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Deadliest Day in American History is September 17 – Antietam By the Numbers
War History Online ^ | 17SEP18 | Guest Blogger at warhistory online

Posted on 01/16/2019 10:05:36 PM PST by vannrox

 
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Today marks the 156th anniversary of Antietam, arguably the pivotal battle of the Civil War. Had the South won on that September day, Robert E. Lee could have marauded through Union territory, European powers might have intervened on behalf of the Rebels, Maryland might have flipped its loyalty to the Confederacy.

What we know as America might be two separate nations today. Instead the Union was victorious, banishing Lee’s army from the North, paving the way for the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves.

So much was at stake — the fighting rose to a pitch that was heretofore unimaginable. Antietam still holds the grim distinction as the day with the highest death toll in American history. But it was more than a mere bloodbath. The battle featured the debuts of Jonathan Letterman and Clara Barton, medical pioneers who transformed the way care is delivered to wounded soldiers.

Overview of the Battle of Antietam.Photo: Hal Jespersen CC BY 3.0

Alexander Gardner ranged over the field taking a landmark series of photographs that awakened people on the home front to the realities of war. Today is a solemn anniversary, no question. It’s an occasion to contemplate the horror and loss of that long-ago day.Pioneering photographer Alexander Gardner (here in a 19th century selfie). Photo: Library of Congress

But it’s also an opportunity to celebrate the many ways the battle changed the world for the better. What follows is a series of numbers—alternately terrifying, shocking, and uplifting— related to Antietam, that most consequential of battles:

1,000,000

The estimated number of shots fired during the battle

More than 20,000 soldiers were killed or wounded by a bullet, some being hit multiple times. For example, Union men counted 28 bullet holes on the backside of a dead Rebel, frozen in the act of climbing a fence. So let’s say each casualty was hit five times on average, a very generous estimate.Union soldiers surge across Antietam Creek in this 1878 lithograph by Kurz & Allison. Photo: Library of Congress

That means 100,000 bullets found their mark. That also means 900,000 errant shots. This laughable hit rate speaks to the inaccuracy of the era’s muskets. Even more so, it gives a flavor for the panic that prevailed that day. Picture broad lines of men facing one another at close range, loading and aiming in a veritable frenzy, trying to kill lest they be killed. That’s how you get 900,000 missed shots.

12

Number of hours the battle lasted.

Antietam began at daybreak, officially clocked in at 5:43 AM that day. It lasted until around 6:00 PM, when evening was drawing near and the shadows lengthened across Antietam Valley. As the sun pressed on the horizon, journalist Charles Coffin spotted some Union artillerists on a knoll, noted the way the men and their cannon stood out in black silhouette against the swollen red disk. He described it as a “lurid sunset.”Multiply this Antietam cannon 500 times and you get “artillery hell.” Photo: Library of Congress

8

Number of women that supposedly fought in the battle, dressed in drag as soldiers

Rebecca Peterman, a plucky 16-year-old from Ellenboro, Wisconsin, represented her state’s 7th regiment, and viewed Antietam as an opportunity for adventure.

Meanwhile, Mary Galloway enlisted in hopes of meeting up with her boyfriend (Lieutenant Harry Barnard of the 3rd Wisconsin) on the battlefield. Instead she got shot in the neck. Galloway was carried to a field hospital, but she resisted the treatment offered by male doctors.

Naturally, they assumed she was a male soldier. Fortunately, Clara Barton happened by and was able to attend to her fellow female. Later, Barton helped reunite Galloway with Barnard, who was laid up in a hospital in Washington, DC. The couple married and had a daughter named Clara.Clara Barton gave medical treatment to a wounded woman who had slipped onto the operating table dressed as a male soldier. Photo: Library of Congress

500

Number of cannons deployed at Antietam.

Because the Confederates had a knack for capturing cannons during battle, also because they manufactured knockoffs of Federal designs, both sides had pretty much the same models, though the Rebels had fewer of them.

At Antietam, the cannons launched a frightening variety of shots and shells. For example, case featured an iron casing (hence the name) that exploded midair raining sharp fragments down onto soldiers.6-pounder gun at Antietam battlefield. By Muhranoff – CC BY-SA 4.0

Canister consisted of a tin can stuffed with sawdust and 27 plum-size iron balls. On firing, the engorged can couldn’t clear the end of the cannon muzzle, but sufficient momentum was achieved to send the balls tearing through the flimsy tin, whereupon they’d spray out in all directions. Canister, used for close-range targets, turned a cannon into a giant shotgun. Not for nothing was Antietam known as “artillery hell.”

6

Number of major generals killed at Antietam

Three from each side fell. Isaac Peace Rodman was racing downhill on horseback in a desperate bid to warn his Union charges about a pending sneak attack. A sharpshooter’s bullet pierced his lung. He tumbled from his horse, was carried from the field, and died two weeks later.Rodman (leaning against tree) with Col. Ambrose E. Burnside and officers of the 1st Rhode Island

Confederate George B. Anderson, struck in the ankle by a mini ball during the Bloody Lane fighting, set off on a medical circuit, Shepherdstown to Staunton, Virginia, to his home in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, the wound became infected, and a doctor amputated his foot. Anderson died on October 17, 1862, exactly one month after the battle.

The other major generals killed at Antietam: Joseph Mansfield and Israel Richardson (Union) William Starke and Lawrence Branch (Confederates).Joseph Mansfield was one of six major generals killed at the battle.

95

Number of Antietam photographs taken by Alexander Gardner“A Lonely Grave”; title chosen by photographer Alexander Gardner for his shot of Union soldiers standing near a comrade’s grave at the battlefield of Antietam, September 1862

Gardner, an associate of the famous Mathew Brady, traveled to Antietam hoping to capture images of war. Due to the long exposure times of the era’s cameras, live action shots would have been blurry beyond recognition. After the battle ended, however, he was able to range freely over the field in his mobile horse-drawn darkroom, known as the What’s-it Wagon.

Gardner documented such classic Antietam landmarks as the Burnside Bridge and the little Dunker Church, riddled by shells but still standing. However, his focus was dead soldiers. This made eminent sense: Dead men don’t move so they don’t blur photos.James Hope’s panoramic paintings capture the scope of Antietam. “A Crucial Delay” depicts the action at the Burnside Bridge. Photo: Antietam National Battlefield

Gardner knew he’d captured something spectacular. His collection “The Dead of Antietam,” was exhibited at Brady’s Manhattan gallery. The wide-eyed romanticism of Walter Scott or Arthurian legends was nowhere to be found in Gardner’s stark images; they forever changed the way the public viewed warfare.

55,000

The number of Union soldiers on the field when the battle began

Recent scholarship by Daniel Vermilya makes a convincing case that the Union opened the battle with 55,000 men. This represents a substantial downward troop-strength adjustment; in the past it’s sometimes been claimed that as many as 80,000 Federals were present at the outset.Battle of Antietam by Thulstrup

However, an additional 12,000 Union troops would arrive by noontime. By contrast, the Rebels entered the fight at a severe numerical disadvantage, no question. Best estimate: 35,000 men.    

0

Number of confirmed bayonet stabbings

Infantrymen on both sides carried bayonets. Throughout the day, both Union and Confederate soldiers were given the “fix bayonet” command, meaning: withdraw the blade from your scabbard and attach it to your musket. Yet despite rumors of crazed combatants jabbing and slashing with abandon, there’s no evidence that any bayonets were actually used in the battle. (In this regard, Antietam was like other Civil War battles where bayonet use was an extreme rarity.)Union soldier’s bayonets attached to the guns, as they were a very important force multiplier during the war.

Truth be told, bayonets were unrivaled at sowing psychological terror, but soldiers found it too intimate and too gory to stab someone, even a sworn enemy. What’s more, withdrawing the blade from a victim proved time-consuming, eating up critical seconds during which a soldier could be dangerously exposed to enemy fire.

Better to shoot someone from a distance. When forced into close proximity with the enemy, the preferred option was to deliver a swift clubbing with a musket butt—forget the bayonet.

24

Number of days since the 16th Connecticut was mustered into service

On August 24, 1862, the 16th Connecticut was organized in Hartford, Connecticut. When the regiment took the field at Antietam, it was all of 24-days old. The men had never drilled, scarcely knew how to form a battle line. This would have grave implications.

For inexplicable reasons, during the Federal final assault, the 16th occupied the far edge of the mile-wide battle line. Incredibly, a greenhorn regiment represented the flank of Union commander George McClellan’s entire army. The 16th made halting progress up the hillside leading to Sharpsburg, eventually getting hung up in a cornfield.General George B. McClellan.

That’s when disaster struck. A.P. Hill arrived on at the field, 2,500 fresh Rebels in train, having made his famous 17-mile march from Harpers Ferry. Wasting no time, the Rebs slammed into the 16th Connecticut—an epic mismatch. Thus, began the Federal skedaddle back down the hillside, one that would result in the battle ending as a tactical draw.

2

Number of Robert E. Lee’s hands that were bandaged during the battle

At Antietam, both of Lee’s hands were swaddled in bandages, the result of a fall he’d suffered a few weeks earlier after Second Bull Run. This was a supreme indignity in the eyes of the Confederate commander. While monitoring the battle’s progress, he couldn’t grip his horse’s reins; Traveller had to be led by an orderly.

Due to an injury, Lee couldn’t grip Traveller’s reins

Nevertheless, the Rebel commander proved more mobile and adventurous than McClellan, his Union counterpart, who didn’t make an appearance on the battlefield proper until roughly 2 P.M.

5,500

Number of soldiers who died as a result of Antietam

The battle’s official death toll is 3,650. But roughly 2,000 more soldiers succumbed to their injuries in the weeks and months following the battle. Even years later, Antietam was claiming victims.

Early in the morning of September 17, while conducting reconnaissance on horseback, Union Brigadier General George Hartsuff was struck by a shell fragment that lodged in his left hip. He went woozy from loss of blood, and had to be carried from the field. Complications from the old wound would contribute to his death twelve years after the battle.Memorial at the Antietam National Battlefield, in northwestern Maryland. Photo: iotrus / CC BY-SA 3.0

1

Number of nations where once there were two, thanks in great measure to the outcome at Antietam

Today is September 17, so this will be the final installment in guest blogger Justin Martin’s countdown to Antietam. Martin’s posts have featured little-known episodes he learned about while researching his new book, A Fierce Glory: Antietam—The Desperate Battle That Saved Lincoln and Doomed Slavery (Da Capo Press).

You can order the book here and here is Justin Martin’s website.Fierce Glory by Justin Martin

Read another article from us – Snipers Created Confederate Chain-of-Command Crisis at Antietam

War History Online would like to thank Justin Martin for preparing these insightful stories about one of the pivotal battles in America’s most devastating war. We encourage you to check out A Fierce Glory for yourselves.



TOPICS: History; Hobbies; Military/Veterans; Reference
KEYWORDS: 18620913; antietam; civil; civilwar; confederate; greatestpresident; thecivilwar; war
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1 posted on 01/16/2019 10:05:36 PM PST by vannrox
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To: vannrox

Re: “If Lee had won at Antietam, what we know as America might be two separate nations today.”

156 years later, that idea is sounding better and better.

Special Plea - this time, let’s avoid the gunfire and the economic destruction.


2 posted on 01/16/2019 10:30:47 PM PST by zeestephen
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To: vannrox

I visited the Sharpsburg (Antietam) battlefield in 2010. Interestingly, corn was still being grown at the infamous Cornfield, site of the bloodiest clash of the war.


3 posted on 01/16/2019 10:33:30 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: vannrox

INTERESTING. Nonetheless, The Battle at Sharpsburg, MD was AT BEST a DRAW, rather than ANY sort of Union victory.

The best that can be truthfully said was that the Union didn’t actually lose the battle. - That’s why Lincoln was able to call it a victory.

ONE thing is undoubtedly TRUE: Sharpsburg was a BLOODBATH & a HORROR SHOW for both sides.

Yours, TMN78247


4 posted on 01/16/2019 10:37:35 PM PST by TMN78247 ("VICTORY or DEATH", William Barrett Travis, LtCol, comdt., Fortress of the Alamo, Bejar, 1836)
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To: vannrox
Thanks vannrox.

5 posted on 01/16/2019 10:46:26 PM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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To: vannrox

Thank you for posting this.


6 posted on 01/16/2019 10:51:01 PM PST by laplata (The Left/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: vannrox

A battle that happened because of three lost cigars.

‘Early on the morning of the 13th, however, Cpl. Barton Mitchell of the 27th Indiana found a bulky envelope on the ground outside a recently vacated Confederate camp, inside of which was an official-looking paper wrapped around three cigars. The document concluded, “By command of General Robert E. Lee” and was signed “R.H. Chilton, Assistant Adjutant General.” The paper was quickly passed up to the corps command, where Staff Col. Samuel Pitman, who knew Chilton from before the war, verified the signature. It was an authentic copy of Special Order 191.

By late morning it was in the hands of General McClellan, who was meeting with a group of local citizens. The general quickly wired President Lincoln: “I have all the Rebel plans and will catch them in their own trap.”


7 posted on 01/16/2019 10:56:14 PM PST by Pelham (Secure Voter ID. Mexico has it, because unlike us they take voting seriously)
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To: vannrox

The author is quite wrong in his assessment of the great number of missed shots. Certainly more than 95 percent missed but a great many were fired at long range. Plus there is the concept of suppressive fire so a round does not have to make a hit on flesh to be effective. I’m not sure of the wind speed throughout the day and the atmospheric conditions but black powder weapons in those numbers would often create smoke screens. These were much more experienced armies than the ones that met at First Manassas and the soldiers on both side were able to use their weapons in a capable manner.


8 posted on 01/16/2019 10:57:19 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 (...even more American than a Russian AK-47 and a French bikini.)
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To: vannrox

Nice camping and swimming nearby at Greenbrier State Park just up the road near Boonsboro MD.


9 posted on 01/16/2019 11:02:01 PM PST by Thrownatbirth (.....Iraq Invasion fan since '91.)
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To: vannrox

One of my ancestors was there with the 13th Mississippi, at the Dunker Church.

He survived Antietam, but not Gettysburg.


10 posted on 01/16/2019 11:03:21 PM PST by Pelham (Secure Voter ID. Mexico has it, because unlike us they take voting seriously)
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To: vannrox

Also called The War of Northern Aggression by southerners.


11 posted on 01/16/2019 11:05:09 PM PST by wastedyears (The left would kill every single one of us and our families if they knew they could get away with it)
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To: vannrox

"...Antietam by the numbers..."


That was a fascinating post. Thank you for sharing.

12 posted on 01/16/2019 11:24:06 PM PST by Blue Jays ( Rock hard ~ Ride free)
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To: vannrox
Meanwhile, Mary Galloway enlisted in hopes of meeting up with her boyfriend (Lieutenant Harry Barnard of the 3rd Wisconsin) on the battlefield.

https://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/peter+paul+mary/cruel+war_20107745.html

The Cruel War is raging, Johnny has to fight
I want to be with him from morning to night.
I want to be with him, it grieves my heart so,
Won't you let me go with you?
No, my love, no.

Tomorrow is Sunday, Monday is the day
That your Captain will call you and you must obey.
Your captain will call you it grieves my heart so,
Won't you let me go with you?
No, my love, no.

I'll tie back my hair, men's clothing I'll put on,
I'll pass as your comrade, as we march along.
I'll pass as your comrade, no one will ever know.
Won't you let me go with you?
No, my love, no.

Oh Johnny, oh Johnny, I fear you are unkind
I love you far better than all of mankind.
I love you far better than words can e're express
Won't you let me go with you?
Yes, my love, yes.

There are many versions of this old Civil War song, but this is the one we used to sing this at summer camp.

13 posted on 01/16/2019 11:52:01 PM PST by thecodont
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To: wastedyears; vannrox
Also called The War of Northern Aggression by southerners.

I knew a certain South Carolina gentleman who referred to it as "the recent unpleasantness."

14 posted on 01/16/2019 11:53:22 PM PST by thecodont
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To: vannrox

Very interesting. Thank you for the text and photos. “Trying to kill lest they be killed.” Two brutal options. War is the harmful result of poor diplomatic relations.


15 posted on 01/16/2019 11:54:52 PM PST by Falconspeed
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To: vannrox

Bookmark.


16 posted on 01/17/2019 12:26:14 AM PST by Inyo-Mono
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To: TMN78247
the inaccuracy of the era’s muskets

I'm no Civil War expert, but the armies of that era mostly used RIFLES, which were deadly accurate out to as much as 400 yards. That was made possible by the minie ball, a type of bullet that somewhat cleaned out the fouling in the rifling caused by the black powder propellants of the day. Between that and the author's sketchy math on how many bullets were fired and how many casualties were incurred, I sort of lost interest in this post.

17 posted on 01/17/2019 3:15:58 AM PST by Hardastarboard (Break it off in 'em, Brett. They've earned it, and you've earned it.)
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To: Blue Jays
One way of looking at the weaponry is to equate it to today's terminology. The soldiers were essentially firing soft lead 20 ga shotgun slugs from single-shot weapons.

I read once that the Civil War was a series of engagements using 18th century tactics and 20th century weapons. Not an entirely correct summation, but close enough to understand I wouldn't have wanted to be in my great grandfather's shoes at Fredricksburg.

18 posted on 01/17/2019 3:24:48 AM PST by Pecos (These are the times that try menÂ’s souls)
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To: vannrox

From the OP “Joseph Mansfield was one of six major generals killed at the battle.”

General Mansfield, regular army, not sure of his age but way past time to retire had been bugging Lincoln for a field command. He finally received one and Antietam was his first Civil War battle as I think his corps missed the action at South Mountain.

He was deploying his troops quite a ways back from the line at the start of the battle, before it really got going, when a rebel bullet mortally wounded him. So his Civil War time on the battlefield was exceptionally brief.


19 posted on 01/17/2019 4:30:14 AM PST by fatboy
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To: TMN78247
INTERESTING. Nonetheless, The Battle at Sharpsburg, MD was AT BEST a DRAW, rather than ANY sort of Union victory. The best that can be truthfully said was that the Union didn’t actually lose the battle. - That’s why Lincoln was able to call it a victory. ONE thing is undoubtedly TRUE: Sharpsburg was a BLOODBATH & a HORROR SHOW for both sides.

Yes, it was a draw. The Army of the Potomac was so starved for victories at that point of the war that a draw was as good as a victory for them. Actually, I tend to think of it as more of a Confederate victory. McClellan should have destroyed the Copnfederate army once he found out how dispersed their forces were. The fact that the Rebs escaped destruction was a greater victory IMO than the Union achieving a draw.

20 posted on 01/17/2019 6:30:36 AM PST by Sans-Culotte (Time to get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US!)
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