Kathleen Ernst talked about her book, Too Afraid to Cry: Maryland Civilians in the Antietam Campaign. She responded to questions from members of the audience. This was part of a National Park Service program to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. The battle on September 17, 1862, was the bloodiest day of fighting in American history. President Lincoln took advantage of the Union strategic victory to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation a few days later.