Expert: Michael Troy - 10/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello, my name is Ali, and I recently got an assignment in social studies on the civil war.  My teacher wanted us to become a soldier from the time of the war, and I was  wondering what a typical lifestyle would be like of a young man, around 20 years old, including his religion, and outlooks on politics.  Thanks for your time, i really appreciate it.

-Ali

ANSWER: Hi Ali,

Most soldiers were farmers, or more accurately the sons of farmers.  They grew up in small towns around the country, had a basic grade school education, and had probably never traveled more than 50 miles from home.  Most small towns were primarily Protestant, although larger northern cities had sizable Catholic populations as well (mostly immigrants from Ireland).  The great political issue of the day was slavery.  In the north, views varied considerably from militant abolitionists to those who thought slavery was a choice left up to States and was fine to have it in States that allowed it.  Southern soldiers tended to be more uniformly pro-slavery, although the majority of families did not own slaves themselves.

Most young men saw the war as an adventure and a chance to prove their manhood.  They wanted an opportunity to prove that they could be brave and risk their lives in defense of their country.  

I hope this helps!
- Mike



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello, it's Ali again.  I have a couple follow up questions, and i was a little stuck.  I hope you can help.  So here is my question.  What was the food, training, equipment, medical facilities and entertainment like for a union soldier in the civil war?  What would be some pluses and minuses of being in the war?  I am doing my project on a young man from Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, if that helps at all.  Thank you so much for your time in answering my question, and i hope to hear from you as soon as possible.  Also, thanks for answering my last question, too.
-Ali

ANSWER:
Food was pretty miserable.  Much of the time soldiers lived of whatever they could take from the local population.  Sometimes all they had was hardtack (basically a very thick cracker).  Due to a lack of preservatives, food was often rotting or infested with bugs or worms by the time it was received (they ate it anyway).  Hunger was quite common.  Still food was usually better and more ample than what the average Confederate got.

Training varied greatly.  Some went into battle with almost no training.  Some trained for weeks.  Cavalry soldiers were expected to know how to ride already and often had to provide their own horses.  

Medical care was barbaric by today's standards.  If you were shot in an arm or leg, it was usually amputated to prevent gangrene.  If you got shot in the body, you usually died.  Doctors knew almost nothing about preventing infections so many wounds proved fatal.  Further, many soldiers had lived on isolated farms and small town and had not been exposed to many diseases.  There were also no vaccinations.  Disease ran wild through the army.  More soldiers died of disease than died on the battlefield.

There was no USO or much of any official entertainment.  The men sang songs together while on the march or around camp fires at night.  They often told stories to on another as well.

Being a soldier was a pretty miserable experience.  Many saw it as an adventure, a way to escape the tedium of farm life at the beginning, and a way to prove their manhood, but most quickly lost those feelings and longed to return home.

- Mike



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What were the historical circumstances that led the U.S. to join WWI, and escalate the war in Vietnam.  Was each successful, how, and why?  Thanks a ton!!!

Answer
Hello again,

The US entered WWI largely because of Germany's policy of sinking all shipping doing business with Britain.  Americans lost a great deal of lives and property from u-boat attacks.  Another major factor was the Zimmerman telegram, where a German Ambassador tried to see if Mexico was interested in joining with Germany to attack the US.  Germany promised to help recover parts of the south and west that Mexico had  ceded to the US.  Another influence was President Wilson's desire to be involved so that he could put in place his plans for the post war power structure, including his League of Nations.

The escalation in Vietnam came primarily from a desire to prevent Communist aggression.  In the years following WWII, the Soviet Union was making aggressive moves throughout much of the world.  Stopping the Communists in Vietnam was seen as a keep to preventing a Communist takeover of all of southeast Asia.

As far as the success, the US was on the winning side of WWI, but US officials certainly did not get the post-war peace plans it had hoped.  Of course, sinkings of US shipping ended.  In Vietnam, the US eventually decided it could not continue to support the war there because of politically unacceptable costs of life and money.  The Communists eventually took over Vietnam as well as several surrounding countries.

- Mike