Emancipation rollout
September 22, 1862
The carnage, death and destruction that happened near Sharpsburg along the Antietam Creek was well known across the United States and Confederate States by September 22 of 1862. Americans had never fought to the death like this before. There were 23,110 killed, wounded and missing in one day…from sunrise to sunset on September 17. More new widows and orphans were created on that day than ever before.
Lee’s invading Rebel Army was now safely back in Virginia and the Army of the Potomac commanded by George McClellan…was content to stay north of their namesake Potomac River and lick their significant wounds…and burry their dead.
Clara Barton would bring wagons of medical supplies from DC nursing hundreds, to become known as the Angel of the Battlefield. She would take her experience and what she learned to later create the American Red Cross.
Alexander Gardner would also bring a wagon loaded with chemicals, tin and glass out from DC and take photos that would stun the American people and become iconic images of death on a battlefield.
There were a LOT of significant people and significant moments which came together in the wicked cauldron of Antietam.
But I believe the single most lasting action taken that relates directly to that battle affecting America was what President Lincoln did on this day in 1862…on September 22.
Abe had written a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation during the summer…but his cabinet urged him to hold it until a moment of strength that would give it more power and meaning.
He took the 23,110 casualties…American’s all…and used their collective sacrifices as his moment of power and meaning and issued his preliminary executive order on September 22…that would become in effect on January 1, 1863. All of the slaves in states in rebellion would be free. The great irony was the slaves in Maryland would still be enslaved for awhile longer.
This changed the war goal of the United States of America from “just” reuniting all of the states to what existed in 1860 when Lincoln was elected, to include his new goal…of freedom for the enslaved people of America. His pen was going to bring us all closer to the Founders expression’s of freedom and equality for all….
But the US Army would have to be victorious…the US had to win to make this proclamation enforceable…and end slavery in America. No more debates…no more compromises. NO MORE SLAVES. The concept put forward by the Confederate States in their Secession documents that the Founders were wrong about equality and freedom, would die with their surrender.
People of African descent who were brought here against their will…were not property with no rights. They were human beings with the same rights as any plantation owner, farmer, shopkeeper...anyone. Not 3/5 to be counted in the census for political gain in the south.
Personally I believe this date, September 22 is as important as Juneteenth and should be recognized and celebrated throughout the land. It was the beginning of the end of our peculiar institution.
The annual Illumination at Antietam is the visualization of the extent of the sacrifice and Lincoln’s use of his pen to free people from bondage…forever.
Peace
Mike,
Was it you who recommended "The Killer Angels" novel to us? If so, thank you. I just completed it and found it powerfully moving. Not the blood and guts parts. But the dynamics between generals. Some of whom were fighting best friends. For unclear reasons. Loyalty to a slave state trumping friendship and patriotism?
It set me off on a journey to explore the journey of Gen James Longstreet. Fascinating. Once worshiped by his troops, then vilified for becoming a reconstructed Republican. And, of course, it is a novel. But if 10% of how the author portrays Lee is true, it blows a hole in one of America's biggest myths.
And...the conversations among the Confederate soldiers - denying that slavery was the the issue being fought about rang bells in my head. Those people had children who had children and passed on the same fantasies and philosophies - and here we are. "We was just faitin' for our raihts!"
Millions of people are still "unreconstructed" rebel bigots. And JD Vance wants to be their new leader. I continue to reflect on the idea that perhaps, the North should have let the South go its own way. We lost too much DNA. And as HCR's book title suggests "How the South Won the Civil War"....anyway.
I've always found Antietam to be the saddest of all the battlefields I've visited - maybe because of the contrast between the beauty and the carnage. It's nice to remember that at least one good thing came out of it.