For a whole generation of Americans, the Civil War was the single most important period in their lives. The war tore the country apart, but also brought it together as never before. For as large as the differences that divided the country were, it cast all citizens into a common situation- War. Fought mostly by young men who had never been outside their own small towns or cities, the war opened these men’s minds to a larger world, be it one full of dissent and warfare.

The beginning of the American Civil War didn’t surprise anyone, the North and South had been locked in heated debate for over two decades, and threats of war came almost annually during this time. One thing that is relatively unique about this war is that there were no incredibly large armies, the bulk of both side’s armies were small local militia units, some publicly funded, others privately funded. Many of these volunteer units elected their own officers. Soldiers joined these units for a great number of reasons, some much more idealistic than others. Some joined simply for the right to wear a uniform and march in parades, others joined only to escape their sheltered lives on the small farms. The vast majority, though, joined for more idealistic reasons. Many joined as either abolitionists in the North, or in defense of the institution in the South. Other Northerners joined to preserve the Union against separation, while Southerners joined to defend their homes from the attacking Northern armies.

Eighty percent of all those who fought in the war were under thirty years old, and even though a man had to be eighteen years of age to legally enlist, some as young as eleven years of age slipped into the armies. In fact, recruiting was so blind a process that several hundred women were able to enlist disguised as men.

Once they had enlisted, soldiers were sent to training camps which were usually located near the state capitals. Training camp proved very difficult for the newly enlisted soldiers, as they were forced to drill almost constantly during waking hours. A number of difficult commands (verbal, drum and trumpet) had to be memorized for marching, and some training programs called for up to 64 different trumpet commands.

The average private made only $13 a month, which even then wasn't a lot. Surfice it to say, the life of all the young men who enlisted were drastically changed forever after that day in 1861 when the war between the states began.