While On the Subject of Connecticut and Antietam-- Part 1

From the Sept. 20, 2012, Middletown (Ct) Patch "Connecticut Blood Flowed Freely at Antietam 150 Years Ago This Week" by Philip R. Devlin.

Yesterday, I wrote about Lyman Wilcox of the 16th Connectucut Infantry who was at Antietam and later captured and sent to Andersonville.  I was looking for some sort of a tie-in with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862.  And that was a good one.  Then, today, I came across yet another article featuring the men of Connecticut at the battle, so here goes.

The Battle of Antietam (Battle of Sharpsburg) to Confederates resulted in 12,400 Union and 10,300 Confederate casualties giving the battle the distinction of being the single bloodiest day in US military history.  Of the Union, Connecticut regiments suffered 600 casualties, including 136 dead.

There were four Connecticut regiments at the battle, the 8th, 11th, 14th and 16th (Wilcox's regiment).

Without a doubt,the most famous Connecticut soldier to die that day was General John K. Mansfield of Middletown, one of six generals dying at the battle.  The 40-year veteran graduated second in his class of 1822 from West Point.  He fought in the Mexican War and commanded the 12th Corps at Antietam.  leading his men, he was shot in the chest and died the next day at age 58.

After a big funeral, he was buried at Indian Hill Cemetery in Middletown.

A Bloody Day for Connecticut.  --Old Secesh