The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, is known as the bloodiest single day in American history. Over 22,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing as Union and Confederate forces clashed near Sharpsburg, Maryland. This battle was part of the Maryland Campaign during the American Civil War and was significant for several reasons. It halted the Confederate Army's invasion of the North and provided President Abraham Lincoln with the political leverage needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The battle highlighted the brutal realities of war and had lasting implications on public sentiment and military strategy.