50,000 lost in three days. Nearly one of every three men in the armies. Kind of puts some perspective on war.
Indeed. Our Civil War was fought with a level of ferocity and determination that is all but unknown in the West today. Lincoln, Grant and Sherman pursued the war to its total conclusion, leaving no room for a "negotiated settlement" that would continued the military conflict at a lower level for years to come. They ended the war, and America is better off for it.
While we have forgotten this method of fighting, I am very afraid that our terrorist enemies are entirely dedicated to it, and will continue the fight until all tools at their disposal are destroyed.