Fighting around the famous Dunker Church gets hotter.

Battle of Antietam.

At the Second battle of Bull Run the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia inflicted a severe defeat on the Union army. Gen Lee decided to follow this up with an invasion of Maryland.

The Union army meanwhile had Gen. McClellan placed at its head by Lincoln, and it was now called the Army of the Potomac.

After Lee had captured Harper's Ferry, the two armies met either side of Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg. The stage was set for the Battle of Antietam.

This was due to the infamous losing of his battle plans with "three cigars" which ended up in McClellan's hands. Howevere, he proved too cautious to make use of the information. Gen Lee had also decided to leave Maryland, but wanted to leave with another battlefield victory.

The Battle of Antietam was to be the bloodiest of the civil war. Even though the Union outnumbered the Confederates three to one, they were unable to gain the upper hand. This was due to McCellan committing his forces piecemeal, and also because the Confederates had chosen some very strong defensive ground. Many were to die that day at the famous "sunken road" of Antietam.

The next day Gen. Lee withdrew in good order across the Potomac. The battle was indecisive for both sides and was a proving ground for the battles yet to come.

TIPS

This is one of the trickiest battles for Line of Muskets, mainly because the South is so grossly outnumbered in terms of men. However, the South actually has a slight advantage in artillery in the early stages of the battle. This is the key to Confederate victory.

Start the battle off by concentrating your fire on the Union batteries. If you can reduce them it will help you later.

With your troops along the trench line in front of Dunker Church wood, it is better to pull then back into the woods so the Union artillery cannot see them. Then you wait.

Also put your artillery in support of your infantry. When the Union come through the woods you should be able to open up on them with canister, and start hurting them.

At Burnside Bridge a common mistake is to sit right up against the river. This allows the Union player to shoot holes in you, and then come across when you are dead. Sit three hexes back. When the Union player sends his brigades across in march column, then counter-attack. This works well.

At the Sunken Road, be prepared to withdraw back to the Stone Wall. Let the Union come across the Sunken Road and then have many batteries shoot at him.

The biggest mistake for the Union player is to get impatient and send in your Corps one at a time (this is what McClellan did historically and lost him a great opportunity to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia). Wait a bit. Soften up the defenders with your artillery. Get your Corps together, and then attack. Make sure you take some artillery with you as you go.

And don't forget Snavely Ford. You can cross it in one hex wide formation. For example, a unit in Supported Line that occupies only one hex. This is a lot less painful than going across Burnside Bridge in March Column.

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