Download A Soldier*s Life

The Civil War:
Life at War &
Military Tactics
Mr. Sparks
The Average Soldier
Enlisting: signing up to fight (common at start)
Draft: forced enrollment to fight
The Average Soldier
They were old and young, but mostly young…
Average Height: 5’ 8”
Average Weight: 143 lbs.
Average Age: 25
Most were single men.
The Average Soldier
Reb = rebel, confederate, or southern soldier
Yank = yankee, federal, union, or northern soldier
Why They Fought
Men on both sides were inspired to fight by patriotism, state
pride, the chance for adventure, or steady pay. The common
Union soldier tended to fight to preserve the Union while the
common Confederate soldier tended to fight to defend his
home.
1.Canteen
What
2.Pan
3.Cartridge box (N.)
4.Tooth brush
5.Razor
6.Soap
7.Blanket
8.Silver wear
9.Plate
10.Comb
11.Musket
12.Money (CSA)
13.Photographs
14.Bible
15.Stamps
16.Haversack (N.)
They Carried
Confederate
Slouch hat
Shell Jacket
Pants
Brogans (shoes)
Union
Kepi (hat)
Sack Coat
Pants
Brogans (shoes)
What They Ate
• Salt pork, bacon, or beef
• Soft bread, flour,
cornmeal, or hardtack
• Beans or peas
• Rice or hominy
• Coffee
• Tea
• Sugar
• Vinegar
Hardtack
• Molasses
Where They Slept
Winter: Log Cabins
Summer: Tents or on the ground
*Disease was a major problem for both sides as a
result of unsanitary conditions.
How They Communicated
Soldiers wrote letters and kept journals.
Mail was often the only way to
communicate with family.
When They Weren’t Fighting
“first thing in the morning is
drill, then drill, then drill
again. Then drill, drill, a little
more drill. Then drill and lastly
drill. Between drills, we
drill….”
– Union Soldier
Soldiers spent the majority of their time
in camp drilling, not on the battlefield.
Life and Death
Many soldiers quickly discovered that war
was hell and not the “adventure” they enlisted
for.
Life and Death
Disease and Hygiene
• Everyone and everything smelled during the
Civil War.
• Dehydration sickness (Diarrhea) was one of
the greatest killers during the Civil War.
• Of the more than 620,000 soldiers who died
in the war, more than 400,000 died of
sickness and disease.
Life and Death
When a battle took place, every structure, house, barn,
yard and field, could become a hospital…..
Clarissa “Clara” Barton
One of the first women
employed by the federal
goverment.
Risked her life to help
soldiers in the field.
In 1881, she founded the
American Red Cross.
Life and Death
"You have given your
boys to die for their
country. Now you
can give your girls to
nurse them.”
-Nurse Mary
Stinebaugh
Life and Death
About 2.75 million
soldiers fought in the
Civil War.
More than 620,000
men died in the war,
with disease killing
twice as many as
those lost in battle.
Memories of the War
For those who
survived, memories
of the war were a
part of their everyday
life.
Soldiers and their families preserved letters,
diaries, and photographs. Some even wrote
memoirs. As a result there is a plethora of
information available to historians.
Where Battles Happen
Six Reasons Why Battles
Happened in Certain Places
1. Road Networks
2. Railroad Networks
3. Importance of the Area
– Example: The area between Richmond, VA
and Washington, DC
4. Waterways
5. Topography or Lay of the Land
6. Reliable Intelligence
When there were battles they were fought in
certain areas. While sometimes skirmishes
were simply a matter of finding the enemy
along the way, battles usually occurred where
one side was defending something or trying to
obtain something important such as a train
station, fort on a waterway, or important city.
Battles were also fought in certain geographic
locations because there were strategic
advantages such as high ground or natural
barriers.
• Railroad networks, road networks, and
waterways – important for transportation of
troops and supplies.
• Waterways – control of certain waterways will
prevent the enemy from moving through or
beyond that waterway.
Importance of the space – capturing the capital of
the enemy will almost certainly end the war. The
Army of Northern Virginia (CSA) and The Army
of the Potomac (Union) were constantly trying to
move around one another to capture the opposing
army’s capital. Both armies had to be on the
offense and defense.
• Topography – geographically a certain location will
offer more for a battle such as a river, high ground,
natural barrier or covering.
• Intelligence – reliable information on the location of
the enemy was rare and could lead to a battle.
Part II:
Weaponry and the Importance of
Tactics in the Civil War
Weapons of the Civil War
canister shot
artillery
projectile
rifled
barrel
officer’s
sword
Springfield rifle, 1861
(Union)
Although the Union used many types of rifles, this was the most
common.
minié
ball
British Enfield rifle, 1853
(Confederacy)
Although the Confederacy used many types of rifles, this was the most common.
Note the open bottom and ridges on these “Minie” rounds:
1- Allowed gas to fill this space and seal the barrel (greater
Technology In the Civil War
Military Branches
• Military branches are set up to
perform necessary duties in
order to achieve a goal!
• Infantry
• Artillery
• Cavalry
Infantry
• Standard foot
soldier
• Primarily use
– Fight
– Fortify
Fortify – Infantry definition
• To Build
Defenses…
– Wooden
barricades
– Ditches
– Logs and Rocks
Cavalry •
•
•
•
Mounted Soldiers
Eyes of the Army
Communication
The Best Job in the
Army
Artillery
• Heavy Guns
• Canon and Mortar
• Long range attack
– Support Infantry
– Defend against
attack
– Bombard Enemy
Forts
Cannon – infantry definition
• Heavy shot for long
distance
• Shot 10lbs. -30lbs.
Cannonballs
• Shot Canister and
grapeshot
Grapeshot – Artillery definition
• Container (coffee
can size) filled with
golf ball sized lead
balls
• Horrible shot-gun
effect
• Used often to shred
Cavalry
Canister – Artillery definition
• Similar to Grape
Shot
• Hundreds of small
lead balls
• Literally created to
shred Infantry
• Defensive
Mortar - Artillery Definition
• 40lbs. – 60lbs. Shot
• Too large to move
with out rails
• Used to shoot
above targets into a
fort
Battery – Artillery definition
• 6 cannon
• 3 horses
• 1 wagon
• Efficient Way to
move artillery
How Would these three work together
• See board
Military Tactics & Maneuvers
Defensive Formations
Generally have a semi-circle shape (bc it is a
shorter distance for reserve to go to any point on
the battlefield, and subsequently a longer
distance for the attack to move. Sometimes
“Hooks” like these…
1 Company = 100 men
The Generals
Ulysses S. Grant
Robert E. Lee
William T. Sherman
Thomas Jackson
George Meade
James
Longstreet
George B.
McClellan
James E.B.
Stuart (JEB)
Lincoln’s Generals
Winfield Scott
Joseph Hooker
Ulysses S.
Irwin
George
George Meade Grant
McDowell
McClellan
Ambrose
George
Burnside
McClellan,
The Confederate Generals
“Stonewall”
Jackson
George
Pickett
James
Longstreet
Nathan
Bedford
Forrest
Jeb Stuart
Robert E. Lee
Army
Largest group
Regionally located
Often between 75,000 and 120,000 men
CSA: Named after regions
i.e. Army of Northern Virginia
USA: Named after Rivers
i.e. Army of the Potomac
•Broken up into 2 or more Corps
Top Ranked Officer:
Commanding General
Officers in Review
Most have a commission or schooling
Major General
Army, Corps, Division
Brigadier general
Brigade
Colonel
Regiment
Major
Helps colonel with
Regiment
Captain
Company
First Lieutenant
Helped with small groups in company
Second Lieutenant, lowest rank of officer
Helped with small groups in company
Sleeve Insignias
• CSA sleeves would all show more
embroidery to account for higher rank
“Taps”
• Created by General Daniel Butterfield
• Signaled “Lights Out” at the end of the day.
• Also used at Funerals, helps to provide a
sense of closure for family members.
-One of the most recognizable songs in the
world.
-Most popular was JFK in 1963 at Arlington
National Cemetery.
Casualties
• Refers to those: Killed, Wounded,
or Missing.
• Different sources will have
different figures for each battle.
• END COURSE NOTES.
• Additional slides will not be on the quiz.