Mcclellan Doesnt Destroy News Today

>> mcclellan now holds key battle plans that can ensure his armys success and personal redemption. its a victory that would allow lincoln to redefine the war, giving soldiers like robert gould shaw a reason to fight, and create the new america frederick douglass has hoped for. >> there is a great deal of excitement for the issuing of the emancipation proclamation. saving the union and emancipation are one. its this game-changing event. but there was a belief that lincoln might not do it. >> fath...

>> halt! ready! aim! fire! forward! o1 >> retreat! retreat! >> forward, men! >> shaw and his men pued through the confederate line. >> retreat! >> yeah! [ men shouting ] >> but lees outmanned rebel army refuses to quit. >> [ screams ] [ gunfire ] >> if mcclellan cant find a way to turn this massacre into a victory, the war -- and any hope for emancipation -- will be lost. ♪ >> we hit the door at

Finish them. >> what do we know of lees reinforcements? >> george mcclellan always worried a little too much about what the enemy might do. >> i will not send more men to die unless i have to, general franklin. >> and thats what happens at antietam. several times, subordinates urge him, "now is the time to launch that final blow." but mcclellans always thinking, "what if things go wrong?" >> just as he fails to act after intercepting lees battle plan, mcclellan again hesitates. >> despite the fa...

>> with the emancipation proclamation hanging in the balance, george mcclellans union army clashes with robert e. lees confederate force in the battle of antietam. >> the second phase of the battle of antietam, this massive union attack right at the heart of the southern lines. and thats where the bloody lane occurs, when youve got this sunken road thats absolutely filled with casualties and running with blood. >> after hours of savage fighting, the union forces finally break through the center ...

Civil wars bloodiest battles. >> the fight begins at dawn as union general joe hookers troops attack stonewall jacksons confederate corps. >> the southern army has drawn up in a defensive position, running roughly from a cornfield in the north down to some high ground in the south. and mcclellan throws his army at lees northern flank. and youve got these two armies absolutely throwing themselves at each other. >> the battle-hardened rebels throw back the unions first wave. to the north, robert g...

Mcclellan now has a chance to claim victory. all he has to do is send in his 20,000 reserve troops. >> we have them by the throat, general. [ gunfire ] we could send in the reserve and finish them. >> what do we know of lees reinforcements? >> george mcclellan always worried a little too much about what the enemy might do. >> i will not send more men to die unless i have to, general franklin. >> and thats what happens at antietam. several times, subordinates urge him, "now is the time to launch ...

The first time and going into union territory. lee has made a plan of attack and divided his force, with one element around hagerstown, maryland, and the other element around harpers ferry, in what we call west virginia today. >> until now, top union general george mcclellan has failed to give lincoln the victory he needs. but a lost copy of lees entire battle plan winds up in mcclellans hands, giving him one last shot at redemption. >> if i cant whip bobby lee with this paper, ill be willing to...

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