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1862- The Battle of Antietam

September 17, 2022

The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, was a battle between Union Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac and Confederate Gen. Robert E.Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. It took place on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and was the bloodiest day of the Civil war.

With about 22,717 casualties, dead, injured, or missing, the Battle lasted about 12 hours, and it was a fight between the Union Army and the Confederates. The Union Army won, but it suffered more casualties than the Confederates, including six generals killed. Three were from the Union Army, and the others were from the Confederates' side. A dozen more generals were wounded.

The Battle of Antietam is cited as having protected the Federal Capital from invasion, influencing Great Britain not to recognize the Confederacy and shaping the future of warfare in the Civil War that ended on April 9, 1865.

Following the Union Army's victory at Antietam, President Lincoln used the occasion to issue the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. The Proclamation announced that Lincoln would free all enslaved people outside Union-controlled territory if the Confederates failed to lay down their arms.

5 Comments

  1. Jeanne Stephenson

    Enjoy this history brief.

    Reply
  2. Beatriceclotfelter@att.net

    Thank you for this

    Reply
  3. Hank

    It was the greatest loss for democracy in world history

    Reply
  4. John

    Thank you for this article. I did not know this part of our history until just now. We have life so easy today yet I feel the day is coming with the free people will end up like many did in the Civil War and fight against each other especially the elite and trying to enslave us. Very sad to say.

    Reply
  5. Don

    My mom grew up in Keedysville just about two miles away. My uncle lived in Boonsboro, and one of my Aunts backyard is up against the battlefield cemetery. Walked over Burnside Bridge almost every day. We went back there for her 70th high school reunion in 2015. Visited the battlefield, the church, bloody lane, the cornfield,etc. Also went to Gettysburg and Monocracy. Had never heard of Monocracy, but it was a battle that was fought on Union soil for the last time. The Union lost the war, but prevented the South from getting to D.C. before reinforcements could arrive. If you are ever in the area, try and see these places. Lots of history.

    Reply

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