Brother Against Brother: The War Comes Home

I don’t know what I’ll do if my brother ever decides to join the military. The number of young men (and women now) joining to fight terrorism and evil dictators overseas is astronomical. I know quite a few people fighting right now so that I can have the freedom to write this.

During the Civil War, the amount of young men leaving home to fight was even higher. They would watch their fathers, brothers and friends leave to fight, and for the sake of patriotism and pride, they would usually follow suit. They would go to fight the evil of slavery or the overbearing Northerners. Well, not all of them felt that way.

One of the main feelings among the soldiers of this day was the overall feeling of brotherhood. They’d fight and die right alongside the men in their company, but they also felt a feeling of brotherhood with the enemy.

Why?

The Top Ten Civil War Songs

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"Without music, there would be no Army".

Robert E. Lee said that, and he was right. Music was such a vital part to these years. Not only did the war shape the music of the 1860’s, but music shaped and uplifted soldiers in the war. Part of their gear always included their instruments, maybe a banjo, harmonica, fiddle or guitar. One soldier, Solomon Conn, used his violin as a journal, and wrote on the back of the wood a list of all the encounters he participated in. It was on exhibit at the American Smithsonian Museum, and you can actually look upon the scribbles on the still-beautiful musical instrument. (Click Here to see Solomon's violin)

The Red Pants Are Coming! The Red Pants Are Coming!

Meet a Zouave:

He is a Union soldier, but with a unique red instead of the normal blue uniform. He’s not trying to be a “Civil War Redcoat”, he’s actually part of a type of Civil War soldiers called “Zouaves” (pronounced zoo-ahvs).

Call Me Judah: A Short Story

I took a deep breath. “You can do this Johnny,” I told myself. 

I looked around me. I saw my division, my regiment, my company, my group of friends; we seemed small in the thousands lined up for battle.  I had seen battle before, lots of times. But my hands still shook every time; my legs still trembled. I admitted to myself: I was scared.

Call Me Judah: A Short Story Part lV

Part IV

“I can’t believe you’re here!”

I was basically screaming in delight. Kind of like a child on Christmas; though most children wake up to presents on Christmas, and I woke to find my friend by my bedside.
I was a pathetic sight, but I didn't care. I was so worried about Judah, and now he was here!

Call Me Judah: A Short Story Part lll

Part lll

I saw light. Brightness; the pain was gone. What relief. Judah came running toward me, arms extended. He screamed my name over and over.

Call Me Judah: A Short Story Part ll

Part ll

Even while floating on darkness I could feel the pain. I knew sleep would not let me forget it, and I knew it would chase me to the grave. 

What am I saying? I have to survive. I have to live!

Call Me Judah: A Short Story Part 1

The following is a short story that I wrote surrounding the battle of Antietam. I'll be posting it in parts as it was written, but I will also be posting it in one full article upon completion.

Call Me Judah: A Short Story
Part 1

I took a deep breath. “You can do this Johnny,” I told myself. 

I looked around me. I saw my division, my regiment, my company, my group of friends; we seemed small in the thousands lined up for battle.  I had seen battle before, lots of times. But my hands still shook every time; my legs still trembled. I admitted to myself: I was scared.

Survival: One Meal At a Time --> Union

Union soldiers cooking dinner in camp (Library of Congress)

The Civil War is such a complicated time period. I have been studying the Civil War for years, and I’m only scratching the surface of knowing what it was like to live in 1860’s America. The soldiers experienced more than just battle, they also suffered from camp sicknesses and starvation. The governments, both North and South, did their best to feed the 4,000,000 soldiers, but still men went hungry. According to statistics, the Union Army alone had 2,700,000 men enlisted. Among those numbers, there were approximately 100,000 men under 18, and 25 of them were 10 years old or younger! There definitely weren’t any buses to take all the men over to the closest McDonald’s! How did the armies feed their millions of hungry men and boys?