Final answer:
The Battle of Antietam can be better viewed as a draw rather than a Union victory, despite the Confederate withdrawal and high death toll. The battle resulted in the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln, which shifted the war aim to ending slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Battle of Antietam, which took place on September 17, 1862, between the Union and Confederate forces, is often viewed as a draw rather than a decisive victory for the Union.
Although the Confederacy withdrew from the battlefield and suffered heavy losses, the battle did not result in a clear Union victory.
Despite this, the Union saw the battle as a turning point as it gave President Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which shifted the war aim from simply preserving the Union to ending slavery.