Thomas Wright a young teenager starts his Diary in July 1858 America. Northern Kentucky, Mason county near the Town of Dover and Lees Creak. across the Ohio River the town of Ripley Ohio. Hot bed of Abolitionist movement. between befriending a slave...
This will be a little History, without knowing the little I give you, some of you would only know what you have seen in movies. I will try and give you an idea how the common soldier, lived, what he ate, carried with him. What two enemies he faced. I hope you find this interesting.
How many men took to arms? 2.75 million men fought in the Civil War. 2 million for the Union 750,000 for the Confederacy. The number of Confederate maybe a little larger or even smaller.
The average soldier was between the ages 18-29 about five foot eight inches 143 pounds. That is both Yank and Reb. I found some statistics that put the age between 18-39 with an average age of 26 years.
What these men did
Both sides, North and South had been Farmers before enlisting. This is some of the jobs the Union roster listed. Accountant, surveyor, locksmith, teacher, carpenter, shoemaker, black-smith, painter, mason, teamster and mechanic.
Confederate jobs listed. Carpenter, mechanic, merchant, machinist, Lawyer, teacher, dentist, and black-smith. Like it is now, the Armies got enlistment across the board. All fields enlisted.
The Real Question Why Did they Fight?
The most mentioned reason was Patriotism. Then State Pride, Adventure, Steady Pay. After 1862 more Union men enlisted to Abolish Slavery or just to end the War. Confederate men also said to defend his Home, to keep blacks from being considered equal.
Some Southerns said if you all a stayed home. Wouldn't be a fight. I think most the common soldiers in the south, were defending home and state more than anything else. Most that did fight in the south weren't slave owners. Of course I'm looking back not at the time of the war.
Some mentioned steady pay, both sides at the beginning of the war were paid the same. 11 dollars a month, in 1864 the Confederacy raised its pay to 18 dollars a month, of course by that time the money was almost worthless. About the same time the Union raised pay to 16 dollars a month. Black soldiers in the Union initial pay was 10 dollars a month minus 3 dollars clothing allowance the whites got. June 1864 all freemen were paid the same as whites, recently freed slaves stayed at the 10 dollars a month.
The Boredom
From the first Army ever formed till now, all soldiers have struggled to fight boredom. The one thing he can't control down time, stuck in the middle of nowhere, or not able to leave his camp or post.
Besides the ever popular letter writing home, to sweethearts, wives, family and friends. The real popular gambling and drinking of course occurred even if forbidden. Board games like checkers, chess. They played Base ball they whittled and carved. Some units even put on plays, one Tennessean a Sam Watkins said, one winter they had a snowball fight, this diversion got Brigades and Divisions involved.
Both sides read what ever was available to read. The Union favored Frank Leslie's Illustrated News Paper, Harpers Weekly, The Atlantic and Dime Novels.
The Confederacy Southern Illustrated News, Southern Literary Messenger, Field and Fireside, Dime Novels. Of course both sides read the Bible too.
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All that gear was put into the backpack and Haversack. Plus any personal stuff.
The First Enemy
Truly the first real enemy both sides faced, wasn't each other. Unsanitary living conditions brought on Disease, living in close quarters it spread quickly. These numbers show the odds of death from battle and sickness. The Union Army you had a 1 in 8 chance of dying of illness a 1 in 18 chance of dying in battle. The Confederacy 1 in 5 chance of dying of Illness a 1 in 8 chance of dying in battle.
Until later in the War, both sides didn't look at latrine placement, often they were placed upwind or even upstream from the camp. Allowing for a unpleasant and unhealthy environment. Refuse from cooking and slaughtering animals would cover the ground. Manure from livestock all could help foul the water supply, leading to Disease and death.
Food or Rations
If they could get the rations as supplied on a needed basis. The Union Army rations were, 22 ounces of bread and either 12 ounces of pork or a pound of salted beef.
The Confederate Army if they were supplied at all. Got 12 ounces of bacon or 20 ounces of beef usually salted. Along with 18 ounces of flour or 20 ounces of corn meal or hard bread. Vegetables like beans and peas were hard to get on both sides. For the most part Yanks banked on hardtack and coffee. While the Rebs tried to get by on cornbread and coffee. Of course both sides bartered and foraged for food.
The Second Enemy
This one isn't the deadliest according to the numbers, I consider it the worst enemy. The young man across the field from you, weapon in hand sweating no matter what the weather, so nervous he can't make spit. Hating the man on the other side but respecting him also. It could be his brother his cousin, uncle, even Father or son.
They could of been neighbors, or the guy in the saloon. Once friend or close family ready to kill each other. The sad part they did they charged bayonet fixed, firing and reloading till they were close enough to fight face to face. All the while cannon fire musket volleys flying towards them.
Never before did this young country turn against it's self. It became the bloodiest most deadly war ever fought on this soil.
So many advancements were made in the art of making war, or shall I say killing. The rapid movement of troops by train and riverboat, aerial observation with balloons. The telegraph for faster communication, the Gatling gun, submarine, iron clad ships, river gunboats. Leaver action rifles, revolvers. The tri tipped bayonet more deadly than the straight saber type.
The most deadly man himself willing to kill fellow country men. War can turn men brutal, evil a uncaring death machine. Yet on both sides men still helped a wounded foe. When the killing stopped those young men across from each other wondered why they were so brave to keep coming no matter the odds.
I think that puts it all together, now you see what Thomas faces in his near future. The most deadly war this country ever faced and it was fought on it's own soil.
Thanks for your support, and your continued reading. I hope you find the story entertaining and informative. As always please vote and comment.
