tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8296287100970811608.post1928437588768716572..comments2024-03-06T06:52:36.635-05:00Comments on The 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry: Antietam. . .A Tactical Draw?John David Hoptakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10521690201528852944noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8296287100970811608.post-1422419395945396472007-04-20T06:13:00.000-04:002007-04-20T06:13:00.000-04:00John,I read with interest your position post that ...John,<BR/><BR/>I read with interest your position post that Antietam could only be considered a Union tactical victory much as Gettysburg is accepted to be. But your reasons, save the Confederates maintenance of their position on the field, are strictly strategic. <BR/><BR/>However, consider:<BR/><BR/>At Gettysburg, the Union army held the dominant position on the field with the benefit of interior lines. Lee threw Longstreet's corps against Union left and then the center on July 2nd and 3rd to have them repulsed. Lee's failure to take the Union position, particularly with Pickett's charge, is the predominant characteristic of his defeat.<BR/><BR/>At Antietam, let's ignore the invasion of Maryland for a moment as that is a strategic consideration. On the field of Antietam, Lee held the dominant ground with the benefit of interior lines. McClellan threw the Corps of Hooker, Mansfield, Sumner and Burnside against Lee. While there was certainly ground lost and gained (much as there was Gettysburg), at battle's end, McClellan failed to sustain any breakthrough in Lee's lines. <BR/><BR/>Lee held the field and his line against McClellan as Meade did against Lee ten months later. In both cases one army achieved the better ground and awaited the attack from the enemy. In both cases, the attacking army achieved some successes, but was ultimately repulsed and was forced back to their original lines held at the start of battle. <BR/><BR/>Why would the same standard of defeat not apply to McClellan?<BR/><BR/><BR/>From a strictly tactical perspective, it is difficult to see how a result prescribed to the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg does not apply to the Army of Northern Virginia at Antietam.<BR/><BR/>Very Respectfully,<BR/><BR/>Cory Newby<BR/>AntietamPhotography.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com