President Abraham Lincoln at a Union camp

Antietam

This photograph of President Abraham Lincoln, with Major Allan Pinkerton (left) and Major General John A. McClernand (right), was taken on October 3, 1862, a few weeks after the battle of Antietam. On September 17, 1862, the Union forces routed the Confederates at Antietam with tremendous loss to both sides. President Lincoln visited the soldiers in their camp, spending much of his time reviewing and inspecting the troops, as well as grieving with them over the 24,000 men dead, wounded or taken prisoner in the one day of battle.

Soon after this visit Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves in the states rebelling against the Union. Major Pinkerton was the Head of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and bodyguard to Lincoln.

To see a Civil War reenactment of a camp at Antietam, see Document 108.

Citation - Document 40
Oct. 3, 1862
Courtesy Library of Congress, Reproduction no. LC-B8171-7929 DLC
www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/civilwar