The Battle of Antietam
By CJ Jones
Lee split his army into four parts and were instructed them to move in different directions. He hoped to confuse McClellan about the size and destination of his army. A Confederate officer, however, lost his copy of Lee's orders describing this plan. The paper was found by two Union soldiers, who brought it to McClellan. McClellan did not attack immediately. Lee reassembled his troops, and on September 17, 1862, The two sides met in the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, Maryland. About 6,000 soldiers were killed. About 17,000 more were badly wounded. It was the the deadliest single day of fighting during the war. At the end of the war, it was a great success for the Union.