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Home » U. S. Civil War Photographs - Sharpsburg (Antietam) Page 4


Union Flag Carrier U. S. CIVIL WAR
PHOTOGRAPHS 		Confederate Flag Carrier


SHARPSBURG (ANTIETAM)
(PAGE 4 OF 13)




 
THE BATTLE

Map of Troop Positions
Approximate Troop Positions at 7:00 a.m. September 17, 1862.


At dawn September 17, Union General Joseph Hooker's Corps mounted a powerful assault from the North on Lee's left flank, thus beginning the single bloodiest day in American military history. Although McClellan's forces clearly out-numbered Lee's, McClellan did not use his advantage. He kept many divisions in reserve and failed to co-ordinate a synchronized attack that could have overrun Lee's smaller army. Instead, the Union army attacked the Confederates, at roughly three separate times: north of Sharpsburg in the morning; east of Sharpsburg at midday; and south of Sharpsburg in the evening.

Battle Map
September 17, 1862 Attacks.

Mansfield & Sumner


Union Generals Hooker, Mansfield and Sumner (leading Sedgwick's division) attacked from the North and Northeast between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on September 17.


Where Sumner attacked
View where Sumner's Corps charged (Photograph taken September 1862)


French & Richardson

Union Generals French and Richardson attacked the sunken road (bloody lane) starting at 10:30 a.m.

Burnside

Union General Burnside's famous assault on the lower bridge (now called the Burnside bridge) captured the bridge at 1 p.m. (Although the Union attacked the bridge beginning at 9:00 a.m., they made no progress until 1:00 p.m.) 		 


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