Final answer:
The Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, resulted in approximately 12,401 Union casualties and 10,316 Confederate losses, totaling over 23,000 casualties in a single day of fighting.
Step-by-step explanation:
Battle of Antietam Casualty Count
The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was fought on September 17, 1862, near Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland. It is renowned for being the bloodiest single day in American history. Under the command of Major General George B. McClellan, the Union forces clashed with Confederate troops led by General Robert E. Lee.
On that fateful day, the Union casualties amounted to approximately 12,401, while the Confederate forces suffered around 10,316 losses, cumulating in over 23,000 total casualties in just twelve hours of combat. An image depicting a Confederate dead by a fence on Hagerstown Road, taken by Alexander Gardner, epitomizes the harrowing nature of the conflict.
Despite the immense loss of life, the battle ultimately concluded without a decisive victor but served as a significant turning point in the Civil War.