Battle of Antietam

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The Battle of Antietam was a pivotal 1862 clash in the American Civil War, known as the bloodiest single day in U.S. military history and a turning point that enabled Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Aliases (1)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf American Civil War battle
battle
alsoKnownAs Battle of Sharpsburg
belligerent Confederate States of America
Union
campaignObjective Confederate invasion of the North
casualtyDescription heavy casualties on both sides
commander George B. McClellan
Robert E. Lee
commanderRole George B. McClellan commanded Union forces
Robert E. Lee commanded Confederate forces
ConfederateArmy Army of Northern Virginia
ConfederateCasualtiesApprox about 10,300
ConfederateObjective gain foreign recognition through a victory on Union soil
conflictIn American Civil War
country United States
date September 17, 1862
followedBy Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Shepherdstown
front Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
killedWoundedMissingApprox about 23,000
legacy led to shift of war aims toward emancipation
major turning point in the American Civil War
location Antietam Creek
Sharpsburg, Maryland
Washington County, Maryland
memorial Antietam National Battlefield
notableEvent first major battle of the Civil War fought on Union soil
notableFeature bloodiest single day in American military history
partOf Maryland Campaign
politicalConsequence discouraged potential British recognition of the Confederacy
discouraged potential French recognition of the Confederacy
enabled preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
precededBy Battle of South Mountain
preservedAs U.S. National Battlefield
result strategic Union victory
tactically inconclusive
state Maryland
stateControl National Park Service
strategicSignificance gave Abraham Lincoln political capital to issue the Emancipation Proclamation
halted first major Confederate invasion of the North
terrainFeature Burnside Bridge
Sunken Road
cornfield
UnionArmy Army of the Potomac
UnionCasualtiesApprox about 12,400
UnionObjective drive Confederate forces from Maryland
year 1862


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