Today in History - Battle Of Antietam 1862

The Bloodiest Day In American History

The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was the deadliest single-day battle in American history. With over 22,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing, the battle marked a pivotal moment in the Civil War. Nearly 3,650 soldiers were killed outright, with thousands more succumbing to their wounds in the days that followed. Antietam's horrific toll prompted President Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, changing the war's course and giving it a new moral imperative. The staggering loss of life underscored the brutal reality of the Civil War.