Why was the casualty rate so high in the civil war?

1. Lack of antiseptic

The battlefield doctors did not use antiseptic for treating wounds, and would often go from one patient to the next, without cleaning tools. Also the conditions in which patients were treated were usually quite horrible. A lot of patients also died from blood loss while receiving amputations.

2. Lack of food

A lot of regiments simply did not have enough food to go around and the soldiers simply died of starvation.

3. Violent battle tactics

In the civil war troops went face to face with rifles and bayonets. Cannons were also used for deadly fire.

The Civil War was truly a terrible time and both sides suffered heavy losses.