The Importance of Numbers

[David Lockmiller]

At one of the most important battles of the American Civil War, the Union had on their payroll a force of 170,000 men. However, at the actual time of this battle, only 83,000 of these men were available for combat duty.

What was the name of this battle, as referred to by the respective Union and Confederate forces? And, what was the relationship of the outcome of this battle to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation?