Following the Flag, from August 1861 to November 1862, with the Army of the PotomacCoffin, Charles Carleton
History
Following the Flag, from August 1861 to November 1862, with the Army of the Potomac
Coffin, Charles Carleton
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
There were twelve thousand four hundred and sixty-nine killed, wounded,
and missing from McClellan's army in this battle. About two thousand of
them were killed, and nine thousand five hundred missing.
The Rebel loss is supposed to have been about fifteen thousand.
Thirteen guns, fifteen thousand small arms, six thousand prisoners,
and thirty-nine colors were taken from the Rebels at Antietam, South
Mountain, and Crampton's Pass.
The army expected a renewal of the attack on the morning of the
18th. It was a beautiful day. Two divisions, Couch's and Humphrey's,
had arrived, which, with Porter's corps and Slocum's division of
Franklin's, were fresh. Smith had been engaged but a short time on
the 17th. There were nearly thirty-five thousand troops which could
be relied upon for a vigorous attack. The reserve artillery could
be brought in. There were several thousand Pennsylvania militia at
Hagerstown, not of much account for fighting, but which could be used
for train guards.
"Whether to renew the attack on the 18th, or to defer it, even with the
risk of the enemy's retirement, was the question with me," says General
McClellan.
He deliberated, and decided not to attack for the reasons, that,
if he lost the battle, Lee could march on Washington, Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and New York, without an enemy to oppose him, living on
the country; the troops were tired; and the supply trains were in the
rear. Sedgwick's division and Hooker's corps were somewhat demoralized
and scattered. Sumner thought Sedgwick's division could not be relied
upon to attack the enemy vigorously. Meade commanding Hooker's corps,
said his troops could resist better than make an attack. The efficiency
of the troops was good as far as it went.
"The morale of some of the new troops under Burnside was impaired,"
says General McClellan.[78]
[Footnote 78: Report, p. 212.]
"My command was in good condition, holding its position on the opposite
side of Antietam. One brigade had been severely handled, but I
considered it in fighting condition," says General Burnside.[79]
[Footnote 79: Burnside's Testimony, p. 642.]
General McClellan expected fourteen thousand more men, and taking all
things into consideration he decided not to renew the attack.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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