Antietam and Gettysburg

     The Battle of Antietam also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg was fought on September 17, 1862.  It was the bloodiest day in American history, with 22,717 dead, wounded, and missing on both sides.  It occurred because Confederate General Robert E. Lee attacked and attempted to take over Antietam, a Union supply railroad.  Although he was unsuccessful and forced to retreat, most say that his army fared much better than it should have.  He was vastly outnumbered by the Union army and also had no simple route of escape because behind him was Antietam River.  He and his army were however able to retreat, not unscathed but still a formidable force, when they should have been destroyed because of Union General George B. McClellan's awful tactics.
     Another devastating battle in the civil war was the Battle of Gettysburg, fought on July 1-3, 1863.  This battle was known as the bloodiest battle in the civil war with 46,286 casualties.  It is also often known as "the war's turning point".  The battle was fought because Lee, who had just won a decisive battle against the Union in Virginia, was confident enough to launch a second attack on Northern Union territory.  Lee led his army north through Shedowa Valley to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where the Union and Confederate forces collided.  Finally, after three days of battle, the Confederate army was forced the retreat back to Virginia and the Gettysburg Campaign was over.

                                                         The Battle of Gettysburg