Bloodiest Day: Antietam Halts Lee's Advance
Union forces under George B. McClellan halt Robert E. Lee's northward drive at the Battle of Antietam, claiming the title for the bloodiest single day in American history. This stalemate gives President Lincoln the political cover he needs to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, shifting the war's purpose from mere union preservation to a fight against slavery.
September 17, 1862
164 years ago
Key Figures & Places
American Civil War
Wikipedia
Robert E. Lee
Wikipedia
George B. McClellan
Wikipedia
Battle of Antietam
Wikipedia
Confederate army
Wikipedia
American Civil War
Wikipedia
George B. McClellan
Wikipedia
Army of the Potomac
Wikipedia
Maryland campaign
Wikipedia
Northern United States
Wikipedia
Robert E. Lee
Wikipedia
Army of Northern Virginia
Wikipedia
Battle of Antietam
Wikipedia
Union
Wikipedia
Confederate
Wikipedia
Maryland
Wikipedia
What Else Happened on September 17
Remistus had been magister militum — essentially commander of the Western Roman army — but by 456 that title meant less than it once had. A Gothic force besiege…
Alfonso VII was three years old when his father died, and his mother was immediately pressured to remarry and cede control. He spent his childhood under the pro…
The Battle of Myriokephalon sees the Byzantine Empire clash with the Seljuk Turks, resulting in a significant defeat that alters the power dynamics in Anatolia.
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos had been pushing into Anatolia for years, reclaiming territory, winning battles, dreaming of a restored empire. Then at Myriokephalon …
Mary of Hungary was crowned 'king' — not queen, but king — in September 1382, because the Hungarian nobility didn't have a mechanism for a female ruler and refu…
Piotr Dunin’s forces crushed the Teutonic Order at the Battle of Świecino, shattering the Knights' military dominance in the region. This victory forced the Ord…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.