The Battle of Antietam.

In the early stages of the war, the Confederate army looked invulnerable, and had many more battles than the Union side. Abraham Lincoln, the president at the time, had appointed George McClellan as the Major General of the Union army. Robert E. Lee, the general of the Confederate force, had led a northward advance, and it seemed doubtful that he could be halted. However, on September 13, 1862, a Union soldier found Lee's abandoned battle plans, wrapped …

…from the proslavery groups to the antislavery groups. Although nothing was accomplished, something could have happened if George B. McClellan had pressed the attack. McClellan later explained, "The national cause could afford no risks of defeat,"4 this being his excuse for mediocre tactics and leadership. Many also thought that McClellan did not want to crush the enemy. Abraham Lincoln heard these comments as to his general's reluctance to hurt his enemy. Later, McClellan was dismissed.