Battle of Antietam

Battle of Antietam

Battle of Antietam
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	high interest, readability grades 4 to 6
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	5.5

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		cripple, invasion, slavery, reserve, medical, wounded, truce, march, victory, gain, attack, beginning, supplies, army, battle, exchange
	content words:		General Robert E., General George McClellan, Antietam Creek, Civil War, Dunker Church, Emancipation Proclamation

Print Battle of Antietam

Print Battle of Antietam (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)

Quickly Print - PDF format

	Quickly Print: PDF (2 columns per page)
	Quickly Print: PDF (full page)

Quickly Print - HTML format

Quickly Print: HTML

Proofreading Activity

Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on Battle of Antietam

Leave your feedback on Battle of Antietam (use this link if you found an error in the story)

Battle of Antietam
By Cathy Pearl

¹     In 1862, General Robert E. Lee decided to march his troops north into Maryland. He wanted to win a victory for his army in the North. He was sure it was an important step in winning the war. He also hoped that a win in the North would force other countries to recognize the Confederacy as its own country. These countries would then be willing to send supplies that the South badly needed.

²     Luck was against Lee from the beginning. A Union soldier found a copy of Lee's plans at a camp. It was a perfect opportunity for General George McClellan to beat the Southern army once and for all. A strong win at this battle would cripple the Southern army. The South would have a hard time building another one.

³     McClellan did not use the chance he had to attack the Confederates. He waited too long to make a decision. By the time he started to march his army toward Lee, Lee knew of the lost plans and was strengthening his army.

⁴     The two armies fought smaller battles on September 14 in mountain passes. Lee tried to stop the Union army from marching farther south. He could not. He decided to make a stand near the Antietam Creek. This creek was near the town of Sharpsburg. This is what the Confederates would call the battle.

Paragraphs 5 to 11:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable

Copyright © 2009 edHelper