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By chance, a Confederate officer dropped a set of Lee's orders in the field.

By chance, they were found by Union troops and taken to Headquarters.

By chance, an officer was able to identify the signature of the Adjutant-General, whom he'd known before the war.

This put the game in McLellan's hands. But...

By chance, there was a Confederate spy in the camp, who was able to tip-off Lee that his orders had been read by McLellan.

So McLellan's victory was not as overwhelming as it might have been, and Lee's army was able to escape back to Virginia.

Still, the battle changed history, as it was the long-awaited Northern victory that gave Lincoln the credibility to announce the Emancipation Proclamation that kept the British out of the war, as it was now officially a crusade against slavery, for all the world to see.

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Is The Bloody Cornfield the battle of Antietam?

Not really! IMPROVEMENT. It's a part of the battlefield where the Battle of Antietam was fought.


Is Antietam a battle?

It is capitalized as it is a part of a proper name. It should be written as the Battle of Antietam. As another example without a capital letter: The Antietam battle was also called Sharpsburg. Note the small "b" here, as it is not in a proper name as with the first case.


What generals opposed each other at the Battle of Antietam?

The Battle of Antietam, an important battle of the Civiil War, was fought by the Army of the Potomac, part of the Union Army, under the command of General George McClellan, and Confederate forces under the command of General Robert E. Lee on September 17, 1862.


Was the geography of the Battle of Antietam important?

When I went to visit the Battlefield of Antietam, it was made up primarily of fields and hills. Much of the fighting was done on farmland. A huge part of the battle took place in a cornfield. However, there were (at the time, not so much now) forests, too. They are currently trying to grow the forests back.


What part of the Battle of Antietam did critics of Confederate General Robert E. Lee point out was a mistake?

The crucial Battle of Antietam was a dangerous mission for the Army of Northern Virginia Under the command of Robert E. Lee. His decision to stand and fight on September 17, 1862, instead of retreating on the 16th has caused Lee's critics to point out that this was a tactical error. By doing so, he exposed his army to even more losses, even close enough to cause his entire army to be destroyed. In Lee's defense, it should be remembered that the South's public morale was a necessity to keep the South optimistic that their bid for independence stood a good chance of success. Lee's decision to not retreat resonated favorably with Southern citizens, and despite the failure in Maryland, Lee's standing with the public remained high and the morale of Lee's soldiers quickly was revived.

Related Questions

Is The Bloody Cornfield the battle of Antietam?

Not really! IMPROVEMENT. It's a part of the battlefield where the Battle of Antietam was fought.


Is Antietam a battle?

It is capitalized as it is a part of a proper name. It should be written as the Battle of Antietam. As another example without a capital letter: The Antietam battle was also called Sharpsburg. Note the small "b" here, as it is not in a proper name as with the first case.


What part of Maryland did lee invaded the north?

The battle took place in the city of Antietam.


Did the Battle of Antietam fail southern hopes for winning European allies?

The Battle of Antietam had no effect on Southern hopes for winning European allies. As part of the aftermath of the aftermath of that battle, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. That Proclamation ended any possibility of the South gaining European allies.


What generals opposed each other at the Battle of Antietam?

The Battle of Antietam, an important battle of the Civiil War, was fought by the Army of the Potomac, part of the Union Army, under the command of General George McClellan, and Confederate forces under the command of General Robert E. Lee on September 17, 1862.


What generals opposed each other in the battle of Antietam?

The Battle of Antietam, an important battle of the Civiil War, was fought by the Army of the Potomac, part of the Union Army, under the command of General George McClellan, and Confederate forces under the command of General Robert E. Lee on September 17, 1862.


Which civil war battle was fought in a cornfield?

Some of the most severe fighting in the Battle of Sharpsburg(Antietam) was in Miller's Cornfield. This was only a part of this larger battle. There may be other battles which involved cornfields,this is the one which comes to mind.


Was the geography of the Battle of Antietam important?

When I went to visit the Battlefield of Antietam, it was made up primarily of fields and hills. Much of the fighting was done on farmland. A huge part of the battle took place in a cornfield. However, there were (at the time, not so much now) forests, too. They are currently trying to grow the forests back.


Top battles of the cvil war?

Gettysburg, which was the turning point of war. The Battle of Antietam. And the Siege of Vicksburg, which split the South in two as part of the Norths 'Anaconda Plan'.


Where was Lees first battle in the north?

The Battle of Boonsboro (South Mountain) was fought in Washington and Frederick counties in Maryland September 14, 1862. It was a part of Lee's Maryland Campaign which culminated in the bloody Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) September 17 1862. See the following link for more about the battle.


What battle during the civil war stalled the possibility of European intervention and led to the Emancipation Proclamation?

The Battle of Antietam played a part in reducing the threat of European intervention on behalf of the Confederacy and gave Lincoln the victory he needed to proceed with the proclamations publication.


Why did the union soldiers have such a difficult time when they attacked the confederate troops at the Battle of Antietam?

The Confederates were, for the most part, fighting from protected positions while the Union troops attacked over open fields.