On October 26, 1862 the Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River and found shelter and supplies in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. They had retreated from the terrible fighting at Antietam in Maryland.
The Battle of Antietam was in Maryland in 1862. Robert E. Lee's army, the Army of Northern Virginia, took on heavy casualties. He had little choice but to retreat back to Virginia.
The significance of the Battle of Antietam is that the Union army forced the Confederate Army to retreat behind the Potomac River. See the related link for more information about the Battle of Antietam.
In September of 1862, Antietam Creek was the site of a major confrontation between the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of Robert E. Lee and the forces of the Union's Army of the Potomac under generals reporting to George B. McClellan. The creek was near the city of Sharpsburg, Maryland. It was one of the bloodiest battles in US history. The end result was a retreat of the Confederate forces as the Union army won the day. Lee was able to recross his army back over the Potomac River into Virginia. McClellan was criticized for his lack of aggressive pursuit.
In September of 1862, Antietam Creek was the site of a major confrontation between the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of Robert E. Lee and the forces of the Union's Army of the Potomac under generals reporting to George B. McClellan. The creek was near the city of Sharpsburg, Maryland. It was one of the bloodiest battles in US history. The end result was a retreat of the Confederate forces as the Union army won the day. Lee was able to recross his army back over the Potomac River into Virginia. McClellan was criticized for his lack of aggressive pursuit.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia were planning to make a significant raid on Harrisburg Pennsylvania. Northern forces of the Army of the Potomac were sent to not allow that to happen. By strictly chance the two opposing armies met at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was a three day battle in which the North and Union General George Meade won. This forced Lee to retreat back to Virginia.
The Battle of Antietam was in Maryland in 1862. Robert E. Lee's army, the Army of Northern Virginia, took on heavy casualties. He had little choice but to retreat back to Virginia.
The significance of the Battle of Antietam is that the Union army forced the Confederate Army to retreat behind the Potomac River. See the related link for more information about the Battle of Antietam.
Their defeat by McClellan at Antietam.
In September of 1862, Antietam Creek was the site of a major confrontation between the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of Robert E. Lee and the forces of the Union's Army of the Potomac under generals reporting to George B. McClellan. The creek was near the city of Sharpsburg, Maryland. It was one of the bloodiest battles in US history. The end result was a retreat of the Confederate forces as the Union army won the day. Lee was able to recross his army back over the Potomac River into Virginia. McClellan was criticized for his lack of aggressive pursuit.
In September of 1862, Antietam Creek was the site of a major confrontation between the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of Robert E. Lee and the forces of the Union's Army of the Potomac under generals reporting to George B. McClellan. The creek was near the city of Sharpsburg, Maryland. It was one of the bloodiest battles in US history. The end result was a retreat of the Confederate forces as the Union army won the day. Lee was able to recross his army back over the Potomac River into Virginia. McClellan was criticized for his lack of aggressive pursuit.
After the Battle of Antietam in September of 1862, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had to retreat from Maryland back to Virginia. Lee's evacuation from Maryland, for that moment of the war ended Confederate plans to take the war to the enemy, the Union.
Antietam/Sharpsburg (Maryland)
Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia were planning to make a significant raid on Harrisburg Pennsylvania. Northern forces of the Army of the Potomac were sent to not allow that to happen. By strictly chance the two opposing armies met at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was a three day battle in which the North and Union General George Meade won. This forced Lee to retreat back to Virginia.
The battle of the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac at Antietam strictly speaking was indecisive. Lee had placed himself in a position to basically hope for a stalemate and a retreat. On the other hand, McClellan made tactical errors that if not made would have his larger army win a complete victory. Lee had to retreat and face the physical barrier of the Potomac River to escape into Virginia. This took extra time and McClellan failed to take advantage of it. He had his reasons, however, Lincoln was not pleased that Lee was able to escape.For political reasond he declared it a victory. If indeed it was such than from a military standpoint, McClellan would not have been replaced.The rebels (Lee's army) retreated even though they were there in Maryland to inpress the Union
Robert E. Lee was forced to retreat from the North due to his losses at the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg.
President Lincoln saw the Confederate retreat back to Virginia after the Battle of Antietam as an opportunity to severely damage the Confederate army in Virginia. He urged General McClellan to rapidly pursue Lee's army into Virginia and cut his lines of communication with Richmond. This would force Lee into another battle with the Army of the Potomac and suffer a defeat due to Lee's smaller army. This would then leave Richmond ripe for a take over.
After being defeated in both the Antietam and Gettysburg battles, Lee and his army retreated into Virginia.