The Battle of Antietam began around the dawn of Wednesday, September 17th, 1862. The battle would become the dramatic and bloody conclusion of Lee's campaign into the north.

It could have been a much better outcome for the Union, but it sadly showcased McClellan's inability as a commander. On the 13th of September, Lee's Special Order #191, which outlined all his orders and details for the invasion of the Union, fell right into the McClellan's lap. A Union scout had retrieved it in a leather pouch along with two cigars, which disappeared along the way. Realizing the importance of what he held, McClellan moved the Army of the Potomac (AOP) to meet Lee's forces at Antietam Creek. He failed to capitalize on his strategic advantage in two ways. First, he did not move fast enough to Sharpsburg, which would have allowed a quick Union victory against the scattered Confederates. Second, when the battle did begin on the 17th, McClellan attacked so slowly that lee had time to bring up and organize his reinforcements, which included General "Stonewall" Jackson.

The second part of McClellan's incompetence as a commander just got more recognizable as Antietam dragged on. Worried about the possibility of a major counterattack, nearly 30,000 of the AOP (1/3 total) were kept just to reserves. He lacked the ability to decide when one last attack would win the day. At one point, the Confederate center had become so weakened that it was being held solely by artillery. Yet McClellan still did not make a move. He then did not make a move on Lee's blunder after the fighting ceased on the 17th. Instead of making an all-out retreat, Lee was allowed to gather his supplies and rest his men for a day when the AOP had the 30,000 fresh reserves standing still. The Union army would not make another lunge at Lee for six weeks. Lincoln grew upset with McClellan, and had him replaced with General Burnside, who fared little better.

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There were also numerous political effects of Antietam. President Lincoln used the victory as leverage to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. He did so because of the publics growing support of abolition, issued it on January 1, 1863. It declared that all slaves in areas still in rebellion were to be set free. Though this did little to stop slavery in the Confederacy, it changed people's focus of the war. It was becoming more about human rights and freedom than breaking of the Union. This would also lead to more European backing of the Union and the right of slaves to join the army.

The battle also ended France and England's consideration of supporting the Confederacy as a separate country. This would be a profound decision, which would continue to eat away at the strength of the newly formed country.

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