Today is the bloodiest day in American history, when 22,727 Americans died on both the Union and Confederate sides in the Battle of Antietam. The Union held the field at the end of the day, despite suffering 20% higher casualties (12,410 Union soldiers) than the Confederates. 

Honor and remember those Americans who suffered as prisoners of war.

Honor and remember John Lucian Smith!

Honor and remember Francis Clark, Medal of Honor on this day in Luxembourg. Clark survived the War and later became mayor of Salem, NY.

This is an amazing story. Really wish I had more time to write about it, but the Naval History and Heritage Command does a great job: https://www.history.navy.mil/…/submerged-appendectomy.html