23,000 in One Day — The Battle of Antietam (1862)

The Invasion

In September 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee pushed north.

His goal: take Maryland. Draw Britain and France into supporting the South. A gamble.

Union General McClellan moved to stop him. Antietam Creek, Maryland.

5:30 a.m. The cannons opened up.

Cornfields. Sunken Road — soon called Bloody Lane. Burnside Bridge. Three fronts collapsed and surged in turn.

Twelve hours. 23,000 casualties — killed, wounded, missing. The bloodiest single day in American military history. The record still stands.

The battle ended in a draw. Lee retreated to Virginia. McClellan didn't pursue.

But for Lincoln, it was enough.

Five days after the battle, Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

"On January 1, 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State in rebellion shall be forever free."

Without Antietam, there would have been no proclamation. Lincoln had waited for a Union victory to announce it.

Battle date: September 17, 1862 | Casualties: ~23,000 | Preliminary Proclamation: September 22, 1862 | Effective date: January 1, 1863