Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam, a.k.a. Battle of Sharpsburg, resulted in not only the bloodiest day of the American Civil War, but the bloodiest single day in all of American history. Fought primarily on September 17, 1862, between the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, it ended Gen. Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of a northern state with a Union victory. 75,300 Union soldiers engaged vs 52,000 Confederate, and a total of 23,100 wounded, missing, or dead casualties.  

Alexander, Ted. "Battle Of Antietam." History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online RSS. September 1, 2006. Accessed November 29, 2014. http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-antietam.

General Meagher's monument at Antietam. 

Bloody Lane 1862

Bloody Lane today

The Irish Brigade at Antietam fought on September 17, 1862 at "Bloody Lane." Bloody Lane was the site of fierce fighting for 4 hours in a sunken clay road which at the end it was said blood flowed like a river inside it. Bloody Lane stretched for a quarter mile, and in many pictures bodies cover the entire ditch. "The Brigade crossed Antietam Creek (9:30 a.m.) at Pry's Ford. As it formed at the edge of a cornfield Father William Corby, Chaplain rode along the line, giving absolution to the soldiers. The 69th New York occupied the right then the 29th Massachusetts, the 63rd and 88th New York crossing the cornfield, the command encountered a rail fence which was torn down under severe fire an opposing Confederate column advanced within 300 paces of the brigade . After several volleys, the Irish Brigade charged with fixed bayonets. At 30 paces it poured buck and ball into General George B. Anderson's Brigade (2nd, 4th, 14th and 30th North Carolina Infantry Regiments) which fell back to "Bloody Lane". After fierce combat its ammunition exhausted the Irish Brigade was relieved."  

Casualty List

63rd- varies between 200-202 casualties, 341 men engaged, with 59 killed, 17%. 35 killed, 165 wounded, 2 missing, for a total of 202,  of 341 engaged – 59.2% casualty rate

69th- 5 officers killed, 66 enlisted men killed, 5 officers wounded, 120 enlisted men wounded.

88th- 2 officers killed, 25 men killed, 8 mortally wounded, 2 officers and 65 men wounded out of 302 that engaged. 

60% casualty rate between the 63rd and 69th almost 600 total were killed in Antietam. From Antietam they went directly to Fredericksburg.