It was just one Confederate officer who had dropped a set of Lee's orders in the field.
By an extraordinary chance, these were found and shown to McClellan, who realised that Lee's divisions were widely separated, and that he could destroy them piecemeal.
Unfortunately there was a Confederate spy in the camp, who was able to alert Lee, and McClellan did not achieve total victory.
Still, the Confederates did retreat back to Virginia, and it was recognised as an important Union win.
a
The Battle of Antietam was fought September 17, 1862, before the battle of Fredricksburg which was fought on December 13, 1862.
Gen. Lee had poor intelligence on the terrain, especially the flow of the Potomac River, and the battle plans were compromised when a set was lost. Despite that, due to the many errors of the Union general, the Confederates came very close to defeating a Union force twice their size.
Antietam. It was the unexpected Northern victory that gave Lincoln the credibility to issue this Proclamation without making it sound like a desperate measure. The battle was actually a tactical draw, not a real Northern victory, but Lincoln decided to go ahead anyway.
Gettysburg was 1-3 of July 1863 and Vicksburg surrendered the 4th of July. But the Battle of Vicksburg was a siege that lasted about 5 weeks. If the question is which began first, then it would be Vicksburg. Gettysburg ended first. Both were fought in 1863 and the resulting loss of both battles was very demoralizing to the Southern states.
a
The Battle of Antietam was fought September 17, 1862, before the battle of Fredricksburg which was fought on December 13, 1862.
Before. Antietam was the unexpected Northern victory that gave Lincoln the credibility to issue the Proclamation without making it sound like a desperate measure.
He was simplywaiting for a Union victory. It happened at Antietam (Sharpsburg).
Gen. Lee had poor intelligence on the terrain, especially the flow of the Potomac River, and the battle plans were compromised when a set was lost. Despite that, due to the many errors of the Union general, the Confederates came very close to defeating a Union force twice their size.
The bloodiest day of the US Civil War took place at the Battle of Antietam. It was a one day battle on September 17, 1862. Combined casualties were close to 23,000. No battle fought by Americans before or after Antietam had a one day casualty rate higher.
Yes. This was the long-awaited Union victory that gave Lincoln the credibility to issue the Proclamation, which he did very promptly indeed - just a few days.
Antietam. It was the unexpected Northern victory that gave Lincoln the credibility to issue this Proclamation without making it sound like a desperate measure. The battle was actually a tactical draw, not a real Northern victory, but Lincoln decided to go ahead anyway.
Federal arsenal seized by John Brown in 1859 with the intent of arming slaves and Stonewall Jackson in 1862 just before the Battle of Antietam.
During the American Civil War, the Battle of Antietam, which took place on September 17, 1862, involved Northern forces commanded by Major General George McClellan and Southern forces commanded by General Robert E. Lee. The battle was in many ways a draw; however, it can be considered a Union victory since it served as a check to the Southern invasion of the North that had begun before the battle took place.
Gettysburg was 1-3 of July 1863 and Vicksburg surrendered the 4th of July. But the Battle of Vicksburg was a siege that lasted about 5 weeks. If the question is which began first, then it would be Vicksburg. Gettysburg ended first. Both were fought in 1863 and the resulting loss of both battles was very demoralizing to the Southern states.
No, the Union had several victories before the Battle of Gettysburg. This battle is perhaps the most important victory they achieved. Possibly in the East, though Antietam is another candidate. The real key to victory came in the West: Shiloh, Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, The March to the Sea.