1862 Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg)

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The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War, fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union General George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac, near Sharpsburg, Maryland and Antietam Creek.
 
Would you agree that Antietam was also THE END of all hope rebels held until then for eco assistance from British or French ex-ally sources in global cotton markets? By all credible reports, no one really won this battle in military terms but it was a point at which the war turns, as it gave Abe the ammunition to pen his proclamation as red light to put brakes on European nepotism for southerners' ambition due to hesitation to engage in diplomacy by hypocrisy thru supporting slaveocracy when they abolished that evil practice decades before then.
 
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Would you agree that Antietam was also THE END of all hope rebels held until then for eco assistance from British or French ex-ally sources in global cotton markets? By all credible reports, no one really won this battle in military terms but it was a point at which the war turns, as it gave Abe the ammunition to pen his proclamation as red light to put brakes on European nepotism for southerners' ambition due to hesitation to engage in diplomacy by hypocrisy thru supporting slaveocracy when they abolished that evil practice decades before then.

I wouldn't. 25,000 men laid down their rifles was the end after General Lee and his Army in North Carolina surrendered.
 
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After the confederate victory at Second Manasass in August 1862, the British cabinet was poised to discuss some sort of intervention (mediation) in the ACW but this effort was tabled by Prime Minister Palmerston and Foreign Secretary Russell after learning of the tactical stalemate at Antietam. So in that sense, the best chance of European support for an independent southern confederacy dissolved, and became even less likely after the promulgation of the Emancipation Proclamation. For sure, the confederacy still had a lot of kick left and could still pin its hopes on a war weary north seeking a political solution, as was looking very probable in the summer of 1864. But Antietam was an important milestone in the course of events.
 
I wouldn't. 25,000 men laid down their rifles was the end after General Lee and his Army in North Carolina surrendered.
"THE END" was in reference to realistic odds of economic or military assistance for rebels - not the day Lee's men put their rifles away.
 
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For sure, the confederacy still had a lot of kick left and could pin its hopes on a war weary north seeking a political solution... . But Antietam was an important milestone in the course of events.
So I gather by many other sources on those two points. Never realized until recently that rebels' post halftime strategy was just grinding their opposition down.
 
Shepherdstown (9-19-20-1862), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville was not just grinding their opposition down.
As said long ago before this thread, I make no pretense to possess militaristic expertise or strategic combat techniques. More informed sources claim the rebels' aim for most of the War, esp. post-Antietam/EP, was to wear down their opposition by damage infliction and win de facto victory thru compromise. Did they have a fair chance otherwise? If so, why and how could it materialize for them?
 
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As said long ago before this thread, I make no pretense to possess militaristic expertise or strategic combat techniques. More informed sources claim the rebels' aim for most of the War, esp. post-Antietam/EP, was to wear down their opposition by damage infliction and win de facto victory thru compromise. Did they have a fair chance otherwise? If so, why and how could it materialize for them?
Thanks for your reply. Compromise had been tried from the beginning, before the war, it wasn't working. The South was fighting for freedom to start a new nation. How ever they did this would not be "de facto victory". If Lee had won at Sharpsburg (or Gettysburg) what was to stand in his way of moving on Washington or Baltimore ? Then the North would want to try compromise again.
 
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