The Life of a Civil War Soldier

Step #1

• Use your photo analysis worksheets and analyze photographs B, C, and D.

Stereographs

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Step #2

• Use your poster analysis worksheets and analyze the following posters

A.

• Add to your Poster Analysis Sheet this Question: Which of the first two posters, A + B, do you believe came before the other in time?

• What reason do you believe this?

B.

Add this question to back of your Poster Analysis Sheet:

How do you think this poster related to the Civil War?

Step #3• Use your document analysis worksheets and

analyze the following letters

November 1863 from siege lines overlooking Union troops at Chattanooga, Tennessee:

We have just returned from a trip into East Tenn where we got big amounts of everything to eat and everything we eat is so good to me as I had been starved out so long on some bread & beef, all that we got while we were here besieging Chattanooga. up there we got sweet and Irish potatoes, chickens, molassas, wheat bread and everything that was good for a poor soldier. Oh, how I do wish that I could be at home now, for it is getting late in the evening and I have had nothing to eat since breakfast and no telling when we will get rations for our rations are out, since we left our ration wagons behind in coming here to this place, for I know you have all had a good & plentiful dinner. I know you will say poor John, but this is only a chapter in military service which we often read, but I am content and will be more so when we get rations. The independence of the bounty is what I want and I am I am willing to suffer for something to eat many, many days if it will only send me to my dear parents, a full and independent boy.The enemy still holds their position in Chattanooga and our lines drawn up close around the place. We are now on the top of Lookout Mountain overlooking the town. We have a fine view of our entire line and also of theirs. It is said that we can see into five different states from our position. It is very cold up here, as cold as it is where you are in mid-winter. You must excuse this exceedingly bad letter as I have written in great haste. My love to you and all. Write when you can and a long letter as I am very anxious to hear from you.

John H. Sweet

Camp near Fredericksburg, VA

Nov 25th 1862

Mrs Juliana Reynolds

My Dear Sister,

It is a long time since I have written to you, and I feel that I have acted somewhat disrespectful in not replying to your letters before as I have received two letters from you which I have neglected to answer until now. The last letter I received from you was written when you were in Washington. It came to hand soon after we left Poolesville. I was sorry that you could not come to the regiment, as it would have been a great satisfaction to have conversed with one so near to me by the ties of nature. But that happy privilege I may never enjoy in this life. Life is uncertain any where but far more in the army than it would be in our peaceful and quiet homes. The soldier is not only slaughtered upon the battle field, but he is ever exposed to diseases accumulated by the exposures of camp life, which is bringing thousands of our brave soldiers to an untimely grave. I do not however blame you in the least for not comeing as the expense would have been considerable and you saw the one you came to see without coming to the regiment.

We are again on our way to Richmond but whether we will succeed in getting there is for time to determine. Our army has been quite unsuccessful in Virginia. We have been doing a good business in other places but in Va we have done comparatively nothing. But the army we have in the field at the present time should and no doubt will accomplish something. But if we fail in taking Richmond during this campaign the Southern Confederacy will probably be acknowledged by foreign nations. If we cannot conquer the South with the vast army we now have we may come to the conclusion that Providence is against us. I flatter myself with the hope that the war will be over by next spring but if it should not I fear it will be more terrible than ever. We are now about three miles from Fredericksburg which is yet in possession of the rebels, they occupy one side of the Rappahannock and we the other and our pickets and theirs can converse with each other. I dont know when we are going to cross the Rappahannock to take possession of Fredericksburg but I presume when we do the rebels will dispute our passage as they seam disposed to keep us on this side of the river but that they will know doubt fail to accomplish.

We have rather an uncomfortable time of it not having comfortable quarters, and the weather is quite cold, especially at night. It will probably be some time before we will go into winter quarters. I think there will be an attempt to take Richmond first. Tilton is in good health and appears to enjoy him self quite well. I hope the time may soon come when I will not be obliged to write to you but that I may have the privilege of conversing with you personally. Give my respects to all enquiring friends. Write soon. I remain your affectionate brother.

J.S. Smith

Step #4

Look over the Civil War Slang. You will need to incorporate at least five slang terms into your final project

Step #5Using your Analysis sheets and your slang sheet,

image you are a Civil War soldier writing a letter home describing a day in your life. The content of your letter should be based from the observations you made from the documents along with your own educated inferences based on your prior knowledge of the Civil War and your own experiences in life or serious thought on what you think it would have been like as a soldier in the war.

Extension Activity

1. Read aloud or as a class, Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulsen

2. Compare your Civil War letter/diary entry to the website account of Camp Life for a Civil War Soldier (see next slide for link)

• http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/gettex/