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Antietam | West Woods | Sep 17, 1862 | 9:00 - 11:30 am

Sharpsburg, Md.

Around 9:30 am Union Gen. Edwin Sumner led Gen. John Sedgwick's Division, numbering more than 5,000 men, into the battle. Their plan was to drive into the woods and then sweep south, delivering a crushing blow to Lee's left flank. As they moved through the West Woods, however, Confederate artillery opened fire from a position on Hauser Ridge. Within minutes, the Federals were torn to pieces by bullets from three different directions. Confederate re-enforcements from the Gen. Lafeyette McLaws' and Gen. John Walker's divisions slammed into the unsuspecting Union flank. Suffering over 2,200 casualties in about twenty minutes, the Federals quickly withdrew from the West Woods.

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CalltoArms
Preserve 128 sacred acres at Antietam and Shepherdstown
We can add 6 additional acres to the 130-year-old Antietam Battlefield site and preserve 122 acres of nearly-pristine land at Shepherdstown — all part...

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Washington County, MD | September 17, 1862
Result: Union Victory
Estimated Casualties
22,717
Union
12,401
Confed.
10,316