Bell Work 1) Who made up the largest group of Civil War soldiers? 2) Which group of men were NOT allowed to fight at the beginning of the war? 3) What was some of the food that soldiers ate? 4) Describe some of the poor hygiene that was evident during the war On your “field journal” record your identity, the stickers you have on your card and jot down what you experience and how it makes you feel

Who fought? Most soldiers under the age of 21 As war dragged on, kids age 17 were also drafted, as well as men as old as 50

Simulation Identities are given on cards but you can give yourself specifics –Name, age, hometown, job – but make sure it makes sense with your overall identity!

Northern Identities “True Believers” – religious leaders, teachers, writers, view war as a moral abolitionist crusade to end slavery “Glory Roaders” – former slaves, usually day laborers, farmers, or self-employed individualists, also see war as a moral crusade

Farmers/Workers – mainly from small towns, some cities – generally morally opposed to slavery but do not want “freed” slaves moving North to compete for land and jobs Unionists – mainly from mid-eastern and mid- western states, opposed secession because they believed it went against the constitution. Wanted to “preserve the union” not abolish slavery

Southern Identities Planters – own vast majority of slaves and firmly believe they are doing the slaves a service by feeding them and clothing them in exchange for their labor “Johnny Rebs” – majority of Southerners – poor white farmers who own few – if any – slaves but they look to planter class as “ideal” for their society

Uniforms and Supplies

How a soldier describes it… How does your uniform fit you? What kinds of things do you carry in your knapsack? After a month (or more) of service, how do you feel? Most soldiers’ shoes were cut the same for the right and left foot! Put your shoes on the opposite feet for the rest of the simulation

Drill Sessions One soldier described his day in the camp… “the first thing is drill, then drill, then drill again. Then drill, drill, a little more drill. Then drill, and lastly drill.” As many as 5 sessions a day, each lasting up to 2 hours! Stand straight, march, follow direction, load and fire a gun

How would you do? Eo5Jg Eo5Jg

Housing -Tents held anywhere from 2 – 20 men -Little protection from the elements -Bugs and “creeping things” attacked regulary In the words of a soldier… How do you feel about your sleeping arrangements?

Entertainment “BONES” How might you entertain yourself while at camp?

Gettysburg images ttex/living.html ttex/living.html

Method of Cooking

Hardtack (“Tack”) HARDTACK recipe: Flour Baking Powder Salt Water

As one soldier describes the food… What do you think about the food provided on the battlefield? What were the dangers of eating it? On your cards you have a green circle the food you have eaten has made you sick. Luckily the food poisoning will not kill you, but you will feel like death for the next week

Disease spread rapidly through the camps… Yellow circle sticker – Because of the conditions of camp you have contracted a disease! Possibly pneumonia, measles, small pox, typhoid fever or malaria, (to name a few) the effects of these diseases could be high fever, diarrhea, and/or death! Death from disease killed twice as many soldiers during the war as the battlefield

Battlefield medicine…yikes! Surgeon’s Kit: Many amputations because of new weapons technology Gangrene was a major problem during most of the war

Amputations

Hand on card? You have been hit by a Minie ball on the battlefield and now must have a limb amputated! You pray that the amputation will save you from a gangrene infection! Over 60,000 amputations were performed during the Civil War – more than any other war!

Tourniquet – Amputation of a leg/arm

Final Fates Blue sticker – the disease you contracted (either from camp or from an amputation) has taken most of your energy and will soon take your life – you will not live to see the end of the war Red sticker – you will soon be mortally wounded on the battlefield, a result of a direct charge against enemy guns. Having fought bravely, you will be remembered as a war hero