Battle of Antietam

September 17, 1862 · Eastern Theater

Phases

1. 1Dawn — The CornfieldSeptember 17, 1862 — 5:30 to 9:00 AM
2. 2Mid-Morning — West Woods & Bloody LaneSeptember 17, 1862 — 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
3. 3Afternoon — Burnside’s BridgeSeptember 17, 1862 — 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
4. 44 PM — A.P. Hill ArrivesSeptember 17, 1862 — 3:30 PM to Dark
5. 5Sep 18–19 — Lee WithdrawsSeptember 18–19, 1862

September 17, 1862 — 5:30 to 9:00 AM

Hooker’s I Corps attacks south at first light through David Miller’s 24-acre cornfield toward the whitewashed Dunker Church. Hood’s division counterattacks through the corn and is wrecked — asked later where his division was, Hood answered “dead on the field.” The Cornfield changes hands as many as fifteen times; Hooker writes that every stalk was cut as closely as with a knife.

• ➤Hooker’s I Corps — Attacks south through the Cornfield toward the Dunker Church
• ➤Hood’s Division — Counterattacks through the corn — and is wrecked
• ➤Mansfield’s XII Corps — Joins from the East Woods — Mansfield falls
• ●The Cornfield — changes hands fifteen times
• ●Dunker Church