Did you know that nearly the same amount of lives were lost during the Civil War as during all of America’s other wars combined? In terms of cost, lives lost, and political implications, the American Civil War was one of the most defining moments in American history. These are 25 little known facts about the American Civil War.
25
620,000 American soldiers died during the Civil War
Source: civilwar.org, Image: pixabay24
That is only slightly less than in all the other American conflicts combined (roughly 640,00 including both World Wars)
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia23
The Union army outnumbered the Confederate army nearly 2 to 1 because the North was more populous (22 million people) than the South (9 million people)
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia22
The Civil War was not just a North American conflict as other countries got involved
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia21
Battles were even fought as far as the coast of France
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia20
Although secession wasn't legal, it wasn't illegal either. After the war was over, however, secession was officially made illegal
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia19
Most soldiers were buried where they fell on the battlefield
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia18
Later on many of them were exhumed and moved to national cemeteries but thousands still remain buried beneath the battlefields
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia17
Nearly as many men died in prison camps during the Civil War as died during the entire Vietnam Conflict
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia16
Because germ theory had not been accepted in the medical world yet, two thirds of the fatalities were due to disease
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia15
A white Union private would make 13 dollars per month while a black Union private only made 7 dollars
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia14
Congress fixed the discrepancy in 1864
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia13
Confederate privates supposedly made 13 dollars per month but in reality they went for long stretches with no pay at all
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia12
Nearly 180,000 African Americans served in the Union army and 18,000 in the Union Navy
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia11
African Americans constituted 10% of the Union army by the end of the war
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia10
Nearly 40,000 of them died
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia9
In their free time soldiers mostly drilled but also wrote letters, played poker, and whittled. One soldier wrote to his wife that "soldiering is 99% boredom and 1% sheer terror"
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia8
Meals were scarce and many Confederate soldiers were near starving by the end of the war
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia7
The age of the average Union soldier was 25.8. There is no information on the age of Confederate soldiers but it was probably similar. By the end of the war, however, nearly every male both young and old was being pressed into service
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia6
The Union handed out 1522 Medals of Honor while the Confederates did not have such a distinguishment. Robert E Lee said that the highest honor a soldier could have is being mentioned in his officer's report.
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia5
Cotton trade with Europe was vital to the southern war effort so there were numerous naval blockades and battles
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia4
The war completely changed naval warfare forever with developments like the ironclad
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia3
Remember how the South had a population of 9 million? Well nearly half of that was slaves, which led the severely outnumbered Confederacy to institute the first draft in the country's history
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia2
Both armies, however, typically only drafted the poorer citizens because there were exemptions allowing you to pay your way out of fighting
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipedia1
The last surviving child of a Union veteran is still receiving a Civil War pension
Source: civilwar.org, Image: wikipediaLists Going Viral Right Now
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