BATTLE // 17 Sep 1862
Antietam
Maryland · 39.474, -77.738
LOADING MAP TELEMETRY…
Overview
The Battle of Antietam, also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union Major General George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek. Part of the Maryland Campaign, it was the first field army–level engagement in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War to take place on Union soil. It remains the bloodiest day in American history, with a tally of 22,726 dead, wounded, or missing on both sides. Although the Union Army suffered heavier casualties than the Confederates, the battle was a major turning point in the Union's favor.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Significance
Emancipation opening
Result
Strategic Union check
Forces & casualties
Troop strength
- United States53,632medium
- Confederate States30,646medium
United States fielded a 1.8 : 1 numerical advantage
Casualties
- United States12,410medium23% loss rate
- Confederate States10,316medium34% loss rate
Commanders (2)
Confederate States
Robert E. LeeGeneral in chief
United States
George B. McClellanmajor general
Compare with sibling battle
6 options
Pick a battle to compare side-by-side·★ same campaign
Related
6 sibling battles · 2 factions