Camp Life During The Civil War

* www.nps.gov/anti/forteachers/upload/Letters%20and%20Diaries%20of%20Soldiers%20and%20

Civilians.pdf

* www.civilwar.org/hallowed-ground-magazine/winter-2013/life-of-the-civil-war-soldier-camp.html

* Unit 7 Test (#12)

* Easy Simulations: Civil War

* www.townofelbridge.com/Organization and Rank.pdf

* http.//worldbookonline.com/kids/article?id=ar830572&st=life+in+the+civil+war

* www.ducksters.com/history/civil_war/life_as_a_soldier_during_the_civil_war.php

* http://tdl.org/txlor-dspace/bitstream/handle/2249.3/585/10_soldier_life_during.htm?sequenc3=110

Camp Life During The Civil War

$1.25

Volume XII

June 25, 1862

Children & women

Supplies

Young boys often joined the army as drummer boys or bugle boys. They also helped with chores around the campsite. Officially the young boys did not fight, but many joined in once a battle started. A ten-year-old boy named Johnny Clem became famous when he put down his drum during the battle of Shiloh, picked up a gun, and shot a colonel of the Confederate army. Some women served as nurses in the army, helping wounded soldiers recover. At home, they worked the fields on farms and at factories in order to produce goods for armies. Women worked diligently to provide for their families.

Provisions, Weapons, & uniforms

A Soldier's daily camp life

Daily Routines

They were not allowed to drink alcohol, but many became drunk with whiskey. They also sang songs about the war. When night came upon the camp, a soldier took turns for guard duty. What most bothered the soldiers of the army camp was homesickness. Men spent more time writing letters and hoping to receive them than any other leisure activity. Furloughs were rarely granted, and most soldiers had few opportunities to spend extended periods of time away from the army. After some time living with the regiment, soldiers realized that war was a horrible thing.

Life in the army camps were full of boredom, mischief, fear, disease, homesickness, and death. When not in battle, (which was about 3/4 of the time), soldiers were roused at 5 A.M. in the summer, and 6 A.M. in the winter. After the first sergeant took roll call, the men ate breakfast before preparing for the first of the drills. Each drill took about two hours each, which left many soldiers bone-weary. In drills, the men learned how to shoot weapons, perform various maneuvers, dig trenches for latrines, care for others' injuries, and many other soldiering skills. In the few intervals between drills, soldiers cleaned the camp, built roads, gathered wood for cooking and heating, and searched for clean water. This was vital, for unclean water led to widespread diseases. If they had free time, which was not very often, soldiers might play games such as poker, baseball, cards, boxing matches, cockfights, racing bugs, gambling, or dominoes.

A common soldier in the North often had better supplies than in the South, because it had the main access to the factories and large cities. Union soldiers often blocked the Confederate ports, so many families in the South lost their taste of a luxurious lifestyle. A Union's marching ration consisted of one pound hard tack, (hard dry bread or biscuit), 3/4 pound of salted pork or one and a quarter pound of fresh meat, along with coffee, sugar, and salt. Later on during the war, fresh meat and coffee became extremely scarce to find. The Union and Confederate troops had a variety of weapons, such as the Springfield Rifle, the Enfield Rifle, the 1842 Smoothbore Musket, and the 1822 Smoothbore Musket. Other supplies consisted of ammunition, wool/cotton uniforms, bayonets, knapsacks/haversacks, woolen/cotton/rubber blankets, shelter tents, winter clothing, extra clothing, eating utensils, sewing kits, grooming kits, soaps and towels, water purification kits, and body armor.

"The 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, and sometimes stop to eat a little and have roll call."

~ Pennsylvania volunteer Oliver Wilcox Norton

Fun facts

effects of war

Injuries, infections, diseases, & morale

Resources

* Both the Northern & Southern regiments watched many of their friends die on the battlefield.

* Most Northern volunteers were farmers, tradesmen, former slaves, factory workers, or professionals.

* Most Southern volunteers were farmers, tradesmen, overseers, dockworkers, or aristocrats.

* The ranks of soldiers consisted of privates/first privates, corporals, sergeants/sergeant majors, lieutenants, captains, majors, lieutenant colonels, colonels, brigadier generals, and major generals.

* About 750,000 Americans died in the Civil War. More Americans died in this war than any other war in American history!

* The Union soldiers were nicknamed Yanks, Yankees, Bluebellies, or Billy Yank by the Southerners.

* The Confederate soldiers were nicknamed Rebs, Rebels, graybacks, or Johnny Reb by Northerners.

* During the fall, soldiers would work on their winter camp where they would stay at one place for the long, winter months.

* Soldiers were often drafted when there were not enough volunteers, but the rich could make a payment if they wanted to avoid fighting.

* By the end of the war, around 10% of the Union army consisted of African American soldiers.

* Many poor men went to war, hoping for glory and adventure to escape the drudgery of hard work at home. They soon realized that war was a terrifying mixture of mind-numbing boredom and uncontrollable fear.

* Soldiers of all ages fought in the Civil War. The average age for the Union army was 25 years old. The minimun age was 18 years old, although many young boys lied about their age in order to fight. By the end of the war, thousands of soldiers were as young as 15 years old.

* In the beginning of the war, soldiers were allowed to choose their uniform. However, they accidentally killed some of their own men because they were confused of which soldiers were either friend or foe. This problem was solved when the Union soldiers all wore navy blue uniforms, while the Confederate soldiers all wore tan-gray uniforms.

* Most of the experienced war generals came from the South.

Soldiers may experience minor injuries, such as bruised & cracked ribs, a small head laceration, a flesh wound in the arm or leg, a dislocated shoulder, or a broken foot. They may also suffer from major injuries such as broken ribs & a punctured lung, a severe head wound, or a traumatic limb injury. Infections like pneumonia and streptococcus could spread around the camp, while diseases including dysentery, typhoid fever, and camp itch could cause soldiers to perish. Some soldiers may be extremely lucky to discover that they have no infection, for the victim's immune system has fought it off. Morale is based on the emotional state of the soldier, and this may change over time. Soldiers may find some source of inner strength in them that they were not aware of before, while others may be depressed, and don't care about much. Things may just keep getting worse for some recruits, or some may be irritable and argumentative. Alarming as it is, a few soldiers could not bear cruel war anymore, and as a result, threw down their weapons and either refused to fight, or disobeyed an order from a commander. A handful of troopers went so far as to committing AWOL (absent without leave), or running for home without permission after throwing down their weapons.Many soldiers did not own blankets, clothes, or any footwear because all of their supplies were used up very quickly. Some went very hungry, and did not eat a morsel of food for six days! Many became ill from exposure and starvation, and were left on the road. Ambulances were full, and they had a lack of food, water, garments, shoes, medical attention, medicine, and proper hygiene. The soldiers developed a much different speculation of cold, bloody war than they did when they first enlisted into the army.

conclusion

introduction

In conclusion, life in a Civil War army camp was full of mind-numbing boredom, fear, weariness, desperation, and sickness. Doctors had a hard time taking care of their patients, for they had little knowledge of medicine and proper treatment. Soldiers spent most of their day drilling in order to be ready for combat. It was a hard life, one with such difficulties, that over 600,000 lives were lost on the battlefield. Brother against brother, every soldier involved soon realized that war was a very cruel thing. However, although camp life was so harsh with dangers all around them, each and every soldier fought with their lives to preserve their rights. These fine men are a noble example of fighting for what you believe in.

thanks for watching!

Imagine layers of filthy grime accumulating on a soldier's raggedy coat. His lips are dry and cracked, while the bloody bandage on his head displays the price he paid for enlisting in the war. He slumps limply on a rotting tree stump, eyes sending a desperate, defeated look. The Civil War is one of the most interesting and bloodiest topics that have occurred in American history. Have you ever wondered what life was like in a Civil War army camp? The food that soldiers eat? Their everyday routines? Closely examine this prezi for behind the scenes Civil War facts that you never knew before.