After the Battle of Antietam, Union troops largely felt disheartened by casualties.

While they had achieved a strategic victory, the staggering loss of life—around 12,400 Union soldiers—cast a shadow over their morale. Many soldiers grappled with the brutal reality of warfare, facing the grim aftermath and witnessing the suffering of their comrades. This heavy toll, combined with the sense of missed opportunities to decisively defeat Lee, led to mixed emotions among the troops, who were left to contemplate the harsh realities of their continued fight in the Civil War.