The Batle of Antietam: Behind the Front Line

SEPTEMBER 17,1862

By : Chanelle Peters

Today our troops went into battle, on the Antietam Creek. Although the weather was dreary, the troops' spirits were at a high. Leading them was General McClellan, hopeful for a grand victory. McClellan, playfully twitched his mustache, as he told the troops of the victory party they would have. Alas, the Union troops were immediately ambushed by the Confederates. General Burnside led another regiment of Yankees, but was unable to come to McClellan's aid, until much later in the battle. McClellan, the stubborn one, refused to bring in more men, until Burnside arrived.

Stubborness never pays! By the time Burnside did arrive, the Confederates had driven back the Union troops, and won one of the bloodiest single-day battles of this war, so far seen. Our troops lost 2,108 men and suffered 12,410 casualties. The war still rages on, McClellan is mourning instead of celebrating, but our troops are still fighting.

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