The Last Full Measure of Devotion

The Civil War, or War Between the States as it is called in the South, was the costliest "conflict" that Americas had to fight since the birth of our Nation. The issues and causes, which will be debated upon until the end of time, should no longer be an issue. The losses, however, and the great sacrifices of those that served on both sides, should never be forgotten. 

Of the 359,528 deaths in the Federal Army, 67,058 (18.7%) were killed on the battlefield, 43,012 (12.0%) died from their wounds and 224,586 (62.5%) died of disease. The other 6.8% died from miscellaneous causes. Of the 2,893,304 total enlisted men that wore blue during the war 12.4% would loose their lives. Of the approximately 1,317,035 total enlisted men that served in the Confederate Forces, 94,000 died as a result of battle and 164,000 died of disease. Across the board, the death rate in the Confederacy (from all sources) was 19.6 percent.  In simple terms, about 1 out of 10 of the Federal troops that marched off to war and almost 1 out of 5 of the Southern troops that defended their homeland made the ultimate sacrifice.  A total of 617,528 men gave up their lives, in both the Union and Confederacy, during this tragic war. 

All wars are tragic, as anyone that served in one can tell you. However, in regards to the loss of American lives, the American Civil War (1861-1865) leads the list.

Antietam (Sharpsburg) was the bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War but there were other battles that lasted more than one day and claimed more lives.  The bloodiest battles are listed below and reflect the losses sustained by both sides. The State of Georgia had 31 battles fought on her soil, which is only exceeded by the State of Virginia with 123.  Gettysburg heads the list as the most costly battle with the  second bloodiest battle of the entire Civil War being fought in Georgia at Chickamauga. 

Although much of the emphasis on battles of the Civil war is placed on the Eastern Campaign, those fought in the Western Theater, and especially Georgia, were equally bloody although not as costly. The total number of casualties of a few of the battles fought during the Georgia Campaign are listed below. Numbers include the total killed, wounded and missing to both the Federal and Confederate Army.  If you add in the losses at the battle of Chickamauga (34,624 deaths)  the blood spilt on Georgia's soil is indeed considerable.  

Medical Officers were not exempt from becoming casualties, although for the most part they were considered as non-combatants (provided they were not armed) and efforts to insure their safety were generally respected by both sides. However, this was a war as the below illustrates. The statistics reflect deaths of Federal Medical Officers only.