✦ History

Part of American Civil War

Battle of Antietam

September 17, 1862 · Sharpsburg, Maryland

Result Union victory

Tactically inconclusive: the Union repelled Lee's invasion but suffered heavier casualties and failed to defeat his army outright. Its political effect was decisive, giving Lincoln the confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which deterred Britain and France from recognizing the Confederacy.

On the map Contemporaries

Union

Confederacy

Other

United States
Confederate States of America
George B. McClellan George Meade Ambrose Burnside Major General, Commander of the IX Corps (left wing) Joseph Hooker Major General, Commander of the I Corps (right wing); wounded in action Edwin V. Sumner Major General, Commander of the II Corps (center)
Robert E. Lee John Bell Hood Stonewall Jackson Major General, Commander of the Second Corps (left wing) James Longstreet Lieutenant General, Commander of the First Corps (right wing) A. P. Hill Major General, Commander of the Light Division; arrived from Harpers Ferry

Strength and losses

Strength
c. 60,00075,316, 85,000
Casualties
12,410
Killed
2,1082,108, 2,100, 2,108
Wounded
9,5499,549, 9,600, 9,549
Missing
753753, 800, 753
Guns
275
Strength
c. 40,00051,844, 50,000
Killed
2,7001,510
Wounded
9,0247,890
Missing
2,0001,800
Deaths
23,000

Units

Army of the Potomac Strength 87,000 IX Corps (Union Army) V Corps (Union Army) 20th Maine Infantry Regiment XII Corps (Union Army) Irish Brigade (Union Army) Iron Brigade 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment Union Army 14th Infantry Regiment (United States) 1st Maine Cavalry Regiment 1st Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment 4th Infantry Regiment (United States) 7th Indiana Infantry Regiment 9th New York Infantry Regiment 1st U.S. Artillery, Battery E
Army of Northern Virginia Strength 38,000 A. P. Hill's Light Division 11th Virginia Cavalry Regiment 24th Virginia Infantry Regiment 25th Virginia Infantry Regiment 2nd Virginia Cavalry Regiment 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment 3rd Virginia Cavalry Regiment 4th Virginia Cavalry Regiment 5th Virginia Cavalry Regiment

Related events 1 degree away • 2 degrees away

1862
1863
 
First Battle of Bull Run
 
Seven Days Battles
 
Battle of Antietam
 
Battle of Fredericksburg
 
Emancipation Proclamation

Also involved 10