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Click Here for the Entire Defining Moments Collection
There are certain moments in our history
that define an entire era, and there are key photographs
which captured those moments. This section of the WEB
site is dedicated to those moments, and the images that
captured them for posterity.
As an example, we feature above a
photograph of Abraham Lincoln taken on October 3, 1862 on
the Battlefield of Antietam. This is perhaps the best
outdoor portrait of Lincoln extant. He is shown standing
next to Allan Pinkerton (Left) and General McClernand
(Right).
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest
day in American History. There were 23,000 casualties in one
day . . . four times the casualties suffered during the
D-Day invasion. The Battle of Antietam was one of the
defining moments in American History.
In the fall of the year 1862, Abraham
Lincoln had become desperate for a victory in the Civil
War. Up to that time, the South had achieved victory
after victory. Bull Run, Wilson's Creek, and Shiloh
had all been convincing victories for the South.
Abraham Lincoln realized that if the North did not achieve a
victory soon, the survival of the Union would be in doubt.
This led Abraham Lincoln to look to God and make an offer .
. . Lincoln prayed that if God would grant him victory on
the battlefield, he would free the slaves.
Slavery had haunted Lincoln for some
time. He fully realized the cruelty and brutality of this
corrupt institution, but he did not have the strength to
stand up against it. Desperate for a victory, he made the
deal with God. Shortly after this, he received news of
McClellan's success at Antietam. Despite devastating
losses, McClellan was able to drive Lee out of Maryland, and
back into Virginia. The battle of Antietam was fought on
September 17, 1862. On September 22, 1862 Abraham
Lincoln honored the promise he made to God, and issued the
Emancipation Proclamation.
The picture above was taken on October 3,
1862. Lincoln is shown standing on the Battlefield of
Antietam. The following day, October 4, 1862 his
Emancipation Proclamation appeared for the first time on the
pages of Harper's Weekly, the most widely distributed
newspaper of the day.
Click Here for the Entire Defining Moments Collection |