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Regiments which lost 80 percent or higher in a single battle
1st Minnesota at Gettysburg
1st Texas at Antietam
24th Michigan at Gettysburg
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
My thought on starting this thread was to get imput from others on units that suffered high casualties. What situations those regiments were in and how the casualties occurred. Units that had high rates were usually foolishly brave and should be recognized. For example, the 1st Texas, at Antietam, saw Union regiments (some from the Iron Brigade) withdrawing (withdrawing in order is way different than running) from a murderous cross fire in the cornfield near Dunker Church. The 1st Texas "slipped the leash" ( a way of saying they ignored their commanders and went mindlessly pell-mell into the fray). They, in turn were caught in a most murderous cross fire and suffered about 83% casualties. Now, let's get some more input here. By the way, the Union regiment that suffered the highest casualties throughout the war was the 2nd Wisconsin. The Union brigade that suffered the highest throughout the war was the Iron Brigade.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
I believe the 26th North Carolina also became a member of the 80% club at Gettysburg.
You mentioned the 24th Michigan. The 26th NC was the regiment that faced off against the 24th MI in a furious struggle in McPherson's Woods on the first day. The remnants of the 26th NC were then included in the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble charge on the third day and were further decimated as they approached the Union lines just north of the Angle.
I don't have the exact figures in front of me, but I believe the 26th NC suffered an 85% casualty rate if the full three days of the battle are taken into consideration.
The 24th Michigan didn't quite make the 80% club at Gettysburg. They lost 22 out of 28 officers and 294 out of 468 enlisted men. A "mere" 68%. However, incidental loses during the defense of Culp's Hill may have added to that. The 26th North Carolina was a "big" regiment at 800 men. They duked it out with the 24th on the 1st of July, 1863. On that day the 26th lost 588 men (74%). Two days later, the 26th was again called on and lost another 120 men. Their percentage for the three days of Gettysburg was 89%. They hold the dubious distinction of being the regiment, at Gettysburg, with the highest casualties, North or South.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
On the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Most everyone knows about Chamberlain's and the 20th Maine's stand at Little Round Top. But a mile away, as Sickle's Corp collapsed, and the Union line was about to fold, the undermanned 1st Minnesota was shoved into the breech. This gallant regiment started the day with 263 officers and men. When the dust finally settled, there were 47 of them left (82% casualties). They saved the Union center; but paid the price for it.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
I surely thought others would jump on this thread. Perhaps the term "80%" is scaring you all off. I meant to give a salute to the valor, bravery and, often, rashness of units that sustained very high casualties. I present the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. The "Heavies" were a large regiment that was assigned to the defenses of Washington D.C. In May of 1864, due to Grant's use of men like water, the "heavies" were converted to infantry. In their first encounter (that elephant can be a b*tch) they lost 476 killed at Fredricksburg Pike (near spotsylvania) on May 19th. While veteran units kissed the ground under withering fire, the gung-ho, inexperienced "Heavies" would wade in where others wouldn't (get down you fools!!!). One month later, on the 18th June, the "Heavies" participated in an assalt on the Petersburg trenches. This time they lost about 632 casualties out of 900 engaged (70%). The highest NUMBER (not percentage) of casualties in any engagement of the war, either side. Of the 2,047 Union regiments, the "Heavies" had the second highest PERCENTAGE of killed and wounded. Only the 2nd Wisconsin, of the Iron Brigade, topped the "Heavies" in total percentage of casualties throughout the war. A dubious distinction, for sure. To further the irony of the fate of those brave Maine lads, all of their casualties occured in the last 10 months of the war.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
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