Existing comment:
Legacy of Change:
When the soldiers of two American armies converged on the peaceful village of Sharpsburg, they transformed the once tranquil farms that surrounded the town into horrific fields of combat. This community would never be the same.
Five days after the guns fell silent, President Abraham Lincoln redefined the meaning of the war when he announced the Emancipation Proclamation. No longer was this conflict being waged solely to reunited a divided country, now this war would also be fought to abolish slavery.
As the years passed, the site of the Civil War's bloodiest single-day battle evolved into a place of reflection and national remembrance. Though the scars of war have faded from the landscape, Antietam National Battlefield remains hallowed ground. It is a place where America forever changed -- a place to ponder the meaning of sacrifice and freedom.
The Community:
Sharpsburg citizens took shelter in basements to escape the battle. No civilians were killed during the battle, but the community suffered for years.
The Nation:
President Lincoln first introduced the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet in July of 1862, but he had to wait until the Confederate withdrawal after Antietam to present it to the nation.
The Battlefield:
Early commemoration efforts began with the dedication of the National Cemetery in 1867. President Andrew Johnson, seven governors, and over 10,000 people attended the event. |