Antietam

[civilwartalk]

Antietam

A famous Civil War battle in 1862, in which an attempt by the South to strike into Maryland was stopped near Sharpsburg at Antietam Creek.

For the South, this represents the first shift from a defensive strategy to an offensive one. Gen. Robert E. Lee marched his men to Antietam after a victory at Manassas called the Second Battle of Bull Run. But this secret plans fell into the hands of the Union commander, Gen. George McClellan.

After a bloody battle, Lee began retreating back to Virginia. Incredibly, McClellan did nothing, and let a decisive victory slip away.