http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/09/06/sunday/main521095.shtml

Not Sept. 11, 2001

Sept. 11 1862: The Civil War battle of Antietam. About 4000 soldiers killed that day. Approximately 2000-5000 mortally wounded. The bloodiest day in American history.

Having taken place 140 years ago, most of us were not even aware of this particular battle.

Right now, the memory of Sept 11, 2001 has a significant impact on Americans. But where do you think it will stand in 50 years from now??? Or 100-150 years from now???

That depends what happens in the next few years. But like the battles of the civil war and WWII especially, it will still be a tragic part of our history, never to be fully forgotten.
But unless we suffer additional attacks, there will be no way for the children and adults of the distant future to feel the impact of the event - just as many today don't understand the impact of JFK's assasination.
Even now I get the sense from many people I know that the real tragedy of last year has somehow been altered into a vague, misty reference point. It's as though a building fell down and someone died - they don't grasp the scope of that building (I was fortunate enough to have seen it) and the sudden and immediate death of those inside (along with those who may have suffered more by not dying quickly.)

Maybe it's too painful to recall, it certainly has been to horrendous for the normal, tension relieving jokes that come from such events - whether in good taste or not.

I believe they have the date wrong.

GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE'S first invasion of the North culminated with the Battle of Antietam, in Maryland (or Sharpsburg, as the South called it). The battle took place on Wednesday, September 17, 1862, just 18 days after the Confederate victory at Second Manassas, 40 miles to the southeast in Virginia.

To view the magnitude of the losses, consider that Antietam resulted in nine times as many Americans killed or wounded (23,000 soldiers) as took place on June 6, 1944--D-day, the so-called "longest day" of World War II.


Approximate Numbers: (Union), (Confederate) = (Total)

Killed: 2,100, 1,550 = 3,650

Wounded:9,550, 7,750 = 17,300

Missing/Captured: 750, 1,020 = 1,770

Total: 12,400, 10,320 = 22,720

These are the approximate numbers for September 17th, 1862. No one knows the actual number of men who would later die of their wounds or the number of missing who had been killed. If you take a conservative estimate of 20% of the wounded dying of their wounds and 30% of the missing killed, the approximate number of soldiers that died as a result of this battle are 7,640.

The battle ended in a tactical draw because, while Union commander George McClellan failed to drive the Confederate forces from the field, neither did General Lee's army thereafter have the strength to continue the invasion.

Of course the emotional impact of 9/11 will start to fade away as time passes, but there is a significant amount of video and literature that has been written about it. I think it will be studded and observed for years to come. Pearl Harbor is a permanent part of our history because it brought us into WWII. 9/11 also started a war.

I think the significance of that day will start to fade in about 20 years, but it will always be studded by students in the public schools.