In September of 1862, the bloodiest day in American history, during the latter part of the Battle of Antietam General Ambrose Burnside was ordered to to take the hills where this picture was taken from across the creek. Instead of fording the creek (which was fordable in many places) he sent continuous waves of Union troops across this narrow bridge. The result, unsurprisingly, was a slaughter.

Burnside, though with minor successes during the war, was one of the more incompetent Union field generals. Despite that, has was named General-in-Chief of the Army of the Potomac in the succeeding weeks. His chief claim to fame is the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg in the following December.

Tags:   Maryland Antietam Antietam Creek Sharpsburg Civil War bridge Burnside Bridge Battle of Antietam

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Brigadier General John Buford was one of the Union heroes at Gettysburg. He commanded a cavalry brigade which, on the first day, slowed down a division under Confederate General Harry enough to allow a Union corps under John Reynolds to join the fight. At the time, cavalry were considered pretty useless against infantry. The saying went, "Whoever saw a dead horse soldier?" But he deployed his forces skillfully, preventing the South from winning the field. And remember, every other trooper had to be use simply to hold the horses.

Tragically, he died of typhoid less than 6 months later, in December, 1863.

Played very nicely by Sam Elliott in the movie "Gettysburg"

Tags:   Gettysburg Pennsylvania John Buford statue National Military Park

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Sept. 17, 1862--the bloodiest day in American history. McClellan's Army of the Potomac met Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Total losses totaled some 23,00, including about 3675 killed, 17, 300 wounded, and 1770 captured or missing. Some 3750 later died of their wounds, bringing the death total to about 7440.

Note: the most American deaths from any one event was probably the Galveston hurricane which began on Sept. 8, 1900, and lasted through the next day. Estimates vary, but total deaths were probably around 8000.

Tags:   Antietum Sharpsburg, Maryland Civil War Burnside Bridge

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During the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee (April 6-7, 1862), it was said the the blood of wounded Northern and Southern soldiers tinted the water red.

This may not have been true, and I will not report it as fact.

What is fact is that this was the first large engagement of the Civil War, with a "butcher's bill" of casualties--almost 24,00 dead, wounded, and missing. There were many more such battles to follow.

Also fact, is that the Confederate commander, Albert Sidney Johnston, considered at the time as the South's premier leader in the field, died, perhaps being shot by his own men.

It has been said that after Shiloh, the South never smiled again.

Tags:   Tennessee Bloody Pond Shiloh National Military Park

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location of Cushing's Battery along Cemetery Ridge near the approximate farthest extent of Picket's Charge on third and final day of Battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863

Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania

Tags:   battle cannon The Angle Cemetery Ridge Pennsylvania Battle of Gettysburg Gettysburg

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