The Battle of Antietam was the most famous event in the Maryland Campaign. Lee invaded Maryland on September 4, 1862 with plans to capture Harper’s Ferry’s arsenal and invade Pennsylvania. McClellan pursued them and, because of good luck the North was able to force the South to retreat.
Lincoln used this "draw" as a chance to make the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves in the Union and turned the war into a battle over slavery which gave the North an advantage. Europe had anti-slavery laws and so they didn’t want to join the confederates because they didn’t want to look like they liked slavery.
To learn more about the events of the Maryland Campaign click here.
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