Civil War: Life for Soldiers
Jan 12, 2016
Civil War: Life for Soldiers
The Fighting Begins
Confederates attack Ft. Sumter, an island off of SC
Federals surrender
Turns Southern secession into a full fledged war
Call Out The Militia
Neither the N or S had a very large army
Lincoln asks the Union states to provide 75,000 militiamen for 90 days
He thinks the war will be over quickly
Southern Army Volunteers
South has to develop an Army from Scratch
Some U.S. Army Generals Decide to leave
Lee opposed slavery and secession but “I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace”
Response To The Call To Arms Thousands of men,
young and old rushed to enlist
After the first battle (Bull Run) the North quickly realized it needed a larger army
Lincoln sent the 90 day militia home and called for all of the Union states to contribute men to an army of 500,000
Training For Raw Recruits
Leaders came from West Point, Mexican War, political appointments
Enlisted men had no fighting experience Drill, Drill, Drill
On The Job Training
Despite months of endless training and marching based on Napoleonic tactics, many units on both sides fell apart upon entering first battle
Under the stress of battle men became confused, disoriented, panicked, and deserted
Calm and brave leadership was the only way to maintain order
Uniforms
At the beginning of the war both sides struggled to provide enough consistent uniforms for entire army
Many regiments were provided uniforms from home town or state- led to a wide variety of colors and styles
Uniforms- Officers
Officers often paid tailors to design their own uniforms
Tastes ranged from very fancy to simple and plain
Generally had more insignia or badges signifying rank
Uniforms- North
Typical enlisted soldier was issued
Frock or sack coatLight blue pantsKepi or other hatBrogans or bootsBelt/straps
Uniforms- South
Were similar in basic design to North
Common colors- Gray/Tan/Brown
As war wore on were much more likely to wear out and not be replaced by army
Weapons- Infantry
Improved over previous wars- rifled barrels=improved range, accuracy
Bayonets for close range combat Officers carried pistols, swords
Weapons- Artillery
Cannons, howitzers, mortars, siege guns
Improved range, accuracy, size
Proved devastaing in combat
Weapons- Cavalry
Horses provided swift transportation
Used in scouting, raids
Armed with pistols, swords, smaller rifles
Civil War Main Idea
Weapons and technology had improved rapidly during the 1800s
Army tactics, battle formations, strategies were largely based on Napoleonic/European tactics of close combat
This combination led to tremendous casualties, unfortunately military leaders were slow to realize this and change
Common Soldier’s Life
Life for the average soldier was defined by months of marching and boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror
Camp Life
Much time was spent on daily routines
Drills Cleaning weapons Cooking Maintaining Equip. Picket/Guard Duty Sick Duty
Free Time For The Troops
Leisure time activities:
MusicReadingWriting HomeGamblingTradingSports- Baseball
Casualties In Camp, Not Battle
Many soldiers succumbed to illness from:
Bad food, waterInfectionsWoundsLack of proper
clothing, shelter, medicine
Politics During the Civil War
North dominated by Lincoln and Republicans
Union or Slavery?Early defeats lead
to questions of leadership
Lincoln re-elected in 1864
Politics During the Civil War
South becomes Confederate States of America
Had own govt., lawsPresident Jeff DavisBuild on early military
successEach state is fiercely
independent
Civil War Political Cartoons
Political Cartoons became very popular in newspapers and magazines
Cartoons allowed people to express their views about controversial topics
View and discuss the following political cartoons from the Civil War Era and then make your own APPROPRIATE FOR 2009 cartoon on topic related to the Civil War