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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > Battles and Campaigns > Other Eastern Theater > Why did Lee stay to fight at Sharpsburg? |
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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > Battles and Campaigns > Other Eastern Theater > Why did Lee stay to fight at Sharpsburg? |
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| Why did Lee stay to fight at Sharpsburg? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 03:17 am |
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1st Post |
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pamc153PA Member
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After all that had not gone the way Lee had wanted in the Maryland campaign in September 1862, why did Lee not return south across the Potomac, but face the AoP under McClellan at Sharpsburg? Many things about that campaign didn't go as planned: having to fight/seige at Harper's Ferry rather than take it easily, the fact that western Marylanders were lukewarm at best with their support, the Special Order 191 mishap. Why didn't Lee cut his losses and head back south, especially since, if McClellan hadn't dithered, he could have trounced Lee at Antietam? Thoughts? Pam
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 10:14 am |
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2nd Post |
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fedreb Member 
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Harpers Ferry was defended by anything from 10,000 to 14,000 troops (depending on which account you read)led by an inept Colonel, Dixon S Miles, who failed to set adequate defences, but would Lee have known that and really expect to take the place easily? He sent Jackson who himself had commanded there at the beginning of the war and knew the ground but a stronger Union command could have put up a much stiffer resistance. Did Lee know that a copy of Special Order 191 was in Union hands? Having fought McClennan on the Peninsular I think one thing that Lee did know was that he would be up against some good fighting men in the AotP but they would be led by a dithering commander.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 11:26 am |
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3rd Post |
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PvtClewell Member 
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My guess is that Lee never knew he had to cut his losses. He didn't know he'd be unable to generate support in western Maryland until he passed through the area. It's also my understanding that he wasn't aware of the Lost Orders incident until he read about it several months hence in a Yankee newspaper. And Jackson's capture of Harpers Ferry was hardly a hindrance at all. Harpers Ferry is pretty undefendable, commanded as it is by Bolivar, Loudon and Maryland Heights. It's just not a good place to be since it limits movement of the defender. As one Yankee wrote, Harpers Ferry 'is no more defensible than a well bottom.' The surrender of Dixon Miles' men was the largest capitulation of U.S. troops to that time until the fall of Corregidor in WWII. The one thing that Lee knew was that he was going against McClellan, and that would probably be enough.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 03:21 pm |
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4th Post |
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pamc153PA Member
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Somewhere (wish I could remember where) I read that Lee was surprised that "dithering" McClellan was able to reorganize and meet him at Antietam in days rather than weeks, as his past experience with McClellan made him think. I'm thinking, too, that maybe Lee, being Lee, just wanted to fight rather than heading back. He had it in his head to, so he was going to. Pvt. C., glad to see you made it back from YOUR venture into Northern territory in one piece!  Pam
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| Posted: Sat Oct 24th, 2009 04:05 pm |
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5th Post |
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TimK Member
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This isn't really adding to the conversation, but kind of seconding what Pam said. I think that Lee was a stubborn, confident man. When he made up his mind and was ready to fight, that is what he was going to do.
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| Posted: Sat Oct 31st, 2009 05:47 pm |
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6th Post |
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ole Member 
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All good stuff! Although I think Lee had been alerted to some surprisingly rapid movements (maybe not the Lost Orders, but certainly unexpectedly rapid movements) so he sent off to concentrate on the hills north and east of Sharpsburg. But I think most are in agreement that Lee wasn't going to march that far to just turn tail and re-cross the Potomac. It would have been the prudent thing to do, but how would that look in terms of public morale? In terms of his and McClellan's soldiers' morale? His soldiers would have been chagrined at losing without a fight. McClellan's soldiers would have broken the losing streak they'd developed over the year. Political considerations alone were enough to demand a test of strength. Then, there is that his personal pride prohibited retreat. Ole
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| Posted: Tue Nov 3rd, 2009 07:18 pm |
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8th Post |
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Mark Member
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I think Ole hit the nail on the head. The Antietam Campaign was as much about political gain as it was about tactical gain. From that stand point it was a bust almost as soon as it began. Marylanders didn't welcome Confederate liberation, the AOP was manuvering agressively, and Bragg's simultanious invasion of Kentucky was not going well either. The ANV had to fight to salvage somthing from a disapointing campaign and maintain its momentum. Cheers! -Mark
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