Directions: Use the pictures and quotes to complete each box. First draw a picture of what you think the person looked like. Then in the bubbles around him or her write some of the things he or she was thinking or feeling. Union Soldier Confederate Soldier War Nurse Civilian
Teacher Directions: Print out these pages of quotes and photos and hang them around the room (they can also be done in groups or at stations). Have students take notes on what they see and read and after going through all of them, students should then complete the graphic organizer on the previous page. I often will then have students select one character to write a longer diary entry for homework. Towards the end of the war a patient came in wounded in the arch of his foot and a large growth of infected matter grew on the wound. Surgeons wouldn t remove it; because they were afraid to damage nerves in his foot. Well, one morning I went to see the patient, and the mass was gone, leaving a deep, but clean, hole in his foot. We were trying to figure out how it happened when we finally realized that while he was sleeping, a rat ate the rancid flesh and left a healthy and clean wound! That rat was one talented surgeon! Phoebe Yates Pember Head Nurse at a Confederate hospital in Richmond. If rations were running low we d have a rat hunt and see how many we could drum up. Once we caught em we had a pretty good recipe. First the rat must be skinned, cleaned, then his head cut off and his body laid upon a square board, with the legs stretched to their fullest extent and secured upon it with some nails or tacs. Then we d baste him up with bacon fat and roast for about 8 minutes before a good fire like canvas-back duck. Francis Barlow, Florida South Carolina slave holder as I am, my very soul sickens at the sight of a slave auction it is too dreadful and sad. I suppose one good thing to come from this awful war is that these will come to an end, though it also means an end to my family. Mary Chesnut South Carolina One morning there was great excitement at the report that we were going to be sent to the front Our mothers God Bless them! brought us something good to eat pies, cakes, doughnuts, and jellies. One old lady brought her son an umbrella Handkerchiefs were waved at us from all the houses we passed; we cheered till we were hoarse! Richard Colhouser Maryland Infantry
Mother if all our army felt as I feel when I go into battle, the war would soon be over, but I am sorry to say that we have got too many in the army that are not fighting for their country but for money and all they think of when they go into battle is how to...skulk behind the first stump...[and] keep out of danger. Salson McCoultry Pennsylvania Calvary I never had a taste for war indeed it was always an unmitigated horror of evil to me worse than pestilence or famine. But as it is an obvious fact that this war has been forced upon us by a bitter and arrogant despotism I must meet the challenge. William Elliot Virginia Infantry If our negroes are freed then this country is not worth fighting for... We can only live & exist by that species of labor: and hence I am willing to continue to the last. Benjamin Burton Mississippi Infantry My duties in this life are first to my God, second to my country, third to my mother. Oh my country, how my heart bleeds for your welfare. If this poor life of mine could save you, how willingly would I make that sacrifice! Michael Hollander New York Infantry It is astonishing how things have changed in reference to freeing the Negros. It always has been plane to me that this race must be freed before god would recognize us...we boast of liberty and we Should not be Selfish in it as God gives us liberty we Should try to impart it to others. Now that Lincoln issued the Emancipation, I believe we are on God s side...now I can fight with a good heart. David F. Mace Minnesota Calvary Note: Possible language issue use at your discretion! After fighting the Rebs here for 6 months, I decided that if I owned Texas and Hell, I'd rent out Texas and live in Hell. Union General Phillip H. Sheridan
Union soldiers playing a game of dominos outside Gettysburg, PA.
Confederate soldiers playing a game of cards outside Savannah, Georgia
A Union soldier reading a letter during downtime.
African-American Union soldiers in formation in Massachusetts.
Civil War Union nurse in her uniform.
Civil War Confederate nurse in her uniform.
Family taking a break on the farm in the South.
Completed Student Example
Here are some additional resources for teaching about the Civil War and Reconstruction that fit in perfectly with this activity. Click on each for more info. Thanks so much for your purchase!!!! All pictures in this resource courtesy of Wikipedia. Diary entries are taken courtesy of the VMI Archives.