ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
September 17, 1862
The Bloodiest Day in the American Civil War
Occurs at the Battle of Antietam
On this day in 1862, the Battle of Antietam (also called Battle of Sharpsburg in the south) occurred claiming
approximately 23,000 casualties becoming the single bloodiest day of the war.
Although it was not the decisive victory Lincoln wanted, it halted Robert E. Lee's invasion of Maryland and gave
Lincoln the confidence he had been waiting for to announce his Emancipation Proclamation.
After the battle, Lee withdrew his army back to Virginia to fight another day.
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