The Bloodiest Day in American History: 1862 Historical Battle of Antietam | Total War Battle

The Battle of Antietam, or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek. Part of the Maryland Campaign, it was the first field army-level engagement in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War to take place on Union soil. It remains the bloodiest day in American history, with a combined tally of 22,727 dead, wounded, or missing. Although the Union army suffered heavier casualties than the Confederates, the battle was a major turning point in the Union's favour.
00:00 The Confederates make a stand
00:46 The Union forces
01:31 The Union makes the opening moves
02:35 The Union attacks the Confederates at the Wood
04:09 The Confederates are pushed back
04:40 More men join, the stalemate continues
06:34 Battle in the Cornfield
07:50 Union reinforcements arrive
08:41 Battle at Dunker Church
09:30 Confederate counter attack in the Woods
10:20 Battle at Bloody Lane
12:21 The Union attacks from the North
13:21 Confederate reinforcements arrive
14:06 Final series of engagements
15:03 Aftermath

[@jaypenha5352]

This was actually a great depiction. No cheesy re-enactments on history channel with just 20 actors charging the field. In American history class in HS, they don’t ever go into the bloody details of battles. They list the most important ones and when the war was won, blah blah. We gotta realize that war is a whole bunch of battles, and tens of thousands of soldiers have died. It doesn’t matter what war it is. I think what makes civil wars the most tragic is the country literally killing itself. The American civil war only lasted 5 years, but can you imagine if it lasted a century? 😱 that was Japan’s longest civil war. They also used the most modern weapons of the time as well.

[@heihei3453]

1:16. Lol typical McClellan. He had this unshakable bordering on obsessive belief that he was always outnumbered by 5:1.

[@johngeverett]

McClellan's leadership style: Ready... Aim... Aim... Aim... No wait... Ready... Aim... Aim... Aim... etc...

[@edwil111]

He was a scared general.

[@danb1618]

And the difference between living and dying that day was an angry Texan interrupted at breakfast 😮

[@ChrisTopher-zo1vg]

These cinematics are a great way to understand the scale of soldiers involved in these great battles. Where 30 years ago we could only read and imagine.

[@sheepsfoot2]

And none where out of shape like we see with civil war reanacters > average 30-40 lbs overweight 😁!

[@BobBuckethead-ol5cw]

Right. People were quite lean back in those days

[@frankward8336]

Comparing original photos to this cgi, I think the cgi shows too many soldiers packed too closely together. But a good tactical description.

[@spinecat]

@@frankward8336 absolutely agree

[@antilact3581]

This is a game mod in napoleon total war 2

[@kenowens9021]

Fighting with 19th century weapons with 18th century tactics. That's why so many casualties. They just marched in a straight line with muskets on their shoulders.

[@russshull9652]

We as Americans should know more about our history, both good and bad. This was an excellent example. Thank you, Andy I loved the animation. Really cool!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks man glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Rswipes83]

It’s sad, no, it’s devastating the impact civil war had on the Americans and also here in Britain 200 yrs or so prior. Must’ve been a horrible time to have lived through. Thankyou for putting this out. Merry Christmas from Glasgow 🇬🇧🤝🏻🇺🇸

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks for watching, Merry Christmas to you too sir

[@91Redmist]

I think the Union strategic victory at Antietam is what kept you guys and the French from joining the South. Antietam was therefore more consequential than Gettysburg, even though that battle gets all the attention as it was the largest of the War. Happy holidays to y'all from across the pond 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

[@jarlnils435]

Yup, the first english civil war and the thirty years war were among the most deadly and destructive wars ever seen. Not even the world wars were as destruktive as those two.

[@91Redmist]

@paulhicks6667 The war began over disputes regarding state's rights and preserving national unity. Slavery really had nothing much to do with it, despite what the popular narratives say. But after Antietam, Lincoln saw a chance to make the Civil War a moral conflict in the eyes of the British, and so this he did by issuing the Emancipation. The war was no longer just about the original reasons, but ending Slavery as well. Happy new year to you.

[@michaelkress84]

It’s also sad that McClellan was given command time and again and his caution with the bigger army couldn’t achieve its goals. Thus the war dragged out. The Civil War had more American casualties than WW1 and WW2 combined

[@servaaslabs]

wow impressive how good of a sense these animations give of masses of soldiers charging in to each other and slugging it out with bayonets & rifle butts. I'd always known that in a Civil War infantry assault, both the attacker and defender got a chance to shoot twice, maybe three times and then it was hand to hand combat but to see it here was outstanding.. good work!

[@richardharrisson5250]

A very helpful and interesting documentary. Antietam has always haunted me ever since seeing Matthew Bradey's photographs. Some maps of the battlefield would have helped make sense of it .

[@user-fx3lv8im7f]

Not familiar with this battle in civil war , so much appreciated. Amazing video!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks 🙏

[@knightwatchman]

"We were lavish of blood in those days, and it was thought to be a grand thing to charge a battery or an earth-work lined with infantry." - Gen. Daniel Harvey (DH) Hill, Civil War survivor.

[@JD0124]

Excellent animations!

[@Nerdy_dude]

IM SO GLAD YOU FINNALY MADE ONE OF THESE! I am learning more about the napoleonic wars, but I know about the civil war so thx for making this (edit) I have actually been to this battlefield before

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks for watching bro, nice man that's cool. It seems like a lovely place with a tragic past

[@thomaschew2191]

Good video. I have been reading about the American Civil War since I was 18 years old. I'm now 65, have read many serious works on Antietam and have been to the battlefield 25 or 30 times. I have never heard that General Mansfield was wounded by Federal Troops. My understanding is that Mansfield, basically had a desk job and nagged Lincoln into giving him a field command. He was given command of the 12th corps and Sept 17th was the first fighting he had seen in the war. Mansfield was struck while getting his men ready to advance and probably never saw the Confederates before being struck down.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thank you, I’m glad you pointed this out , I am no expert on this subject and can only go off sources that I read online so my apologies if there are any inaccuracies

[@thomaschew2191]

@@cinematicbattles559 Antietam is a great battle to study and the actual battlefield today is basically unspoiled. Antietam battlefield is about 10 miles from Harpers Ferry, another fantastic Civil War town. Gettysburg is quite commercialized but still a great place to visit. It is about an hours drive maybe a little more between the two.

[@stevemahoney6493]

I was there perhaps 10 years ago with my late wife. I did not know at the time my 2x great grandfather fought there with the 20th Mass.

[@Hinkel84]

Thank you for using our old mod for this video :) Good times!

[@kenbo-2179]

What is it a mod for? Is it TW Napoleon? What is the mod called?

[@Hinkel84]

@@kenbo-2179 Its North and South for TW Napoleon.

[@oldandintheway9805]

I didn't realize that large round hay bales (they lined the sides of the roads) had been invented back then. Learn something new every day!

[@BellumCinematicsTotalWar]

Awesome video pal!!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks for the support bro

[@devandrohan2611]

This was spectacular!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks :)

[@Frank_nwobhm]

Love seeing the soldiers walk right through the fences.

[@imherwerdio6852]

Wow, someone's got talent. This was so well done.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thank you very much :)

[@imherwerdio6852]

@@cinematicbattles559 you're most welcome. Thank you more for making this

[@Sam_.z]

OMG LOVE THIS YOU ARE THE BEST KZbinR

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks 😁

[@notcrazy6288]

I studied the civil war during high school. One thing I noticed is that it became impossible to discern the 'good' guys from the 'bad' guys. I was continuously rooting for whoever I was reading about, whether it be the union or confederate. They all bravely defended causes that they felt were justified. This war was such a waste of so many good men.

[@wileecoyote5929]

ALL wars are a waste of good men

[@jimhoffmann]

Great job!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks!

[@stevecarr323]

Arlington and Antietam are the most sobering places I've visited.

[@ron88303]

Vietnam Memorial Wall for me. Almost eerie. Probably like you felt at A&A.

[@beavis4play]

this is a very well-done video.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Cheers man

[@odinsavenger4965]

Very well done! I wish we could get a Total War game during this time period.

[@atticussanders7394]

Quite sure there are a few Victorian mods for multiple different TW games, but yeah, a Total War Victoria would be cool

[@SteveBrownRocks2023]

This video is REAL good! 👏🏼😎

[@cinematicbattles559]

Cheers man

[@SteveBrownRocks2023]

@@cinematicbattles559 you’ve done a fantastic job, keep on going bro! 💥👏🏼😎

[@BSNickel]

Wow! Fantastic! Maybe the battle of Chancellorsville next?

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks 😊 Yes thinking of doing that

[@grimkupid8478]

"Bloodiest Day" so far... All Homer references aside, this was a great video

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks bro

[@brucevandermeulen4170]

We visited the spot. So sad, all that loss of life

[@96sigfried79]

love ur video❤

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks glad you enjoyed

[@stealthycat6854]

A video of the battle of Spotsylvania would be awesome! Or Cold Harbour?

[@dr.awkward9075]

No fence can stop me.

[@zach7193]

This was something. Good.

[@cinematicbattles559]

🙏

[@davidlockwood6088]

My Great Grandfather fought for the Union in the Cornfield

[@Soviet20]

"Flank the Enemy!" "Retreat?! Say No more!" *Confused Texan Noises*

[@randymillhouse791]

Texans only have one noise.

[@TTraveller3]

Greek Philosopher Plato was right…. “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”

[@pissedoff-is1mt]

Better and better bud!!

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks for your support bro😁

[@Powerule23]

How so? Do you want them skirmishing without any lines of communication?

[@simpilot8508]

How did you get the General and his staff's horse to walk at 2:36, I play this game frequently and I still can't figure it out.

[@cinematicbattles559]

If you group them with other units and move them all at the same time they go at the same pace

[@user-ot9pt1sw6i]

This computer animation is really neat

[@cinematicbattles559]

It’s not an animation it’s a game called Napoleon total war, I’ve installed an American civil war mod on too 😊

[@logicaredux5205]

That was amazing! What game is this from? I even noticed a smooth bore canon firing with the correct bell like report when it shot.

[@cinematicbattles559]

It’s napoleon total war with an American civil war mod installed 👌

[@logicaredux5205]

@@cinematicbattles559 That’s amazing! As you can tell, I don’t have any of those games. My last Civil War game was Terrible Swift Sword. It was a board game with hundreds of die cut unit markers that one was always losing.😂 It was a good game though! It took at least a week to play through.

[@cinematicbattles559]

@@logicaredux5205 I think you should invest! You'll have plenty of fun on these games, they're my favourite

[@llewev]

In Europe, the Battle of Solferino, just 3 years earlier, had claimed 39,000 casualties - almost twice those at Antietam.

[@dannyhardesty3692]

Thanks for the video! If they get the chance folks should visit this area. Oh, and it is pronounced "An-tee-tum. "

[@pa5287]

enjoyed

[@cinematicbattles559]

Glad to hear it

[@jerrymclellan4711]

I was hoping for some visual clarification of what I've read. Instead, I get fences that don't matter and a defensive line and bridges that don't come into play. I won't mention troops marching downhill to reach a plateau, and the craziness that was the cavalry.

[@tomislavpetrov1179]

"The Battle of Antietam took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862. The Union had 12,410 casualties with 2,108 dead. Confederate casualties were 10,316 with 1,547 dead. This represented 25% of the Federal force and 31% of the Confederates. Although the Union Army suffered heavier casualties than the Confederates, the battle was a major turning point in the Union's favor." QUESTION: I found that 87,164 soldiers participated in the battle on the Union side. 12,410/87,164=14,24%, and not 25%. Is it possible that the army had no reliable data about its own soldiers in the 19th century?

[@ss-xb5ev]

If you’re confederate, it’s the battle of Sharpsburg. Yankees always named the battle after the nearest water feature and confederates name it after the nearest land feature.

[@manuelacosta9463]

This one is befitting it's byword as America's bloodiest day. Have seen historical photographs taken in the aftermath and they gruesomely telegraph the ferocity of the fighting. Miller's cornfield and the sunken road stand out.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thanks for watching bro

[@LAH92]

Crazy to think cameras were around in that time!!

[@MrDave5259]

My great great grandfather was with the 8th Ohio in the cornfield. Survived and went on fight at Gettysburg and Lookout Mountain.

[@LesterMoore]

Those American and Confederate troops weren't reluctant to go cold steel to cold steel.

[@tomservo5347]

Two of the Union's best frontline operators, Generals Francis Barlow and Israel Richardson both went down wounded at almost the same time right as they were rallying and reforming their men for the killing blow after splintering Lee's center. The attack petered out without their combat leadership.

[@MM22966]

Somewhere out there is an alternate timeline, where the Union Army is commanded by Robert E Lee and McClellan is his chief of supply. In that timeline, the Civil War probably lasted 3 weeks. (I exaggerate for comedic effect, but still...)😉

[@sharkusvelarde]

Anty atum creek?!

[@xtbum3339]

Am no military expert, but why no artillery barrages before attacks?

[@aimaction7393]

THEV BEST GENERAL WINS THE BATTLE, REGARDLESS OF THE ODDS.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Where did my post go. Marching head on into canon fire arm to arm is crazy.?

[@danohimm22]

Watch the Gettysburg MOVIE Martin Sheen heads an all star cast... TOP NOTCH !!!

[@Dick_Sanormus]

Is this empire or Napoleon?? And what mod to get civil war factions/units???

[@Hitmannzz]

American Civil War mod, unfortunately it is outdated and needs an update, but still very good!

[@Dick_Sanormus]

@@Hitmannzzthanks 👍 is the mod for Napoleon or empire tho?

[@Hitmannzz]

Empire it uses the warpath campaign map @@Dick_Sanormus

[@clarkewi]

Winning a battle was harder in those days.

[@mr.s2005]

to be fair McClellan cautious was based on the fact that Lee had beaten him so many times....because he was overly cautious ever single time he tried anything. Battle seems to have been won more by simple mistakes by the confederates then McClellan's skill as a commander.

[@k.r.truthseeker7156]

Incorrect. Lee had not beaten McClellan. Lee and McClellan faced each other prior to Antietam during the Peninsula campaign and Seven Days battles. Lee lost all but one engagement during the series of battles, but McClellan kept retreating until he reached Harrison's Landing on the James River. Tactically, McClellan won most of the Seven Days battles, but Lee unnerved him with reckless attacks. Lee lost over 20k men...McClellan lost around 16k. At the end of the day, McClellan failed to utilize his advantages more than Lee was brilliant.

[@michaelwilson9986]

If we're gonna call this battle as history dose a Victory for the Union because Lee withdrew.Then Lee Won all those engagement on the peninsula..With Gen Johnston deserving credit for the 1st.

[@Powerule23]

McClellan was a bumbling coward.

[@AsaTrenchard1865]

Tell Sonny it's An-TEE-tum.

[@NP-ui3tr]

Apart from the generated voice, this is a tremendous recreation of Antietam Having walked that ground towards the Sunken Road it must’ve been absolutely horrific for Mahers men when the Confederates unleashed that volley As you approach the lane you can’t see it until you crest this rise about 50-75yds away, so those men had to be in for the shock of their lives when that line of Rebs came into sight Afterwards, walking the length Bloody Lane, imagining that scene of Confederates 3/4 deep firing & reloading for the men in front was an experience as well More so when you consider how it must’ve looked once they were overrun by the advancing Union troops; the carnage had to be indescribable in Americans experience of warfare until that time…Gardner’s photographs are proof of this fact

[@cinematicbattles559]

Thank you very much😁 I have since changed my narrator since this video

[@vkd76]

Salut Comment on peu jouer a ACW sur total war ???

[@cinematicbattles559]

Allez sur le site Web de Mod DB et tapez le mod American Civil War pour Napoléon Total War, il apparaîtra.

[@colincooper8727]

i am surprised that the opposing armies got that close to each other considering the range of their rifles was somewhere in excess of 500 yards.

[@SolidAvenger1290]

As a Marylander who has visited that particular battlefield, Sharpsburg isn't as flat as many people would think. Between the humidly rolling hills and the other terrain features (crops and trenches), the range of the rifles was vastly reduced below 500 yards. Unlike Gettysburg, Antietam, on the edges of the Potomac River, was much rougher to navigate as both forces fought on the outskirts of the river. It would be slightly similar to the rivers in Northern France or upper Italy in some places where armies would see the war of attrition from the terrain/climate.

[@angloaust1575]

No protest marches in those days or moratorium sittings 600.000 casualties makes Vietnam war appear as a skirmish!

[@googletaqiyya184]

*Bloody Hell! -Random Brit viewing this,* 'I have spoken'. -Kuiil

[@red88chevy]

Sharpsburg! Oh for the loss of special order 191!!

[@outdoorlife5396]

I understand why Lee choose this spot, What I do not understand is why McCellan did not attack when he had the lost orders. I still say it was the gift of the war. Info and speed are your allies.

[@alancoe1002]

The Confederates weren't using that flag yet.

[@SyaqilHazeeqHasrilSufiantoPl1]

The Most Brutal Scene I Saw Is The Union Soldier Letting Go Of His Bayonet From The Confederate Soldier, After That The Confederate Soldier Fell Dead Onto The Ground

[@SyaqilHazeeqHasrilSufiantoPl1]

Scene 4:16

[@derekpierkowski7641]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@denniskeena5936]

McClellan the coward.

[@aimaction7393]

THE NORTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFULL GOING UP AGAINST LEE. THE FACT THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE CIVIL WAR OFFERED LEE THEIR LEADERSHIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING THAT A FIGHT WITH LEE WAS DANGEROUS, AND DEADLY.

[@spinecat]

And Lee got beat.

[@aimaction7393]

@@spinecat IN GONE WITH THE WIND IT WAS MADE APPARENT FROM THE START, THE SOUTH HAD HEAVY INDUSTRY, NO NAVY. NOT EVEN UNIFORMS. THE CIVIL WAR WAS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

[@ronniebishop2496]

These people lined up arm to arm and marched head on into cannon and small arms fire by the hundreds.? It’s called meshing the fire, it’s actually called crazy as hell and irresponsible as the devil.

[@InternetDarkLord]

This video missed one of the most important points in the Maryland Campaign. Union troops found a copy of General Lee's plans in an abandoned Confederate camp.

[@user-uz6ju8li9u]

Yes

[@ThomasHoward-yj3te]

Im from Canada but have read a lot about this war. It was awful families were so divided Isee way to many similarities in modern American society I just hope this never happens again. But the country is very polarized again.

[@tnsampson2]

Ok, but you don't get the full feel of the battle. Save the robots for smaller efforts, and give me a picture of the entire battlefield showing the movement of units.

[@ron88303]

I'm sure he's working on that, your majesty.

[@tnsampson2]

@@ron88303 Let's hope so.

[@markhenderson2685]

Robert Gould Shaw was there

[@pleiadecca]

Antee-Attem Creek? Alrighty then.

[@cinematicbattles559]

My apologies, the narration was generated with AI

[@nukedits9302]

Maybe the Siege of Toulon, the Siege of Jerusalem and maybe the Fall of Constantinople next ?

[@cinematicbattles559]

Yes I am looking into these

[@lagoonguy]

this is a great depiction. is this a game or an AI depiction?

[@cinematicbattles559]

This is a game called Napoleon Total War and I’m using an American Civil war mod 👍

[@lonnieclemens8028]

The good guys lost.

[@johnadams-wp2yb]

In todays figures, that war cost 9 million dead or wounded. Shooting each other seems to be a Murkan trait.

[@skorpio156]

Love the imagery. Is that Total War?

[@Hungryman97sCollectibles]

Reupload without an AI voice.

[@davidmcnutt3926]

To those wanting reparations for their ancestors who were slaves, now would be a good time to say Thank you to all the white ancestors whose Great Grandfathers fought & died for your ancestors freedom at this battle.

[@alfredoreitano3426]

VIDEO BEN FATTO 💥💨

[@kennethgrantham5092]

I agree with you. AI needs work on correct pronunciation. It’s not rocket science.

[@stephenchristian5739]

Well I will give it a TU for the effort but the animations are completely confusing rather then just show fights las the narrator speaks lets see the movements (at least for a moment) from above or from distance so we can see how the armies moved back & forth show the ridges,fences,trees,corn juxtaposed to the battlefield! I have no idea what I'm watching ere sort of like a kid was given the toy men to play with.

[@davidanthony4845]

' anTEEtam ' !!!!!!

[@glynluff2595]

Interesting that even at this stage of military events the battlefield is still defined by civilian fences.

[@Brandalf_The_Grey]

“An-Tee-Tum” not “Anti-atom”

[@user-sb2go4we3o]

Should have never happened 😢!!

[@talmadgewalker279]

Auntie Ettum????

[@roysimmons3549]

Rated a Union victory hmmm.

[@edwardgleeson850]

Too bad the announcer couldn't pronounce Antietam correctly.

[@hannibalscipio10]

Auntie Ettem?

[@terrymcguire8476]

Back in those days , they fought foolishly and stupid.

[@user-ot9pt1sw6i]

Why most trailers (confederates) fight so hard when they were so poor,??????

[@HistoryBezerk]

Not pronounced Anty at em creek but An-tee-tum.

[@cinematicbattles559]

Sorry I used AI to generate the narration

[@bagboy1942]

@@cinematicbattles559 can't AI be taught to pronounce words or names correctly in editing?

[@Powerule23]

@@bagboy1942 It is what it is. He/she/they did as best as they could.