Antietam
The Bloodiest Day of the Civil War
Facts About the Battle
- The battle was fought on September 17, 1862.
- It was the first attempt by General Lee (a Confederate) to invade the North.
- The battle was the bloodiest single day in the Civil War.
- The battle was close, but the Union barely pulled a victory.
- Due to the victory of the North, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Corpses on the Field
This image shows the dead bodies lying in a trench on the battlefield. The bodies are practically piled on top of each other. The large amount of casualites shown here explain why the day of this battle was considered the bloodiest in the entire Civil War.
Where the Battle Was Fought
As this map shows, Antietam is located in Maryland, which is obviously where the battle took place.
Battle Near the Bridge
This painting is a depiction of the battle near Burnside's Bridge by Kurz & Allison entitled, "The Battle of Antietam."
Preserve the Battlefield
The land the battle was fought on has been preserved as a national attraction to visit. It can still be visited today!
Emancipation Proclamation
Due to the victory obtained by the Union, President Lincoln deemed the moment perfect to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.