Antietam Timeline

Date Eastern Theater Other Events
August

28


Thursday
Three day Battle of Second Manassas or Second Bull Run, VA begins CSA Gen. Braxton Bragg leads the Army of the Tennessee North from Chattanooga, TN
29

Friday


CSA Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith’s Army of Kentucky invades Kentucky
30

Saturday
Union Gen. John Pope's Army of Virginia defeated at Second Manassas, begins withdrawal toward Washington, D.C.
September

1

Monday
Battle of Chantilly or 0x Hill, VA; Pope's rearguard attacked in driving rainstorm, Union army continues toward Washington

2

Tuesday
Union Gen. George B. McClellan restored to command in Virginia and around Washington

CSA Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrating Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) at Chantilly


3 Wednesday Lee moves ANV toward Leesburg, VA, writes CSA President Jefferson Davis "The present seems to be the most propitious time since the commencement of the war for the Confederate Army to enter Maryland"
Smith occupies state capitol of Frankfort, Kentucky

4

Thursday


Lee begins crossing his army over the Potomac River near Leesburg VA. All the units will be in Maryland by Sept. 7

5

Friday
Army of the Potomac begins to move out of Washington

6

Saturday
"Stonewall" Jackson occupies Frederick, MD, Lee's entire army is across the Potomac

7

Sunday
McClellan moves his headquarters out of Washington to Rockville, MD

8

Monday
Lee issues a Proclamation to the people of Maryland: "It is for you to decide your destiny freely and without constraint"

9

Tuesday
-Lee issues Special Orders #191 in Frederick outlining plans for taking of Harpers Ferry, VA (now WV)

-CSA Gen John G. Walker's Division leaves Frederick enroute to the Monacacy River Aqueduct and Loudon Heights, VA


10 Wednesday -Jackson leaves Frederick toward Middletown at 3 am, over South Mountain to Boonsboro by nightfall

-CSA Gen James Longstreet follows Jackson through Middletown toward Hagerstown

-CSA Gen Layfayette McLaws' Division moves toward Maryland Heights by way of Middletown and Burkittsville.

-Walker fords Potomac at Point of Rocks and camps through the 11th


11

Thursday
Confederates enter Hagerstown, MD.

By evening, Jackson within 4 miles of Martinsburg, VA (now WV)


12

Friday
McClellan enters Frederick

13

Saturday
-McLaws begins assault on Maryland Heights

-CSA Gen D.H. Hill at Boonboro

-Jackson occupies Martinsburg

-McLaws takes Maryland Heights

-Walker reaches Loudon Heights, VA

-By night, Jackson reaches Bolivar Heights,WV

Copy of Special Orders 191 found in Frederick, delivered to McClellan by early evening; by 10 pm Lee knows of excitement in Federal camp, orders Longstreet to Boonsboro, warns McLaws


14

Sunday
BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN

-Union Gen William Franklin's VI Corps takes Crampton's Gap, in line facing South in Pleasant Valley

-Union Gens Jesse Reno (IX Corps) and Joseph Hooker (I Corps) attack at Fox's and Turner's Gaps

-D.H. Hill and Longstreet withdraw after dark

-Walker has artillery in place on Loudon Heights by 1 pm

-McLaws has artillery in place on Maryland Heights by 2 pm


 

Last updated: September 15, 2023

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