Lesson 16.2: “Life In the Army”

Essential Question What were the characteristics of Civil War soldiers, and what hardships did they endure in the army?

Vocabulary Hygiene – Conditions and practices which promote good health. Rifling – Grooved barrel which causes a bullet to spin. Minie ball – Bullet with a hollow base which expands upon firing. Iron Clad – Ship with protective metal covering

Focus Questions What were the characteristics and background of a typical Civil War soldier? What obstacle did African Americans face who wanted to serve in the military? Why did so many men volunteer to serve? What training did soldiers receive?

Focus Questions 5. What problems did both armies face when providing food, clothing, and shoes to their soldiers? What were the major causes of widespread sickness in army camps? What scientific ignorance contributed to the spread of disease? What contributed to the high casualty rates in the Civil War? What effect did changes in weapons have on the way war was fought?

What we already know… The Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run thrilled the South.

What we already know… Lincoln sent the 90-day militias home and called for a real army of 500,000 volunteers for three years.

What we already know… Volunteers rushed to enlist on both sides, many fearing the war would be over before they could join the fight.

Those who fought The majority were between the ages of 18-30-year-olds Farmers made up the largest group. Many were immigrants, from Germany and Ireland. Mayflower Compact = self rule Native Americans served on both sides.

Those who fought At first neither the North nor the South accepted blacks into their armies. African Americans saw the war as a way to end slavery. The North eventually allowed African Americans to serve. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Why They Joined… Adventure and glory. Escape from boredom. Recruitment money. Mayflower Compact = self rule Loyalty to their country or state. Friends and neighbors were volunteering.

Turning Civilians Into Soldiers Lived in tents or huts. Followed a set schedule of drills and training. Also performed guard duties, cut wood, dug latrines, and cleaned the camp. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Turning Civilians Into Soldiers Drilling was a very important part of training. Troops were organized into regiments or brigades. They were expected to march in formation. To get from marching formation to fighting formation required precise, complicated movements. Solders had never worked together as part of a larger unit and needed hours of practice. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Turning Civilians Into Soldiers Northern soldiers received poor quality uniforms and shoes which fell apart when wet. Confederate soldiers had trouble getting uniforms and shoes. Many went barefoot. Food in the field was limited. Soldiers went hungry when supply trains couldn’t reach them. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Hardships of Army Life Union and Confederate soldiers were often wet, muddy and cold from marching and living outdoors. Camps were unsanitary. Soldiers went weeks without bathing and were covered with lice and fleas. Poor hygiene and lots of germs Widespread sickness and diarrhea from contaminated food and water.

Hardships of Army Life Doctors failed to wash their hands or their instruments between surgeries. People did not know that germs cause diseases! Mayflower Compact = self rule

Hardships of Army Life More than twice as many soldiers died from disease than were actually killed in battle! Mayflower Compact = self rule

Changes in Military Technology Mayflower Compact = self rule When the Civil War erupted, both sides were using muzzle loading muskets.

Changes in Military Technology Mayflower Compact = self rule A good soldier could fire three times per minute…. but under fire?

Changes in Military Technology Because of their inaccuracies, muskets were fired from tight formations less than 100 yards from the enemy. Soldiers tried to make up in speed, for what their weapons lacked in accuracy.

Changes in Military Technology Newer “muskets” had spiral grooves cut inside their barrels. These grooves spun the musket ball giving them greater distance with greater accuracy. These grooves were called rifling. Muskets with rifling were called rifles.

Changes in Military Technology Although more accurate, muzzle-loading rifles were difficult to load because the ammunition had to be nearly equal in diameter to the inside of the barrel to engage the spiral grooves. This meant shooters would have to jam the bullet into the rifle by force. Mayflower Compact = self rule

Changes in Military Technology A French army officer Claude-Etienne Minié (min-a’) invented a cylindrical bullet with a hollow base that expanded when fired. The “minie ball”, as it was called increased the rifle’s accuracy and distance. Mounted charges and infantry assaults were not practical. Soldiers with rifles could now shoot more attackers from a distance.

Changes in Military Technology With improved accuracy and increased distances, tight formations were also no longer necessary or practical.

Changes in Military Technology The “Minie ball” proved lethally accurate over relatively long distances, and was used with devastating effect . Bones were so badly shattered that amputation became the only alternative.

Changes in Military Technology Ironclads changed naval warfare forever. An ironclad was a ship built of wood and covered with iron plates.

Changes in Military Technology Conventional wooden ships were no match against the ironclads.

Changes in Military Technology In the first battle of the ironclads, the Confederate ship CSS Virginia (formerly the Merrimack) battled the Union ship USS Monitor off the coast of Virginia in 1862. After firing away at each for four hours, the battle ended in a draw.!

“On March 9, the two vessels engaged each other, and both the Monitor and the Virginia suffered direct hits that failed to penetrate their iron shells. Finally, after four hours, a cannon blast from the Virginia hit the Monitor‘s pilothouse, temporarily blinding the ship’s captain, Union Lieutenant John L. Worden. The Virginia was thus allowed to escape to Norfolk, Virginia, and the Battle of the Ironclads ended in a draw. Two months later, the Virginia was trapped in Norfolk by advancing Union forces, and its Confederate crew blew up the fearful vessel rather than allow it to fall into Union hands.” (history.com)