Antietam

The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, during the American Civil War, was the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history, resulting in about 22,000 casualties. It occurred near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and was a crucial confrontation between Union General George McClellan and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The battle ended in a tactical draw but gave the Union a strategic advantage, leading President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation afterward. This shifted the war's focus to ending slavery and prevented European powers from recognizing the Confederacy. Antietam is often seen as a turning point in the war.