Antietam Battle Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Antietam Battle Analysis - Essay Example Besides, the growth and development of democratic ideas forced the Northern States to fight against the Southern states which was under the influence of slavery, forced labor and slave trade. The battle of Antietam can be considered as a turning point in history of the struggle for freedom and individual liberty in America. Still, the victory of the Union forces under the direct leadership of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan proves the importance of military tactics, experience and single minded dedication in the battle field. On the other side, the Confederate forces failed to defeat the Union forces because they did not provide ample importance to military tactics and waited for reinforcement forces. In short, the battle of Antietam led the Americans, especially the African American slaves, towards freedom from slavery and forced labor. The Battle of Antietam occurred on 17 September 1862, in and the surrounding areas of Sharpsburg. The other areas include Maryland and Antietam Creek. The battle occurred between the Confederate forces (Confederate States Army) and Union forces (Union Army) in the American mainland. This battle is generally considered as a turning point in the American Civil War, which ignited the spirit of freedom among the slaves, especially the African Americans in America. The Confederate side was led by General Robert E. Lee, and the Union Army was under the direct control of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan. ... Besides, the Battle of Antietam was a single-day battle but it resulted in high casualty. Both the opposing sides were forced to suffer heavy loss because thousands of deaths were reported. But the lack of planning related to warfare techniques hindered the Union Army from destroying the Southern Army. To be specific, Union forces possessed enough resources to destroy the Southern side. But lack of planning from the side of McClellan helped the Southern Army to have ample time to withdraw from the battlefield. Eventually, the Southern forces withdrew from Maryland to Virginia. On the other side, the Southern side’s decision to withdraw from Maryland helped Abraham Lincoln to announce and implement the decision to prohibit slavery and free the slaves in America. So, one can see that the Antietam Battle eventually led America to be a unified federation, which is against slavery and in favor of democratic ideas. Some of the resources used in this work include: Battle of Antietam: The Bloodiest Day by Ted Alexander, Grant and Lee: Victorious American and Vanquished Virginian by Edward H. Bonekemper, and Historical Atlas of the United States, with Original Maps by Derek Hayes. Review Strategic Setting: As pointed out, Antietam Battle ignited the spirit of democratic though and changed the general opinion on slavery and forced labor. The immediate cause of the battle is interconnected with the clash between the southern and Northern states in America on slavery, forced labor, and slave trade. Stephen W. Sears claims that â€Å"The realities of Antietam were brought home to the Northern citizenry more vividly than any previous battle† (Sears 2003, 20).1 The