The Daily Life of Civil War Soldiers Essay - 4293 Words

The Daily Life of Civil War Soldiers â€Å"War at its basic level has always been about soldiers. Nations rose and fell on the strength of their armies and the men who filled the ranks.† This is a very powerful quote, especially for the yet young country of the United States, for it gives credit where credit is truly due: to the men who carried out the orders from their superiors, gave their blood, sweat and tears, and in millions of cases their lives while fighting for ideals that they believed their country or government was founded upon, and to ensure the continuation of these ideals. Up until the end of the 20th Century, they did so in the worst of conditions, and this includes not only the battle scene, but also every day life. In†¦show more content†¦Prejudice was also very evident towards African Americans in the Union forces in that they were usually assigned to labor duties, such as cleaning camps, building defenses and garrison duty, and in many cases not allowed to fight. Up until 1864, t here was even a difference in pay for black soldiers, and they were not allowed to be commissioned officers. Political affiliation also played a role in identifying who the Civil War soldier was. In the Confederacy, the Democrats by far held the majority in the ranks. Anyone even thought to hold Republican views or anti-slavery sentiment was subject to harsh sentiments from other soldiers, and even discharge. Disunity amongst the Confederate soldiers was not common, unlike the Union. Here the â€Å"armies were comprised overwhelmingly, officers and privates, of citizen soldiers, of men drawn temporarily from civilian life to fight a war.† These men still held their political beliefs and opinions, and there was a split in the ranks between Republicans and Democrats. This split caused the men to argue with each other frequently over the great issues of the day. â€Å"The sturdy American spirit of democracy produced these characteristics†¦but they interfered seriously with military efficiency by destroying unity an co-operation.† One of these great issues was the is sue of slavery. Upon Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, many soldiers whomShow MoreRelatedMedicine During The Civil War1548 Words   |  7 PagesDuring the Civil War, medicine was an important aspect for every soldier due to the fact that many soldiers had to fight and ended up with injuries also there were many types of illnesses. In this essay, I will focus on the advance of medicine during the Civil War. Also how the soldiers and civilians were treated as well as how sanitize their location was, are questions I will try to answer. 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