bjones
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The most casualties in a single day during the civil war were approximately 23,000. This occurred on September 17, 1862 during the Battle of Antietam, known to some Southerners as the Battle of Sharpsburg. The American Civil War was the bloodiest war ever fought by the United States. During the four year of the Civil War, more than 620,000 people died.
The Civil War began on April 12, 1862 after 12 states seceded from the union because of disagreements over the ownership of slaves. Just over five months after the war began, Southern forces pushed into the northern states, and on September 17, they reached Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland.
The Battle of Antietam was not only the bloodiest single day of the Civil War, but it was the first battle fought in a Union state. The Southern forces were led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee, but his forces were pursued by Union forces as they made their way into Maryland.
Near Antietam Creek, Union soldiers took up defensive positions. Then, at dawn, Mounted Union forces launched an offensive against Lee’s troops. Attacks and counterattacks occurred throughout the morning, and the battle may have been over when Major General Burnside led his Union soldiers into the heart of the Confederate position, but no followup came after this attack, and the battle continued into the afternoon.
Late in the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements arrived, and the battle continued into the night. The Confederate troops fought the Union forces to a standstill, but Lee eventually led his troops back south on the following day.
Although the Battle of Antietam had the most casualties on a single day, it was not the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The bloodiest Civil War battle was the Battle of Gettysburg, which occurred July 1 – 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The total casualties in this three-battle totaled 45,286. Gettysburg was known as the turning point in the Civil War. After this battle, it was only a matter of time before the Union prevailed.
The Civil War finally ended when the Confederacy surrendered on April 9, 1865 in Appomattox, Virginia.
 Posted 4756 day ago
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