what was the significance of the battle of antietam
Outcome: The result of the battle was inconclusive, but the north did win a strategic advantage. 23,100 casualties. Significance of the Battle of Antietam: The Battle of Antietam forced the Confederate Army to retreat back across the Potomac River. President Abraham Lincoln saw the significance of this and issued the famous Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862.