The Phoenixville Connection To The 'Bloodiest Day In American History'

Thursday, September 17 is the 153rd anniversary of the bloodiest day in American history.

The Battle of Antietam during the Civil War raged on this day in 1862.

By the National Park Service’s admittedly rough estimate, as many as 22,720 American soldiers died, were wounded, or went missing on that day.

With hundreds of thousands of Americans on both sides of the conflict, there were undoubtedly soldiers from Chester County and the immediate area.

However, one local historical sleuth has uncovered a connection specifically to Phoenixville.

Ryan Conroy, the President of the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area, said that there was a company of soldiers that fought for the North that was based out of an Irish community in Phoenixville.

They were Company K, of the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

“This company was in some of the heaviest most brutal combat at Antietam, thus suffering a large amount of casualties,” he said.

At least three of the soldiers that died in Company K that day are buried in St. Mary’s graveyard today, according to Conroy.

Their names are John Convery, Thomas Lynch, and Joseph Mullen.

Image of memorial at Antietam Battlefield courtesy Nps.gov.