For generations of Americans, the word Antietam - the name of a bucolic stream in western Maryland - held the same sense of horror and carnage that the date 9/11 does for Americans today. As the sun climbed into the sky on September 15, Lee surveyed a long, low ridgeline east of the town and asserted, We will make our stand on those hills. At noon he received confirmation from Jackson that Harpers Ferry had fallen and directed Stonewall to hurry to Sharpsburg, 12 miles to the north. After chasing Confederate skirmishers off the Miller farm, Gibbons men headed for the northwest corner of the cornfield and began taking fire from Douglass troops and the Stonewall Brigade posted in the West Woods. Miller, saw some of U.S. history's most horrific fighting. Six weeks after Antietam, McClellan finally heeded his bosss advice and led the Army of the Potomac into Virginia, but at a snails pace. 1. (Today its called Burnside Bridge.) Lee issued a proclamation to the people of Maryland inviting them to join the Southern cause. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.The Battle of Antietam. Great job. Originally designated the 2nd Continue reading The 90th Pennsylvania Infantry in the Cornfield: Solitary and alone, we gave and took ourmedicine, Barely two dozen yards ahead lay the northern end of the Cornfield. Spotting Mansfields tightly packed troops, Hoods men fired on the 10th Maine Regiment. By the evening of the 13th, it appeared to Lee that his risky plan was coming apart. One soldier remembered: "The air seems full of leaden missiles. Unfortunately for the Union, this temporal advantage in the center is not followed up with further advances and eventually the Union defenders must abandon their position. On September 9, Lee issued Special Order 191 defining his Maryland Campaign. His plan to enter northern territory divided his army, sending each unit to march on a specific town: Boonsboro and Hagerstown in Maryland, and Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg in West Virginia. Antietam, the deadliest one-day battle in American military history, showed that the Union could stand against the Confederate army in the Eastern theater. Weeks later, he names Burnside commander of the Army of the Potomac. Brigadier General David Ricketts 2nd Division, led by Brig. Frustrated with Lincolns policies and the course of the war, Democrats launched an anti-war campaign, hoping to take over the U.S. House of Representatives. What happened next was pivotal: On September 13, two Union soldiers, Private Barton W. Mitchell and Sergeant John M. Bloss, discovered a copy of Special Order 191 with detailed Confederate troop movements, allegedly wrapped around three cigars. Lee invaded Maryland in September 1862 with a full agenda. The Battle of Antietam, America's bloodiest single day, immediately claimed 3,654 lives and generated an additional 8,772 wounded and missing casualties on both sides, many of whom should properly be moved to the "killed" category. But Antietam eclipses even this modern tragedy as America's single bloodiest day, on which 22,000 men became casualties in a war to determine our nation's future. . Bodies in front of the Dunker Church - Antietam Battlefield (Library of Congress) In the nether world of the West Woods, choked with the bodies of the dead and wounded and shrouded in the misty blue-gray smoke of musketry and artillery fire, the North Carolinians struck with a vengeance. Battle of Antietam: Clash in the Cornfield America's bloodiest day began with heavy fighting that ravaged a previously innocuous cornfield in western Maryland. Then an eighth Union Minie ball suddenly found him By David A. Welker Marcellus Douglass was born in Thomaston, Georgia on October 5th, 1820. Why did Lincoln lose faith in George McClellans command after Antietam? The decimated survivors retreated in disorder, leaving behind 2,200 killed and wounded. This army will respect your choice whatever it may be., To Lees immediate disappointment, the citizens of Frederick generally kept their shops locked up tight. Free shipping for many products! Brig. While Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia were indeed triumphant, the Confederate commander realized all too well that his gains were temporary; he needed to undertake a bold stroke while the opportunity still presented itself. The next day, as Lee began the painstaking job of moving his ravaged troops back to Virginia, McClellan, surprisingly, did nothing. Within the hour Ezra would be troubled by a much greater lossand discover the ultimate irony of Antietam's bloody Cornfield. Union troops fired first at the Confederates left flank and the carnage began. Ricketts division was knocked out of the battle with 30 percent casualties, and it fell to Meade to patch a defensive line together. Dunker Church 2. The Cornfield 5. This article about the American Civil War is a stub. Just as Burnside's forces begin to collapse the Confederate right, Maj. Gen. A.P. Lost Order, Lost Cause. As Longstreets men began trudging toward Sharpsburg, Lee reversed his earlier order. Antietam on the Web. He thought McClellan missed a great opportunity to kick the Army of Northern Virginia while they were down and potentially end the war. Learn more about the D.R. The present seems the most propitious time since the commencement of the war for the Confederate Army to enter Maryland, Lee noted. As he read, McClellan waved his arms and shouted, Now I know what to do! Later that day, McClellan visited with his old friend, Brig. By David A. Welker John Continue reading Cowards in the Cornfield? In a letter to his wife, Mary, Lincoln joked, We are about to be photographed. Mansfield spluttered, Yes, yes, you are right. Precisely at that moment a bullet hit the 58-year-old general squarely in the chest. Gathering up his gearEzra discovered hed misplaced the right glove of his newly-purchased pair, a loss that troubled him considerably. Not only did the Battle of Antietam change the course of the Civil War, it also brought to light the horror of war in a way never seen before, thanks to photographer Alexander Gardners dramatic battlefield photographs. Gen. Alpheus Williams and Colonel Samuel Pittman read the document with great interest. As the sun rose on September 17, 1862, Major General Joseph Hooker and his I Corps launched a vicious assault on the Army of Northern Virginia's left flank at the West Woods at around 6:00am. more information on current conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details. It explains what happened in Antietam's Cornfield and why. Antietam on the Web.Special Orders No. Nearing the end of 2018, well be bombarded by the annual parade of top ten lists counting down everything from the years news events to songs and online fads. Lee planned to retreat to Virginia, but changed his mind after hearing Confederate General Thomas Jonathan Jacksonbetter known as Stonewall Jacksonhad captured Harpers Ferry. The textile mills of Europe were dependent on Southern cotton for continuing operations, and the British government keenly felt the urgency to recognize the Confederacy. THE BATTLE OF Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, remains America's bloodiest single day. A major victory on Northern soil would allow Lee to menace Philadelphia, Baltimore, and even Washington. Hood, however, was unable to consolidate his gains. Following the debacle at Second Bull Run, Lincoln turned again to McClellan, whose extreme timidity in the field was contrasted with his superb organizational skills and the enduring confidence of his men. Locally, the members of the congregation were known as Dunkers. The first Confederate shell struck the ranks of the 6th Wisconsin, killing two soldiers and wounding 11. On September 14, at the base of South Mountain near Sharpsburg, Confederate Generals D.H. Hills and James Longstreets units encountered Union resistance and sustained heavy casualties. While the Battle of Antietam is considered a tactical draw, President Lincoln claims a strategic victory. Mitchell took the document to Sergeant John M. Bloss, and the two took it to Captain Peter Kop, their company commander. Hill and his Light Division to take custody of 73 pieces of artillery and 13,000 rifles and revolvers and parole the prisoners at the arsenal. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. It explains what happened in Antietam's Cornfield and why. Take a virtual tour of Antietam Battlefield by clicking on the links for the battlefield tour stops below. Gen. Truman Seymour, quickly reached the edge of the East Woods at the Smoketown Road. Late on the afternoon of the 16th, Hooker crossed Antietam Creek intending to position more than 8,000 Union troops to launch the attack the following morning. Pvt. Hartsuff was wounded and Christian suffered an emotional breakdown and fled the field. Perhaps the reality of the battle was best described by Union soldier Charles Goddard in a letter to his mother: If the horrors of war cannot be seen on this battlefield, they cant be seen any where.. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NAMING THE EASTERN SIERRA By Marguerite Sowaal Dirty Sock to Bloody Canyon 1985 at the best online prices at eBay! His decision was pivotal. Late in the afternoon, reinforcements from Longstreet began to arrive. Maryland was a border state and remained in the Union, but Lee believed that large numbers of Southern sympathizers would rally to his ranks once the Army of Northern Virginia entered the state. Because Federal and Confederate forces repeatedly . An original regiment in the storied "Iron Brigade," the 19th Indiana is perhaps best known for its role during the opening hours of the Battle of Gettysburg, which has for too long overshadowed its actions in Antietam's deadly Cornfield Featured The Cornfield Casualty Top Ten Featured / 5 Comments Tyndales men charged into the cornfield, and several minutes of hand-to-hand fighting ensued before the Confederates began withdrawing toward the West Woods. The 12th Massachusetts had 224 of its 334 soldiers shot down, a casualty rate of 67 percent that was the highest of any Union regiment on the field. Strategically, Lees decision to invade the North made sense. Hoods lightning counterattack prevented the collapse of the Confederate left and forced Hookers corps back essentially to its early morning starting point with more than 2,500 casualties. Meanwhile, on September 2, McClellan retook command of the army to the cheers of his men. Following the surrender of Harpers Ferry, the scattered Confederate forces would converge. In the 1864 election he was the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. Gibbons command had fought with such ferocity at Turners Gap that Hooker commented that the men were as strong as iron. Colquitt lost 100 casualties in an already understrength brigade, while Rodes faced two full Federal divisions, Brig. Captain Benjamin F. Cook of the 12th Massachusetts remembered the horrific fighting in the cornfield and its aftermath. Hills division charges into battle after a long march from Harpers Ferry, helping drive back the assault and saving the day for the Army of Northern Virginia. The single, bloodiest day in American History had begun in earnest. Excellent summaries of the individual skirmishes and the overall battle. The Cornfield: Antietam's. has been added to your Cart . : The Sorry Story of Colonel WilliamChristian, As the 21st Georgias battle-tested fighters settled into positions behind the rocks and trees in the southern end of the East Woods, they knew that another Yankee advance would soon enough seek to drive them from their new position. Early reports from Stuarts cavalry told him that McClellan was on the road to Frederick, and on September 10 he ordered Longstreet to advance to Hagerstown with 10,000 troops, occupying the village before any Union forces might contest the Confederate rallying point. Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood wrote: "It was here that I witnessed the most terrible clash of arms, by far, that has occurred during the war." Miller's Cornfield (usually referred to as 'the Cornfield') is a section of the Antietam battlefield of the American Civil War . An up-close look at the people, places and turning points of the American Civil War. Gen. John Hatchs 1st Division, I Corps, on his right, and the Pennsylvania Reserve Division under Brig. He tended to details while three of Jacksons footsore divisions began trickling into the vicinity. Travel back in time to see Antietam's battlefield as it looked 134 years ago. The following morning, McClellan attacks. Gen. Abram Duryeas 1st Brigade, stepped off to Gibbons left. McClellans plan of attack depended on coordination and timing all along the line. . The 28th Pennsylvania and 5th, 7th, and 66th Ohio of Lt. Col. Hector Tyndales 1st Brigade led the way. As he was carried to the rear, Reno yelled to Brig. Central Intelligence Agency.The Battle of Antietam: A Turning Point in the Civil War. What there are left of us open on them with a cheer; and the next day, the burial parties put up a board in front of the position held by the Twelfth with the following inscription: In this trench lie buried the colonel, the major, six line officers, and one hundred and forty men of the [13th] Georgia Regiment.. One amazed Confederate artilleryman saw columns of enemy soldiers stretching into the distance and remarked that they were so numerous that it looked as if they were creeping up out of the ground.. Hooker, conspicuously mounted on a white charger, rode to the southern edge of the cornfield and saw an opportunity to rally the remains of his corps, bring artillery forward, and join with XII Corps to strike the decisive blow. The siege of Harpers Ferry was to be successfully concluded as soon as possible. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Final Attack 11. This battle flag of the 12 th Georgia includes the names of several color bearers who . With Federal forces closing in from the east, Lee selects strategic ground near Antietam Creek and orders his army to converge there. A recently discovered 1864 map suggests the Cornfield's human cost was even greater than previously understood, among other new insights it reveals about the men who fought in and around David Millers deadly Cornfield. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Send forward officers to explore the way, ascertain the best crossing of the Potomac.. Lee, hopelessly outnumbered, still intended to make a stand in Maryland. Racing 150 yards ahead of the units on either side, the whooping Texans came within 30 yards of the Pennsylvanians, who rested their rifles on the lowest fence rails and fired a withering volley at the legs of the onrushing Rebels, shrouded in the thick smoke of battle. It is remembered as the site of some of the most savage fighting of the Battle of Antietam, which itself was the bloodiest single-day action of the Civil War. On the afternoon of September 16, Union general George B. McClellan sets his army in motion, sending Maj. Gen. Joseph Hookers First Corps across Antietam Creek to find Lees left flank. Though somewhat mis-titled -- it could have been called The East Woods, The West Woods and The Cornfield as it actually covers all of the fighting on the north end of the battlefield, not just in the Cornfield -- this is an excellent work of accessible scholarship. The number increased, and larger and larger grew the field of the blue until it seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see, and from the tops of the mountains down to the edges of the stream gathered the great army of . Three hours later, Union troops had pushed the Confederates back and over 5,000 men were either dead or injured. Some of these regiments attacked all the way to the northern edge of the Cornfield, where they were crushed by the arrival of the Union Twelfth Corps. As the Union troops came into view, more enemy guns under Colonel Stephen D. Lee, sited on the high ground opposite the Dunker Church, hit the attackers in their front. It also gave President Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation at a moment of strength rather than desperation. All Rights Reserved. The 1st Texas, under Colonel P.A. Prominent in Hoods defensive area was a plain, whitewashed church belonging to the German Baptist Brethren, a Christian sect that shunned anything ostentatious, including church steeples, and believed in baptism by full immersion. Gens. Jackson summoned his last reserves, the 2,300 men of Hoods division. By 5:30 am, the morning fog had burned off enough for the Confederate horse artillery under Major John Pelham to fire at the Union vanguard from Nicodemus Hill. Eventually he decided against another general assault. This further isolated the Confederacy and made it harder for them to re-supply their troops and citizens. From that moment on, John Cook worked a gun alongside the trained artillerymen to face down the onslaught of Woffords attacking Texas Brigade. On the other side, President Abraham Lincoln was counting on McClellan to bring him the victory he needed to keep Republican control of the Congress and issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Encyclopedia Virginia.The Significance of the Battle of Antietam. Duryeas brigade followed Seymour out of the East Woods and into the cornfield, stepping over mangled Confederate corpses that canister shots had killed moments earlier. His division had suffered 1,380 dead and wounded, about 60 percent of its strength, and was forced to withdraw to the West Woods. The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single day in American history, and the partial victory by Union troops led Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Confederate troops ferociously fought off offensive after offensive to prevent being overrun, turning the cornfield into a massive killing field. The two brigades emerged from the North Woods simultaneously and crossed a field of clover. A wave of panic gripped McRaes men, who turned and fled, causing the remnants of Hoods brigades to fall back as well. What they didnt understand was just how important holding this place was for a Confederate victory at Antietam, For Gods sake, come and help us out! begged the new head of Hartsuffs Brigade and without a pause, Colonel Lyle had the 90th Pennsylvania marching forward into the swirling inferno of Antietams Cornfield. 126, May 18,2020, The Cornfield Inside the Action at Antietams Bloody TurningPoint, Abner Doubleday in Antietams Cornfield: No Day in the (Baseball)Park, Garlands Brigade at the Cornfield: The Death of a Reputationand MuchMore, The 88th Pennsylvania at Antietam: A Cornfield Invalid SavesWashington, Farming the Cornfield: D. R. Millers 1862 Harvest ofDeath, Buffalo in the Cornfield: The 21st New York atAntietam, Claimed by the Cornfield: Georgias Colonel MarcellusDouglass, Cowards in the Cornfield? Fearful that his untried troops would break and run, Mansfield countermanded an order to deploy from columns into line of battle, and the massed ranks became a prime target for Confederate artillery. Meades 3rd Division followed in support. Here is their shared story By David A. Welker Werner Von Bachelle Continue reading Captain Von Bachelle and his canine friend sacrifice all in theCornfield. It explains what happened in Antietam's Cornfield and why. The Cornfield at Antietam Battlefield Matt Brant Ancestry and Fold3 have been helping people understand their ancestors and why they fought for causes large and small for decades. No constraint upon your free will is intended, no intimidation is allowed, Lee promised. The water is deep, swift, and crossable only at three stone bridges, making it a natural defensible location. It explains what happened in Antietam's Cornfield and why. Fearful that the brigade was about to be flanked, he raised the alarm prematurely. Williams took command of XII Corps and the fight for the cornfield continued, with men from both sides tripping over the dead and falling bleeding among the severed cornstalks. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Cornfield: Antietams Bloody Tur., Welker, David A New Book at the best online prices at eBay! Colonel Thomas Munford led a brigade of cavalry, bloodied from the fighting at South Mountain, to cover the fords south of the lower bridge. After more than an hour of fighting around the East Woods and the eastern half of the cornfield, the Federals had failed to press their slight advantage, feeding troops into the battle piecemeal as the Confederates had rushed reinforcements from the center to stem the Union tide. The trail is 1.25 miles in length and takes approximately sixty minutes to complete. Lee had no illusions of holding the gaps for an extended period, but any delay in the Union advance might allow the Army of Northern Virginia to escape destruction. Their fire was devastating. The fighting in the southwest corner of the cornfield became desperate. (Part Two): The Complicated Story of Virginias General John R.Jones, Cowards in the Cornfield? The battles outcome would be vital to shaping Americas future, and it remains the deadliest one-day battle in all of American military history. Free delivery for many products! Reaching the fence, the 6th Georgia had restored the Souths hold on the vital Cornfield only to find itself in a dire position. It conjures up visions of harrowing bloodshed and the tragedy of fratricidal combat Yet, for over 150 years, the story of this struggle has been difficult to track the sway of battle back and forth over Continue reading Descending Into The Bloody Cornfield With Civil War Historian, David A. Welker: PreserveCast Episode No. "Battle of Antietam: Carnage in a Cornfield", "cwla - Antietam Modern Image Gallery 11 Frame", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miller%27s_Cornfield&oldid=1139340604, Battlefields of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The pockets and cartridge pouches of the dead and wounded were ransacked, and soldiers handed muskets to those with better shots at the enemy. Continued passivity would invite the Federals to return and once again mount an offensive against Richmond. Troubled him considerably McRaes men, who turned and fled the field Woffords attacking Texas.... To be flanked, he names Burnside commander of the 12 th Georgia includes the names several... Sharpsburg, Lee reversed his earlier Order present seems the most propitious time since commencement... Two took it to Captain Peter Kop, their company commander 5th, 7th, and the began. Smoketown Road the preliminary Emancipation proclamation at a moment of strength rather than desperation casualties, and the carnage.... S most horrific fighting in the afternoon, reinforcements from Longstreet began to.... Had fought with such ferocity at Turners Gap that Hooker commented that the Brigade was to! Depended on coordination and timing all along the line the 28th Pennsylvania and 5th, 7th, and the cornfield antietam to. And fled the field tour stops below people of Maryland inviting them to re-supply their troops and citizens stay on... Battlefield as it looked 134 years ago a & E Television Networks, LLC bloodiest single.. Color bearers who shortcuts docs for details it to Captain Peter Kop, their company commander upcoming... Battle of Antietam is considered a tactical draw, President Lincoln claims a strategic victory the Army of Virginia. Itself in a letter to his wife, Mary, Lincoln joked, We are about be. Army of the Army to converge there on Northern soil would allow Lee to menace,. And fled, causing the remnants of Hoods brigades to fall back as well again... Moment a bullet hit the 58-year-old General squarely in the Cornfield became desperate to Peter! Weeks later, union troops had pushed the Confederates back and over 5,000 men were as strong as iron way. Reno yelled to Brig Burnside commander of the War he read, McClellan waved arms. The 2,300 men of Hoods brigades to fall back as well on his right, and remains. Stone bridges, making it a natural defensible location even Washington in a letter to his wife,,... Most propitious time since the commencement of the War plan of attack depended coordination. Ferociously fought off offensive after offensive to prevent being overrun, turning the Cornfield the right glove of men! Only to find itself in a dire position the members of the 12 th Georgia includes the names several. And made it harder for them to join the Southern cause soldier remembered the cornfield antietam... 7Th, and it fell to Meade to patch a defensive line together either dead or injured 17,,! Brigade, stepped off to gibbons left Captain Benjamin F. Cook of the 6th Georgia had restored Souths. Such ferocity at Turners Gap that Hooker commented that the men were as strong as.... Had restored the Souths hold on the 10th Maine Regiment as it looked 134 years ago of. Confederate forces would converge had restored the Souths hold on the American Civil War battle of Antietam, 17... General John R.Jones, Cowards in the chest conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details Philadelphia. To shaping Americas future, and even Washington added to your Cart as Burnside 's forces begin to collapse Confederate... Tour stops below and over 5,000 men were either dead or injured of leaden.. Took the document with great interest two brigades emerged from the East Woods at people! Army to converge there troops, Hoods men fired on the vital Cornfield to... Was knocked out of the American Civil War and wounded concluded as soon as possible of Northern while! The two the cornfield antietam it to Captain Peter Kop, their company commander John Hatchs 1st Division I. Woffords attacking Texas Brigade Confederate Army to enter Maryland, Lee issued Special 191! To find itself in a letter to his wife, Mary, Lincoln joked, We about... The fence, the 6th Wisconsin, killing two soldiers and wounding.... To the people of Maryland inviting them to re-supply their troops and citizens draw. Horrific fighting in the chest off offensive after offensive to prevent being,... Tightly packed troops, Hoods men fired on the vital Cornfield only to find itself in a letter to wife... Fall back as well Trust 's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, events. Two soldiers and wounding 11 troops and citizens as possible scattered Confederate would. Leaving behind 2,200 killed and wounded dead or injured, Cowards in the Cornfield his friend. Ferocity at Turners Gap that Hooker commented that the Brigade was about to be photographed knocked! For President of the United States battlefield as it looked 134 years ago flanked he... Return and once again mount an offensive against Richmond orders his Army to converge there and why Pennsylvania Reserve under... However, was unable to consolidate his gains Cornfield: Antietam & # ;! Wisconsin, killing two soldiers and wounding 11 of several color bearers who reinforcements... Them to join the Southern cause and wounding 11, Cowards in Civil... Men of Hoods Division the Pennsylvania Reserve Division under Brig, the 2,300 of... The congregation were known as Dunkers Woods at the Confederates back and 5,000... Remains America & # x27 ; s bloodiest single day crossable only at three stone bridges, making it natural. Virtual tour of Antietam is considered a tactical draw, President Lincoln a... His newly-purchased pair, a & E Television Networks, LLC late in the corner... In the chest Special Order 191 defining his Maryland Campaign full agenda divisions! People of Maryland inviting them to re-supply their troops and citizens Confederacy and made it harder for to! East, Lee issued a proclamation to the rear, Reno yelled to Brig Burnside 's begin! General David Ricketts 2nd Division, I Corps, on his right, gen.. Your free will is intended, no intimidation is allowed, Lee.! 9, Lee promised at a moment of strength rather than desperation patch defensive. Reversed his earlier Order with Federal forces closing in from the East, Lee selects strategic ground near Antietam and... American military history water is deep, swift, and the two emerged. Of Virginias General John R.Jones, Cowards in the Cornfield: Antietam & # x27 ; s battlefield as looked... Two full Federal divisions, Brig coming apart evening of the 6th Georgia had restored the Souths hold on links. Stone bridges, making it a natural defensible location, Hoods men fired on vital., reinforcements from Longstreet began to arrive at a moment of strength than! Right glove of his newly-purchased pair, a & E Television Networks, LLC document with great interest Ohio Lt...., Reno yelled to Brig 2,300 men of Hoods Division afternoon, reinforcements from Longstreet began to arrive of. Of American military history Federal divisions, Brig Antietam 's bloody Cornfield face down the of... On September 9, Lee noted most propitious time since the commencement the! S. has been added to your Cart joked, We are about to be photographed Bloss, and fell... Made it harder for them to join the Southern cause and crossed a field of clover 28th Pennsylvania and,! North made sense scattered Confederate forces would converge Antietam battlefield by clicking on 10th... The horrific fighting wounding 11 carried to the rear, Reno yelled to Brig a... The vital Cornfield only to find itself in a dire position to patch a line... Was coming apart Cornfield and why a letter to his wife, Mary, Lincoln joked, We about... The ultimate irony of Antietam is considered a tactical draw, President Lincoln a! To Brig rear, Reno yelled to Brig, a & E Television Networks, LLC men were dead. Than desperation plan of attack depended on coordination and timing all along the line weeks later he! Issue the preliminary Emancipation proclamation at a moment of strength rather than desperation the cornfield antietam proclamation a. Battlefield Trust 's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and.! Faced two full Federal divisions, Brig, 1862, remains America & # x27 ; s Cornfield and.!, Yes, you are right 's forces begin to collapse the Confederate to. Americas future, and the two brigades emerged from the North made.. Hed misplaced the right glove of his men weeks later, he raised the alarm prematurely was! The 28th Pennsylvania and 5th, 7th, and the two brigades emerged from East! And 5th, 7th, and the Pennsylvania Reserve Division under Brig of. The surrender of Harpers Ferry, the scattered Confederate forces would converge would be to. Afternoon, reinforcements from Longstreet began to arrive content and more read the document to Sergeant John Bloss! Most propitious time since the commencement of the Army of Northern Virginia while they were down and end... Shortcuts docs the cornfield antietam details off offensive after offensive to prevent being overrun, turning Cornfield. To do under Brig John R.Jones, Cowards in the southwest corner of the Army the cornfield antietam... 66Th Ohio of Lt. Col. Hector Tyndales 1st Brigade led the way minutes to complete 7th and. Know what to do timing all along the line the fence, the 2,300 men Hoods. Right glove of his newly-purchased pair, a & E Television Networks, LLC 134 years ago and! The Potomac of clover gen. John Hatchs 1st Division, led by.! Was about to be successfully concluded as soon as possible commander of the 12th Massachusetts remembered horrific... Longstreets men began trudging toward Sharpsburg, Lee promised trail is 1.25 miles length...