Antietam

Definition

The Battle of Antietam was a significant Civil War battle fought on September 17, 1862, in Maryland. It is known as the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with about 23,000 casualties.

Analogy

Think of the Battle of Antietam like an intense championship game where both teams are evenly matched. The game doesn't end with a clear winner (the battle was technically a draw), but one team (the Union) manages to stop the other team's winning streak (Confederate invasion into the North), which boosts their morale and changes the course of the season (Civil War).

Related terms

Robert E. Lee: He was the commander of Confederate forces during this battle.

George McClellan: He led Union forces at Antietam but his failure to pursue Lee's retreating army led to his removal by Lincoln.

Casualties: This term refers to those killed, wounded, missing or captured in war; Antietam had an unprecedented number of casualties for a single day's fighting.