Antietam was a tactical draw , but the Union won the strategic victory because Robert E. Lee’s invasion of Maryland was stopped and his army withdrew back to Virginia. The battle is often treated as a Union victory because it helped lead to the Emancipation Proclamation.

Quick Scoop

  • Military result: essentially a draw on the battlefield.
  • Strategic result: Union advantage, since Lee’s campaign was halted.
  • Why it matters: it gave Lincoln the opening to announce the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

In one line

If you mean who “won” Antietam , the best answer is: the Union, strategically; neither side clearly won tactically.