The Bloodiest Day in American History

The "Bloodiest Day in American History" refers to September 17, 1862, during the Battle of Antietam in the American Civil War. Occurring in Maryland, this battle saw the Union and Confederate armies clash, resulting in approximately 23,000 casualties—killed, wounded, or missing—in just one day. The intense fighting was marked by horrific conditions and fierce combat over strategic ground. Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, it marked a significant turning point, as it halted the Confederate invasion of the North and allowed President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation shortly afterward.