Btty, Moorman s Btty 50

10 Antietam:Article Template 25/9/08 14:02 Page 10 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 do not 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. 51

11 Antietam:Article Template 24/9/08 16:23 Page 11 ~ PHASE III ~ BURNSIDE S BRIDGE "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 Burnside s assault took place to the southeast of Sharpsbur g. The bulk of Burnside s force begins east of Antietam Creek with the exception of Rodman s 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 Burnside s main position to their entry point on the flank. Burnside s 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 Sharpsbur g. The skirmishers should be considered as occupying hard cover. A.P. Hill s Division is on its way from Harper s Ferry and will arrive from the Southwest 1D6 turns after Rodman s 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 cr oss via the bridge, and he gets only thr ee attempts to complete his crossing. UNION ~ PHASE I FORCES ~ CONFEDERATE ~ 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 P A Second Brigade: Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero: 21st Mass, 35th Mass, 51st NY, 51st PA Artillery: PA Lt Btty D, 4th US Btty E Jones s Division: Brig. Gen. David Jones (Part of Longstr eet s Corps) Toombs s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Robert Toombs: 2nd Ga, 15th Ga, 17th Ga, 20th Ga Drayton s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Thomas Drayton: 50th Ga, 51st Ga, 15th SC, 3rd SC Bttn Pickett s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Richard Garnett: 8th Va, 18th Va, 19th Va, 28th Va, 56th Va Kemper s Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Kemper: 1st Va, 7th Va, 11th Va, 17th Va, 24th Va Jenkins s Brigade: Col. Joseph Walker: 1st SC (vol), 6th SC, 4th SC, 2nd SC Rifles, Palmetto Sharpshooters Artillery: Wise Arty Va, JS Brown s Btty 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 Harrison s Co s WV Cavalry Second Brigade: Col. George Crook: 1 1th OH, 36th OH, 28th OH: KY Lt Simmond s Btty: Schambeck s 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 Hill s Light Division: Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill (reinforcements. Part of Jackson s Corps) Branch s Brigade: Brig. Gen. L. O Brien Branch: 7th NC, 18th NC, 28th NC, 33rd NC, 37th NC Gregg s Brigade: Grig. Gen. Maxcy Gregg: 1st SC (prov), 1st SC Rifles, 12th SC, 13th SC, 14th SC Field s Brigade: Col. John Brockenbrough: 40th Va, 47th Va, 55th Va, 22nd Va Bttn Archer s Brigade: Brig. Gen. James Archer: 19th Ga, 1st Tn, 7th Tn, 14th Tn Pender s Brigade: Brig. Gen. William Pender: 16th NC, 22nd NC, 34th NC, 38th NC Artillery: Lt. Col. R. L. Walker: Braxton s Btty, McIntosh s Btty, Pegram s Btty, Crenshaw s Btty 52

12 Antietam:Article Template 25/9/08 14:03 Page 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. Sumner s 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 a quick 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 blunders and an apparent lack of full commitment on Burnside s 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 Rodman s 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 the union assault. At the end of the day, the dispositions of both armies were similar to those when the battle started; Lee s line maintained its integrity 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 and ensured 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