Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In September 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his army into Maryland, launching the first major Confederate invasion of the North. Facing him was Union General George McClellan, whose hesitation and caution had already tested President Lincoln’s patience.
Along the banks of Antietam Creek, the two armies met in one of the bloodiest days in American history. When the smoke cleared, more than 23,000 soldiers were dead or wounded, and the course of the Civil War and the nation’s purpose had shifted forever.
This A250 Mini Documentary is part of a video series presented by the Bill of Rights Institute in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. From the founding moments to movements that shaped our national identity, the A250 series highlights the pivotal people, ideas, and events that have defined the American experiment over the past two and a half centuries.
0:00 – 00:25 Lee Invades the North
0:26 – 00:47 Lincoln’s Struggle for Momentum
0:48 – 02:16 McClellan Takes Command
2:17 – 03:19 The Lost Orders
3:20 – 03:33 The Battle of Antietam Begins
3:34 – 03:35 Fighting at Dunker Church
4:31 – 04:46 The Bloody Lane
4:47 – 05:05 Burnside’s Bridge
5:06 – 05:28 A.P. Hill’s Last-Minute Arrival
5:29 – 05:51 Aftermath of Antietam
5:52 – 06:10 Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation
6:11 – 06:51 Legacy of the Battle of Antietam
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About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: @billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: @brinstitute
Instagram: @brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
In September 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his army into Maryland, launching the first major Confederate invasion of the North. Facing him was Union General George McClellan, whose hesitation and caution had already tested President Lincoln’s patience.
Along the banks of Antietam Creek, the two armies met in one of the bloodiest days in American history. When the smoke cleared, more than 23,000 soldiers were dead or wounded, and the course of the Civil War and the nation’s purpose had shifted forever.
This A250 Mini Documentary is part of a video series presented by the Bill of Rights Institute in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. From the founding moments to movements that shaped our national identity, the A250 series highlights the pivotal people, ideas, and events that have defined the American experiment over the past two and a half centuries.
0:00 – 00:25 Lee Invades the North
0:26 – 00:47 Lincoln’s Struggle for Momentum
0:48 – 02:16 McClellan Takes Command
2:17 – 03:19 The Lost Orders
3:20 – 03:33 The Battle of Antietam Begins
3:34 – 03:35 Fighting at Dunker Church
4:31 – 04:46 The Bloody Lane
4:47 – 05:05 Burnside’s Bridge
5:06 – 05:28 A.P. Hill’s Last-Minute Arrival
5:29 – 05:51 Aftermath of Antietam
5:52 – 06:10 Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation
6:11 – 06:51 Legacy of the Battle of Antietam
---
About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: @billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: @brinstitute
Instagram: @brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
