The life of a soldier during the civil war wasn’t easy. Not only did soldiers face the possibility of getting killed in battle, their daily lives were full of hardships. They had to deal with hunger, bad weather, poor clothing, and even boredom between battles. Soldiers were woken at dawn to begin their day.

What was the average Civil War soldier like?

Wiley, who pioneered the study of the Civil War common soldier, the average Yank or Reb was a ‘white, native-born, farmer, protestant, single, between 18 and 29. ‘ He stood about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 143 pounds. Most soldiers were between the ages of 18 and 39 with an average age just under 26.

What was life like for people during the Civil War?

Civil War culture in America–both North and South–was greatly distinct from life in the antebellum years. As the war dragged on, the soldier’s life was one of near-constant hardship and deprivation, from substandard clothing and equipment to barely edible and usually insufficient rations.
Aug 21, 2018

What did soldier do in the Civil War?





Civil War soldiers were not always fighting. Marching and camping were their main duties, and the long winter months saw little in the way of combat. Troops kept busy by reading and writing letters, and sharing newspapers. Some Union soldiers even organized literary associations.

What did soldiers do in the Civil War when they are bored?

Gambling was so common that many of the more “moral-minded” soldiers were disgusted. But the most popular activity among all soldiers was playing cards, including poker, twenty-one, keno, and euchre.
Jun 24, 2011

Is Civil War brutal?

The Civil War was America’s bloodiest conflict. The unprecedented violence of battles such as Shiloh, Antietam, Stones River, and Gettysburg shocked citizens and international observers alike. Nearly as many men died in captivity during the Civil War as were killed in the whole of the Vietnam War.

Were Civil War soldiers paid well?



While white privates were paid thirteen dollars per month, black soldiers were officially paid three dollars less, and black soldiers also had an additional three dollars automatically deducted from each wage to pay for their clothing.
Jun 21, 2022

What did Civil War soldiers eat?

Union soldiers were fed pork or beef, usually salted and boiled to extend the shelf life, coffee, sugar, salt, vinegar, and sometimes dried fruits and vegetables if they were in season. Hard tack, a type of biscuit made from unleavened flour and water, was commonly used to stave off hunger on both sides.
Sep 21, 2012



What is the life of a soldier?

Challenges Faced by Soldiers



Being a soldier is not easy, in fact, it is one of the most challenging things to do. Their lives are full of hardships and challenges which no ordinary person can survive. Firstly, they spend a great deal of time away from their loved ones.

What did soldiers do in their free time?

In their spare time, soldiers wrote letters and diaries, drew sketches, read books and magazines, pursued hobbies, played cards or gambled. There were also opportunities for more-organised social activities.

Did Civil War soldiers exercise?

Drills and training were an integral part of Civil War military life, especially in the opening year of the conflict when both North and South were seeking to mobilize armies out of their respective civilian populations.

Who was the deadliest soldier in the Civil War?



Hinson has been credited with as many as one hundred kills, although his rifle had only 36 notches on it. (It has been suggested that the notches were for officers only.)

Who was the best soldier in the Civil War?

Albert Woolson

Albert Henry Woolson
Unit 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment
Battles/wars American Civil War
Memorials Monument at Gettysburg
Other work Carpenter and member of the Grand Army of the Republic

How tall was the average Civil War soldier?

five feet, eight inches

The average height of a soldier in the Civil War was five feet, eight inches; when Thomas Marshal Jones enlisted, he was seven feet, six inches tall. He was born in Tuscarawas County on September 16, 1838.

Who were the typical soldiers in the Civil War?



Q: Who were the soldiers in the American Civil War? The typical common soldier from both North and South was white, a native-born farmer, Protestant, single, and falling in the range between 18 and 29 years old. However, dozens of nationalities and hundreds of occupations were represented on the battle field.
Apr 17, 2020

How old was the average Civil War soldier?

What was the average soldier’s age? The average Union soldier was 25.8 years old; there is no definite information on the average age of Confederate soldiers, but by the end of the war old men and young boys, who otherwise would have stayed home, were being pressed into service.
Aug 16, 2011

Which Age describes an average Civil War soldier?

Although soldiers generally ranged in age from 18 to 45, boys as young as 12 often served as cavalry buglers or drummer boys, and some men in their fifties and sixties enlisted as privates. Most of the Union soldiers were under 30.

What did Civil War soldiers eat?

Union soldiers were fed pork or beef, usually salted and boiled to extend the shelf life, coffee, sugar, salt, vinegar, and sometimes dried fruits and vegetables if they were in season. Hard tack, a type of biscuit made from unleavened flour and water, was commonly used to stave off hunger on both sides.
Sep 21, 2012

What was life like as a soldier?

They had to deal with hunger, bad weather, poor clothing, and even boredom between battles. Soldiers were woken at dawn to begin their day. They had drills in the morning and afternoon where they practiced for battle. Each soldier had to know his place in the unit so the army would fight as a group.