The Lives of Civil War Soldiers

The Lives of Civil War Soldiers

The Civil War was a war that was between both the Union and Confederacy. The Civil War lasted for 4 years. The war started when South Carolina seceded from the Union and attacked Ft. Sumter. The Confederacy consisted of Eleven slave states led by Jefferson Davis and the Union was led by Abraham Lincoln. Even though there is two different armies, both army’s soldiers lived very alike.
The Union and Confederate soldiers were badly organized, poorly trained, inadequately fed, clothed and housed. Both army soldiers lived almost completely without comfort, without med care and limited entertainment. Regiments camped where they could and hunted for food often. For amusement and entertainment soldiers depended on their resources such as friends and relatives. The union and Confederacy soldiers were youthful, high-spirited, sentimental and for the most part moral.
When soldiers are not fighting, soldiers spent their time drilling on battle techniques and strategies. Considerable time was spent when fights or regrouping wasn’t going on. Soldiers would cook meals, cut firewood and write letters to home on their free time.
Since communication was limited during the time, soldiers waited a long time when battles or strategies aren’t going on and soldiers got bored. At that time dominoes was a popular game played by the soldiers. A game of cards was also a popular game played by soldiers. Chess was also played by soldiers to overcome boredom.
Soldiers endured completely unnecessary hardships. Soldiers would wear heavy wool clothing in summer. Soldiers would receive tents that were in bad conditions and would leak when it is raining. Unlike the soldier’s tents, the Officer’s tents were better than the soldier. The shelters were in bad condition and so were the food of the soldiers, their food was maggoty and the water supply and food supply were contaminated which caused widespread sickness in the camps. Since the food and water were contaminated soldiers would get...

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