About Michael Troy Expertise I can answer just about any question on early American History. My specialties are the American Revolution through the Civil War/Reconstruction. I also have greater expertise in matters relating to military, political or legal history.
Experience I have lectured at George Washington University regarding the Civil War, as well as several elementary school Civil War demonstrations. I was also a member of a Civil War reenactment group for about 10 years.
Education/Credentials J.D. University of Michigan
B.A. George Washington University
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.
