Antietam National Battlefield commemorates a Civil War battle that occurred on September 17, 1862, likely one of the very bloodiest in our nation’s history. Though considered a draw by most military historians, President Abraham Lincoln claimed victory because Confederate General Robert E. Lee withdrew from the field the evening of the battle. This “victory” compelled Lincoln to announce his Emancipation Proclamation just five days later, which would effectively end slavery in the United States on January 1, 1863.
for a three-hour period in U.S. history (5,600 casualties total)
Twenty-two thousand casualties would be tallied at Antietam by day’s end.
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