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Andrew Stonecutter (Jude J, Blog #4, 1863)

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Andrew Stonecutter (Jude J, Blog #4, 1863)

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I made it

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Andrew Stonecutter (Jude J, Blog #3, 1862)

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Andrew Stonecutter (Jude J, Blog #3, 1862)

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I have started to get numb to the noise. I have learned not to focus on some of it and to only listen to orders. Yet, it still bothers me, and I don't think it'll ever stop.

We are marching to another battle with a new general: McClellan. I can't tell if I trust him or not, but he's one of the few we have, so it's fine. If I'm correct, it's happening at Antietam.

3 days later...

There are a LOT of things I'm going to need to write down; a lot of feelings and physical pain... The battle was long and hard, and our general did horribly. Although that was covered with our large unit size, we lost many more men than they did. I think I hit someone, not sure. I then leaned forward too hard and fell, hitting my knee on a rock. It was swollen to twice its size.

There's also a new thing going around called the "Emancipation Proclamation."? It means that any slaves in the states we capture will be freed. I dont't own slaves, but I do think that it is a kind thing to do.

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The Battle of Antietam was the worst thing I’ve seen so far. There was smoke everywhere, people yelling, and the ground was covered in blood. General Lee brought the fight up North, hoping to mess with our railroad lines and maybe get help from the British or French. Even though we had more soldiers, General McClellan waited too long to act. We still managed to push the Confederates back, and Lee ended up retreating. It was a win for us, but it cost a lot. We lost over 12,000 men. They lost around 10,000.

I had just gotten a new breech loading rifle. It could hold 16 bullets, which made shooting faster and easier. I didn’t have to load one at a time anymore. That helped, but it didn’t make the fighting any less horrible.

Confederate soldiers lay in lines, like they’d just been standing there before they were hit. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.

After the battle, people started talking about President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. He’s saying he’ll free enslaved people in the Southern states still fighting against us. Not the border states, though. I get why, but it still feels like there’s more that should be done. I’m starting to think this war isn’t just about keeping the country together. It’s about what kind of country we’re going to be. I’ve seen too much to think slavery should ever be okay.

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Elias Lindholm (uila)  August, 1861 Blog #2

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Elias Lindholm (uila)  August, 1861 Blog #2

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After the bull run, things were a mess. We went in thinking we’d win easily, but we got caught off guard. The Confederates came back at us hard, and we had to retreat. I made it out okay, but I’m not sure a lot of the others did. It was chaos. I still can’t forget how quick things fell apart.

General McClellan took over after that and decided we needed more training. So, we’ve been stuck drilling day after day with the army. It’s getting old, but I guess it’s necessary. That gave me a lot of time to sit around, so I started learning to play the banjo. I picked up “John Brown’s Body” pretty quick. It’s a distraction, I suppose.

I’ve also been writing to my fiancé back home. We’ve been talking about our wedding, trying to make plans for when this whole mess is over. But right now, I’m still here, training, waiting for whatever comes next.

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Elias Lindholm (uila) may 12th, 1863 Blog #1

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Elias Lindholm (uila) may 12th, 1863 Blog #1

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I never thought I’d be here, writing down my thoughts in the middle of a war, but here I am. I’m Elias Lindholm, 22 years old, from a small farm in Delaware. When I first heard about the South breaking away, I didn’t know what to think. Seven states just decided they were done with the Union, and I couldn’t stand by and watch that happen. It felt like it was my duty to fight for the Union, to keep it together, even though I never imagined it would come to this.

The Confederates attacked Fort Sumter and they said any attempt to send supplies would be an act of aggression, and when the Union tried, they opened fire. The fort was left in ruins, but thankfully, no one died. The president had no choice but to call for men to join the army. When I heard about it, I knew it was the start of something bigger than all of us.

I wasn’t ready for it, but I signed up that day.

Now, I’m just waiting. I don’t know what’s coming, but I’m preparing for whatever it is. I’m scared, but I can’t just sit around. This war isn’t just about politics anymore—it’s about keeping our country whole. I don’t know how long I’ll be here or what will happen next.

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Harriet Tubman (tiana mcinturff) July 21st, 1861 (Blog #2)

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Harriet Tubman (tiana mcinturff) July 21st, 1861 (Blog #2)

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Battle of Bull Run

We thought we would win, but our soldiers were not ready or well-trained for battle. The Confederate army was so strong that we had to retreat. It was so embarrassing. After the battle, a lot of the soldiers were injured, so I had to spend time taking care of them. I also decided to take on the role of spying on the Confederate army.

The Seven-Day Battle (July 1862)

Once again, we were defeated, but the Confederate army tricked us into thinking that they had a lot of troops and attacked us. The results of the battle were so horrible. As I walked around trying to help the wounded, many soldiers were screaming in agony, there was blood everywhere, and many limbs were being amputated and thrown into a pile. It was so gruesome, and I couldn't wait to leave, but people needed help, and I wanted to lend my support in any way I could.

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Elijah Carter (George M.) April 10, 1865, Blog 5

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Elijah Carter (George M.) April 10, 1865, Blog 5

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Now that the war is over, I can’t believe everything I’ve seen. I’m not the same kid who left home with a drum. I’ve seen towns burned down and friends who never made it back. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it, especially when I think about places like Savannah getting destroyed.

I was lucky I never got sent to a prison like Andersonville, but I heard it was terrible. If I had ended up there, I think I would have tried to stay strong by thinking about my family and home.

When I heard the fighting was finally done, I just wanted to go home and see my mom and dad. I miss them so much. I hope things can go back to normal, but I know I’ll never forget what happened. I want to help make things better now that the war is over. I hope we can all live in peace.

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Elijah Carter (George M.) July 4, 1863 Blog 4

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Elijah Carter (George M.) July 4, 1863 Blog 4

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Gettysburg was the scariest battle I’ve ever been in. The noise was everywhere guns, cannons, people yelling. I tried to keep beating my drum, but my hands were shaking. I saw soldiers running, some falling down and not getting back up. I wanted to help them, but there were just too many.

At one point, I lost sight of my unit and thought I’d never find them again. My boots got stuck in the mud, and I almost fell over. I was tired and hungry, but I kept going because I knew I had to. When the battle finally ended, I felt like I could sleep for a week. We won, but it didn’t feel like much of a victory with so many people hurt.

A few months later, President Lincoln came and spoke at Gettysburg. I didn’t understand every word, but I knew it was important. He talked about freedom and how the soldiers who died were heroes. Hearing him made me feel proud, like maybe all this fighting is for something good. I hope he’s right.

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Our goal in the battle of Vicksburg was to control the Confederates' only base. If we succeeded, we would cut them in two. To take control, we surrounded the city with soldiers and cut off any routes going into it. On July 4th, 1863, they surrendered as they were trapped in their own city. Then we took control of the Mississippi River and cut off Confederate forces in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.

General Grant believed in total war. As a 19-year-old, I just wanted to go home and see my family again and not take any chances to lose a limb or even die. In the end, I and 100,000 soldiers were forced to march with General Sherman from Tennessee to Atlanta. We were strictly told to ravage anything in our path that could lead to an advantage. Once we reached Atlanta, Georgia, we alerted citizens to leave the area. We then burned the city to the ground. After more marches to Columbia and Savannah, we met with General Grant near Richmond for our final battle. After preparation, we trudged towards the city. Confederates charged us violently, and I was quickly captured.

I and 100 other men were brought to a Confederate prison called Andersonville. It reeked with a horrid scent that stunk up the prison. There was barely any food available for the 100 of us. We slept unbearably for the first 2 nights due to our serious wounds and sickness. After 2 weeks at the camp, we got word that Sherman took control of the city and the Confederates surrendered. Grant surprisingly gave food to the Confederates who surrendered and understood that the country needed to unite eventually.

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Mary "Arthur" Jane, 1863 (Ruth Hinojosa)  Blog #5

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Mary "Arthur" Jane, 1863 (Ruth Hinojosa)  Blog #5

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The day I adorned myself in blue but still bled gray was the moment I was imprisoned.

It stunk of manure, and the harsh conditions of the prison camp didn't help that slash on my neck; if anything, it worsened my injury.

On the first day of being confined, the place was littered with unfamiliar faces. I even began to rethink my previous decisions in activating my survival instincts before my confinement.

And even if I was quick to enlist in the Union army, I had enough time to ponder on what had happened so far ... to think back on my original motives. And occasionally, we'd receive updates from gossiping guards on duty.

And then... a term was relayed back to me. Total War. This means that the new Union general, Ulysses S. Grant, would set any Confederate territories ablaze.

I was held prisoner in Pennsylvania after the Battle of Gettysburg, and Georgia wasn't that close to me.

However, I was still stunned by the news. And sure, now that I think about it, we Southerners wasn't the kindest folk in the nation. But burning down a whole town? That some ... unscrupulous stuff!

But with no other choice, I begged one of the men in charge to let me swear an oath of loyalty under the Union in exchange for my freedom. He claimed that he would "Think about it" and would "Get back to me" eventually.

As I was rotting in my makeshift tipi, I witnessed a peculiar show playing outside my tent. I brushed aside the tent's flaps and made my way to the source of the noise. There, standing before me, a group of Union guards was hosting a minstrel performance out in the open.

I always found this type of entertainment ... disturbing and downright repulsive. The way the men danced to the fiddle and banjo with their faces painted black still torments my subconscious without even trying.

But eventually, the main performing guard began to sing a solemn tune, mustering up every last bit of warmth from the axis of his heart.

My chest ached as the lyrics sank in, and I had to swallow that lump of despair to prevent it from forming in my throat.

Later on, I was pulled out of the camp and transported to yet another forsaken bivouac. It appears that my "Rebelness" stunk up the camp because everyone made sure to evade my presence like I was the embodiment of the Bubonic Plague.

I was then stationed in one of the six regiments that would take part in the later infamous Sherman's March.

When the news was transferred to me, I was petrified by the intel, and I flat out refused to do so. But one of the officers in charge claimed that I had "no choice " and that there were "Things in life you will have to do despite not wanting to."

So I was immediately thrown back into the battlefield with an army that didn't like me or the land and soil that I was born into.

During the March in Atlanta, Georgia, I felt my heart plummet to my stomach as I begrudgingly set everything ablaze.

My torch, still fiercely beaming with its strong flames, was far different from the weariness that stained my eyes.

We continued to destroy anything and everything that stepped foot in our path, and as the heavy fog of the smoke ascended in the air, I witnessed the others destroy the train tracks as well! Nothing was safe from this dang on train wreck.

As I blankly gazed up at a demolished residence, a gang of Rebels spotted me since I was astray from my group.

Before I could even react, they detained me, and I was incarcerated once again. But this time, I was a prisoner of the Confederacy.

I was shipped off to Andersonville, a hellhole on Earth, with its living conditions being worse than the prison the Union kept me in.

During the days of my incarceration, I kept myself occupied and alive through stealing another prisoner's food when he wasn't looking. Yes, it sure was scummy of me to do so, but what choice did I have?

On numerous occasions, I would get caught smuggling bread under my uniform and would engage in a brawl.

Learning from my previous fights, I would end up succeeding in both winning the fight and gaining more food for energy.

Flies swarmed and infested certain areas of the prison, greedily feasting on the carcasses of fallen prisoners.

We were left to fend for ourselves the entire time, and some even had to dig burrows for shelter.

Under the unforgiving sun, I was left scrutinizing the sky -- almost blinded by its teasing beams. I weakly swallowed that lump of despair as it threatened to form in my throat.

In the vast distance, my ears captured the voice of a former beloved. I remained unresponsive to my surroundings, and my body involuntarily went limp.

A man loomed over me and vigorously shook me by my shoulders. The malnutrition left me brain-dead, which appeared to alert the man even more.

His tears plopped on my dirtied face, and I felt my expression go sour.

After a handful of water from the man's flask landed in my mouth, I sprang up and snagged the bottle out of his possession, taking another swig of his flask until there was nothing left.

A weak but relieved sigh escaped my mouth, and I glanced up at the man, puzzled by his sudden act of kindness.

But then ... my eyes were nearly bugged out of their sockets and I began to choke on my spit.

Casmire.

My husband. A guard. Stationed in this prison.

He seemed more surprised than I, and conflicted at that.

We exchanged no words at first, and my gaze was averted to the ground in shame.

"You uh ... chopped off your unruly locks, finally."

He murmured awkwardly.

I nodded solemnly in response and stumbled back up. He glances around our premises, scanning his surroundings before pulling me aside.

His heart ached upon discovering no shine in my eyes, and a tear left my face. Casmire ran a calloused finger over my face, swiping off the sweat and debris that had built up on my cheek.

"I'm gonna getchu outta here, understood? I swear... I'll getchu outta here if it's the last thing I do."

A bitter chuckle rumbled in my wounded throat, and Casmire ran a distressed hand over her face as he witnessed the concerning flare in the injury.

Hours later, he pulled me aside in the dead of night and handed over a spare uniform. I looked up at him with a questioning gaze, but he said nothing more.

After I got changed, we began to navigate our way out of the prison -- and as expected, escaped on some stolen horses without being suspected by the other guards.

They most likely assumed that we were on patrol and set us loose.

On the ride to Union lines, Casmire questioned me. He appeared upset at the fact that I switched sides. I explained to him that I joined the war in the first place in search of him. I opened up about my experiences, about how this wasn't the first time I've been held prisoner, and that I galvanized myself to escape the harsh conditions of the prison I was kept in.

But it seemed like my sob stories barely phased him. He was mainly focused on the fact that I fought on both sides of the war. I confronted him about it, and we engaged in a heated argument. I expressed how my views had changed while I was in Andersonville, and I believed slavery was inhumane after interacting with black Union soldiers. His arguing halted during the remainder of our ride.

After traveling to Yankee territory, we hid among the Northern civilians until news got out that the war had finally concluded. And while Casmire and I leaped and danced in joy, we knew that if we returned to the South, we would be met with nothing. The war had destroyed our farm, and we were left bankrupt and penniless. But, during the post-Civil War era, we traveled to the West and thrived off the vast land after being provided with our own property through the Homestead Act.

I never wore another dress after the War. And while Casmire and I remained platonic, he still stuck around to aid me when I had a life-threatening infection from that gash on my neck.

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William Everett (Isabella Solaita) Blog #5

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William Everett (Isabella Solaita) Blog #5

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It is May of 1863, we are now in the battle of Vicksburg. It was the final remaining Confederate fort along Mississippi. Sergeant Grant had ordered us to surround the city attacking with canons for weeks. I was tired, we were tired. This war had been going on for far too long.

We had been shooting canons for weeks, it was a miracle they haven't surrendered. At this point I feel like I want to quit!

July 4th 1863

After weeks of firing nonstop and cutting off routes they finally surrendered. The Union had won the civil war. We then gained control of the confederate, having slavery abolished. We had won. When I went back to Georgia I then reconnected with my family, unfortunately later on we found out that my father had passed. Knowing this brought me peace. I found peace in knowing that my father was able to rest after all those heavy years. It gave me peace knowing if he was dead or alive. I was able to finally live in peace, knowing my family wouldn't hurt anymore.

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William T. Sherman and the Battle of Vicksburg (Grayson Hanson) blog 5

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William T. Sherman and the Battle of Vicksburg (Grayson Hanson) blog 5

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Sherman was a general for the Union Army during the Civil War. The battle happened in 1863 and was really important for winning the war.Sherman didn’t actually fight in the city of Vicksburg, but he helped Ulysses S. Grant surround the city. Vicksburg was one of the last strong Confederate holdouts on the Mississippi River. Sherman and Grant needed to take it to cut off the South’s supply line.Sherman led troops in attacks on Confederate forts and helped trap General Pemberton’s army inside Vicksburg. The Union soldiers surrounded the city for weeks, and the Confederates didn’t have enough food or supplies.In the end, General Pemberton had no choice but to surrender on July 4, 1863. It was a huge victory for the Union, and it gave them control of the Mississippi River.

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Harriet Tubman (tiana mcinturff) March 5, 1862 (Blog #1)

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Harriet Tubman (tiana mcinturff) March 5, 1862 (Blog #1)

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I decided to join the Union Army to help enslaved people get freedom. When I was younger, I had a harsh childhood as an enslaved person. I was physically abused and injured by a head wound from an overseer. My head injury led to lifelong seizures and vivid religious visions

I escaped slavery in 1849.  I organized and helped to free slaves. At the time the events at Fort Sumter were happening, I had just left Canada for the United States. I was hopeful that the war would result in the abolishment of slavery.

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Jacob Miller was a Union soljer in the Civil War. He was super brave and even got shot in the head at another battle called Chickamauga—but let’s pretend he was also at Gettersburg!

The Battle of Gettersburg happend in July 1863. It was one of the biggest and most importent battles of the war. In this story, Jacob Miller is there with his Union friends, ready to fight for the North.

On the first day, the Confeedrits came fast. Jacob and his unit had to fall back, but they didn’t give up. On the second day, he helped defend a place called Little Round Top. It was a big hill and very hard to hold, but Jacob was brave.

On the last day, he saw Pickett’s Charge, when the Confeedrits ran across a big field. Jacob helped stop them with his muskit. It was a loud and scary day, but the Union won!

If Jacob Miller had really been at Gettersburg, I think he would’ve been a hero—just like he was at Chickamauga!

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president lincoln, (grayson hanson) blog 2

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president lincoln, (grayson hanson) blog 2

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In April 1861, Presdent Abraham Lincoln had a big problum. A fort called Fort Sumter, in South Carolina, was in danger. It belonged to the Union (the North), but South Carolina had left the United States and joined the Confeedracy (the South). The soldjers at the fort needed food. Lincoln decided to send ships with supplies, not weppons, because he did not want to start a war. But the South saw it as a thret. On April 12, 1861, the Confeedrit soldjers fired cannons at Fort Sumter. The atack lasted for more than a day. The Union soldjers gave up the fort, and the Civil War had begun.

Lincoln was sad but knew he had to act. After Fort Sumter fell, he asked for 75,000 volenteers to fight and save the Union. Many people in the North were now ready to help. Fort Sumter was the start of a long and hard war. Lincoln became a strong leeder who worked hard to keep the country together. He never gave up on the idea that America should be one nation.

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During the Battle of Gettysburg, being a soldier for the Union, I was happy to be on the dominant side of the war. We held the high ground against the Confederates. Our whole army ran out of ammunition, and all we had left were our bayonets. We stuck them onto our rifles and charged towards the remaining soldiers who were scattered below the hill. As I was charging down, I lost control or my footing and fell because of my lack of energy. I got knocked unconscious for about 3 hours. Luckily, I was still alive and well, and we won the war successfully. After the battle, I met a soldier named Jack Williams. He invited me to play a game of cards. We exchanged experiences about each other and talked till dawn. After becoming a friend, he informed me he was a woman in disguise who chose to fight. After this encounter, I wondered how many other women were disguised as men. I decided to send a letter to my family saying I made it out alive with all my limbs intact. They eventually gave me a bottle of brandy that I would hold on to until Christmas.

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### - #### #th, 1863

Vicksburg

Looking back on everything, the marches, the battles, the brothers lost, I'm not the same man who first picked up a rifle. This war has aged us all. The fire in me hasn’t gone out, but it burns differently now. Quieter. Meaner, maybe.

Do I support total war? I don’t know if I support it, but I understand it. The South won’t quit easy. If breaking their will means marching through their fields, burning their rails, and ending this sooner, then so be it. I'm tired of burying boys with promises.

If total war means fewer graves in the end... maybe it's the only way

######## ## - ######## ##, 1864

Sherman's March

After Savannah, I thought I’d seen the worst of it. But I was wrong. They caught us during a skirmish near the river, me and a few others. We were sent to Andersonville.

Hell has a name, and it’s that prison. No fire, no cannon, just hunger, disease, and time, all of it slowly tearing the soul out of a man. I watched friends waste away, skin stretched thin over bone, their eyes already halfway gone. We weren’t soldiers in there. We were ghosts with beating hearts.

How did I survive? I stopped waiting for rescue. I scraped for scraps, bartered for a crust of bread with anything I had. I remembered names. Faces. I talked to the dying like they still mattered, because they did. I clung to purpose like it was the last rope out.

Even now, with my body out and my mind still half in that place, I know one thing: I made it. And as long as I breathe, I owe it to the ones who didn’t.

##### #, 1865

Appomattox

It’s over.

Word reached us yesterday, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse. No more marching, no more gunfire, no more burying friends before the sun goes down. The camp is quiet, like we’re all holding our breath, waiting for someone to say it was just a dream.

I should feel joy. Relief. But all I feel is hollow. We lost too much. Whole towns of boys are gone, and what we’ve won feels too heavy to carry. I watched men cheer, cry, and even fall to their knees. I just sat down and stared at the sky. How do you walk away from something that changed your soul?

My wound from last week’s skirmish festers worse than I let on. Infection’s taken hold. I don’t think I’ll see home again. That’s alright. My fight is done.

If someone finds this, tell Ma I kept my promise, I didn’t leave my men. Tell her I saw peace come, even if I couldn’t walk into it.

"War isn’t about who wins, it’s about who remains."

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####, 1863

Gettysburg

The smoke has finally lifted over the fields of Gettysburg, and I can still hardly believe we’re standing. The roar of cannon and crack of rifles still echo in my mind like a storm that refuses to pass. I took a bullet to the hand during the second day, nothing grave, just enough to remind me how close the edge truly is out here. The surgeon patched me up quickly, and I told him I wasn’t leaving my men. Not now.

Staying with my command isn’t just duty, it’s the only thing that makes sense anymore. These faces beside me, covered in soot and sweat, are family in this chaos. We’ve seen too much to turn our backs on each other now. The pain in my hand is sharp, but it’s the ache in my chest, knowing how many we lost, that cuts deeper.

Gettysburg will be remembered, no doubt. But for me, it’s not about glory or victory. It’s about surviving—and standing firm when it would’ve been easier to fall.

########, 1863

I stood among the crowd today as President Lincoln gave his address. It was brief, quieter than I expected, but his words hit harder than any cannon ever could. He spoke of a new birth of freedom, of finishing the work the fallen started. I thought of the boys we left behind at Gettysburg.

It stirred something in me. Not pride, exactly, but purpose. Maybe all this blood means something after all. Maybe we can hold this country together.

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######### ##, 1862

Antietam

I’ll never forget the smell, smoke, blood, and corn stalks crushed underfoot. We thought we might end the war that day. We didn’t.

General Lee had pushed into Maryland, bold as ever, hoping to cut off Washington and starve us out. Our boys outnumbered them two to one, but McClellan... he hesitated again. Held back our reserves when we could’ve crushed them. Lee pulled his troops back just in time, and somehow, it still counted as a Union win.

But at what cost?

After the battle, I was sent to walk the fields looking for any wounded we missed. That’s when I found him, a drummer boy, no older than twelve, lying quiet in the grass. His drum was still strapped to him, hands curled like he was still holding the sticks. Gone too soon. I couldn’t move for a minute. Just knelt there. War’s got a way of stealing the young first.

Then came Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. I read it twice, hands still dirty from the field. It didn’t end the war, but it changed the reason we fight. Now it’s not just about keeping the Union together, it’s about ending slavery. I’m proud to stand for that. Makes this bloody ground feel like it means something.

Still, I keep thinking about that boy. He didn’t live to see freedom, but maybe now someone else will.

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##### ##, 1861

Bull Run

Diary,

I can still hear the screams.

The Battle of Bull Run was supposed to be a quick win. That’s what they told us. “We’ll send the Rebels running,” they said. Some folks even brought picnic baskets to watch from the hills. But nothing about today felt like a show.

It started off like we expected. We pushed forward, confident, maybe too confident. The rebels fell back, or at least, that’s what we thought. Turns out, they were just drawing us in.

Then hell opened up.

Cannons roared from the treeline. That’s when it happened, my captain, just a few feet in front of me, was split in two by a Confederate shell. One second he was barking orders, and the next... he was gone. Just like that. No time to speak, no time to pray. The look in his eyes will never leave me, it was pure fear, not pain. Like he knew this wasn’t just a battle. It was a slaughter.

And then we ran.

The line broke. I think most of us thought the Confederates were retreating, but they weren’t. They were reinforcing. When their fresh troops charged, we panicked.

The noise, the smoke, the screaming, some of our officers couldn’t tell who was who. Horses trampled men. Soldiers dropped their rifles and bolted. I did too. I wish I could say I stood my ground, but I didn’t. I ran like the rest of them.

It didn’t feel like a retreat. It felt like shame.

We went in thinking this was just a misunderstanding, something that’d be over before we knew it. But after today, I see the truth.

This isn’t a game. They’re not backing down. They mean to fight, and now, so do I.

July #, 1862

The smoke hasn't cleared yet, not really. It still hangs in the trees, like the war wants to stay here. I don’t remember much of the fight itself, just.. flashes. Dirt, blood, and shouting. It all blurred into a kind of madness.

After the last shots quieted down, I went looking for water. That’s when I found him, gray uniform, slumped in a thicket, his breath rattling like a kettle left on too long. Shot clean through the lungs. Young, maybe nineteen. Eyes wide but calm.

He looked at me and said nothing. I told him to hang on and ran to get a surgeon. The doctor came, took one look, and shook his head. Said he’d die if we moved him. Said he’d die if we didn’t. Then he left.

So I sat with him. Gave him what little water I had. We didn’t talk. I think he just didn’t want to die alone. And I couldn’t let him.

That was the worst part of the Seven Days, not the noise, not the chaos. It was the silence afterward, and the boy in the thicket who wouldn’t see another morning.

March #, 1862

I heard the stories before I saw it, iron ships, they said. Cannonballs bouncing off like pebbles. We were marching near the coast when the word spread: the Monitor and the Merrimack, or the Virginia, as the Rebs now called her, had clashed in the water. No winner, just smoke and fire and two monsters refusing to sink.

It rattled all of us. If wooden ships were useless now, what would war look like tomorrow?

As we pushed forward inland, I was thinking about that, about how everything was changing faster than we could march. That’s when I saw it: a small bundle on the road. Three cigars, tied in twine. I almost walked past, but something made me stop.

Inside the wrapper? Lee’s campaign orders. Real ones. He’d split his army, cut it in half. I froze for a moment, heart pounding. That kind of information could turn the whole war. I ran it to my officer like my boots were on fire.

Iron ships. Secret plans in cigars. Nothing about this war is what we expected.

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Charleston Harbor

Dear Diary,

I joined the Union Army because I couldn’t sit back and watch the country break apart. My father always said, “If you believe in something, you stand for it.” I believe in keeping this country whole.

I’m just a blacksmith’s son from a quiet town in Pennsylvania. My ma cried when I left, and my little sister Anna gave me her blue ribbon to keep in my pocket. I hold onto it when things get loud or scary.

This morning, Fort Sumter was hit. Cannon fire started before the sun came up. Smoke filled the sky, and the ground shook with each blast. We couldn’t help the men inside. They held out as long as they could, but they had to surrender by afternoon.

When I saw our flag taken down, something sank in my chest. I was angry, sure, but I was scared, too. This war is real now.

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Louise Akers  (Ellie J.) Blog #5 July 4th 1863

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Louise Akers  (Ellie J.) Blog #5 July 4th 1863

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Dear Journal,

Louise Akers back again. I hope this is my last entry about the Civil War. Today, the Union army was ordered to begin a “total war.” We were required to set fire to all Confederate houses and buildings and kill any animals in sight. My heart sank, hundreds of innocent people and families would be hurt.

During the burning of Savannah, I was ordered to burn the house of a small family. They pleaded and begged, tears in their eyes. But the damage had been done. I hesitantly dropped the torch on their porch and turned to walk away. I felt extremely guilty. I didn’t agree with total war.

Later, I was imprisoned in Andersonville prison. Disease and illness spread as fast as the smoke had during total war. I desperately wanted to be freed. People died every day. Since we had to fight over the scarce amount of food, I was pushed and scraped hard against the floor, getting a deep cut on my arm. Without proper medical help, and with disease spreading, the scrape became infected.

Once I was freed, I was able to witness the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. Enslaved people were finally free! The war was finally over! I went to a hospital and had my wounds properly treated. I was informed that I had a life-threatening infection, but it cleared up thanks to medication.

I decided to go to my family's home in England. The burden of war has finally been lifted. Goodbye!

Eleanor Roberts

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september 1862

Again, we were at war, but this time, I wasn't scared. No, I was ready for whatever came my way, good or bad, and most of all, ready to win. Before the war started, I told General McClellan about the plans I had found out about the Confederates' plans for the next war. We should now have the advantage. Back to the war, where it seemed like an easy win, from my point of view, it looked like we had twice as many people as the Confederates. But for some unknown reason, we never fully attacked. Later, while the war was still going on, the Confederate troops came back together in the war. Then we started to fight, like really fight, and while I was fighting, I hurt my knee during the battle, so I had to retreat to the hospital. Hopefully, I will have both my legs when I get out. While I was in the hospital, I had heard that we had won. I was happy yet sad I wasn't there for the end. But on some worse news, McCellann was fired, and we had lost lots of souls today. I don't know how we'll get them back. I had a newspaper in the hospital and learned that Abraham Lincoln, the president, would issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave all slaves in the Confederate states freedom unless the states joined the Union. Well, that's all that has happened so far. Pray for my leg.

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Maria Lewis (Kaiya C), January 1864. Blog #5

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Maria Lewis (Kaiya C), January 1864. Blog #5

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Hi, it’s Maria. I hope this is the last blog I ever write. So much has happened since I started keeping a journal. One thing I still don’t understand is why people believe in war. All it really brings is pain and destruction. After everything I’ve seen, I know I don’t support total war. I’ve seen too many people suffer—homes destroyed, families torn apart. It broke my heart.

When I heard about the burning of Savannah, it hurt even more. I know it was supposed to hurt the Confederates, but it also hurt innocent people. I kept thinking about the children, the elderly, and families who had to watch their homes burn. How can we call that a victory when so many people were hurt?

Andersonville was another awful thing I heard about. It was a prison full of sickness, death, and terrible smells. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be trapped there. I would have tried to escape, and if I couldn’t, I would have done anything to build shelter and stay safe.

When I heard that the war ended at the Appomattox Courthouse, I felt so many emotions. I was happy, but also deeply sad. All I could think about was the lives lost and the families hurt. It made me question everything we went through.

As for me, I got hurt during the war with a bad shoulder injury. It was really painful, but I got help and tried to recover. After that, I finally went home to Pennsylvania. Seeing my little brothers and sisters smiling again made me so happy.

In the end, I stayed with the Union army to help make sure the 13th Amendment was followed in the South. I’ve always wanted to make a difference, and I feel like I finally did.

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Billie Bob Joe (Gwyneth)  July 21, 1861 (blog #2)

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Billie Bob Joe (Gwyneth)  July 21, 1861 (blog #2)

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It has been very rough for me recently. I nearly survived the Battle of Bull Run in Manassas, Virginia. My friends weren't as lucky as I was. Many of us Union soldiers are very poorly trained. After the battle, I was caught in an awful stampede as people tried so flea. A wagon wheel nicked my ankle, leaving it swollen and painful. I got out of the way just in time to avoid major damage from the full force of the wheel. Later during the 7-day battle, it was intense. A shell went off extremely near me. "Boom," then all I heard was ringing. My muscles tensed as I realized that my hearing was gone. Tears burned in my eyes as I screamed for help, even though I'm not sure how loud because I can't even hear myself talk. After we retreated, I started to be able to pick up on small sounds again slowly. It looks like my ears aren't as bad as I thought. During the Battle of Ironclads, I don't remember much my overwhelming sea sickness is the most prominent thing. I wasn't much help while I was vomiting every 10 minutes. Eventually, though, I toughed it out enough to see our Union ship and the Confederate ship part ways. They both looked strange being made of iron, but this ship kept me alive so far, so who am I to question it now? I'm just thankful I have regained most of my hearing, and I'm not currently throwing up.

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Louise Akers (Ellie J.) Blog #4 July 1863

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Louise Akers (Ellie J.) Blog #4 July 1863

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(Day One) Dear Journal,

It is Louise Akers/Eleanor Roberts. Looking back, some Confederates were searching for new shoes when Union soldiers spotted them. We called for reinforcements, and so did they. This was just the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg.

(Day Two) During the second day of the Gettysburg battle, we stood on Little Round Top hill. We stood in silence for a moment, unsure of our next move since we had no ammunition. Our general ordered us to run down the hill, stabbing the Confederates on our way down with the bayonets we had made. At first, I was frightened, but I focused on dodging rocks and trees. I started to get the hang of it, my heart pounding as I accelerated down the hill. Suddenly, I stubbed my toe against a huge rock and began tumbling down. I was scared and braced for impact with my bayonet in front of me. I heard a slash and quickly stopped my momentum. I gazed up to see the fallen body of a Confederate soldier pierced by my bayonet. I looked down to check if I had any serious injuries. I looked down at my hands to see that my right hand had been bruised and cut. After the battle, one of the nurses quickly patched it up and said that I was ready to join the next battle. We had won the war.

(Day Three) I was told that the Confederate soldiers were running through Cemetery Ridge. I was utterly confused. Running in the open? What were they thinking?! The Union soldiers, including me, lined up ready to shoot. I held my rifle and steadied my hand. The Confederates began to retreat. Finally, the Battle of Gettysburg was over. I was reminded of Abraham Lincoln's speech that we are fighting for freedom, something much bigger than any of us.

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May - July 4, 1863

There was only one Confederate fort left along the Mississippi river. If we managed to gain control over it, we would essentially split their forces in two. General Ulysses S. Grant led us to surround Vicksburg in a siege. Vicksburg finally surrendered to us after a couple weeks of our siege on July 4th. We finally had control over the Mississippi river and cut of any Confederate forces in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. After the Battle of Vicksburg, I heard that General Grant had been appointed to commander of the entire Union Army. I also heard that he believes in total war, so we would be required to burn down and kill anything in sight. The idea of this frightened me. I didn’t want to cause mass destruction, I just wanted this war to end. That night, I set up my tent while singing “Tenting Tonight” with my fellow soldiers and we all shared about how we felt about the lyrics. I think they perfectly mirror how tired I feel about this war. I just want to go back to peace.

November 15th - December 21st, 1864

We were led by General William Sherman to march to Atlanta, Georgia, and destroy everything in our path and take all that we could for our army. The Confederacy tried to stop us, but with our 100,000 soldiers, we were unstoppable. I still didn’t enjoy the idea of total war. It went against my beliefs and felt wrong. Once we made it to Atlanta, we told all of the citizens to leave, and we burned down the whole city. I felt disgusted at myself this whole time, but at least we were able to help President Lincoln get back in office. We continued our riot, taking Savannah, Georgia and burning down Columbia, South Carolina. I was captured in South Carolina and taken away to a Confederate prison called Andersonville. Andersonville was a disgusting place, and people were dying around me everyday. I thought of a way out, and while they were letting more Union prisoners in, I snuck out and ran through the trees. I was almost shot, but I managed to escape the terrible prison of Andersonville. We finally met back up with General Grant in Virginia and prepared for our final attack on Richmond.

April 9th, 1865

We easily outnumbered the Confederate troops in Richmond. They must have realized that, because they abandoned the city. We pursued them to a tiny town in Virginia called Appomattox. The Confederates finally surrendered. The war was finally over. I felt a huge rush of relief and happiness. From all of this war, I lost hearing in my left ear. I was finally able to leave the Union Army and left to start a real life. I moved to New York for a while and found true love there. We plan on starting a family, so we need to find somewhere to settle down. I became a cowboy and participated in the cattle drives from texas to Chicago, Illinois. I’m glad my life of war is finally over and I can enjoy life with my family.

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Day 1 (July 1st, 1863)

Some of our cavalry accidentally ran into some Confederate soldiers today and started a fight. When our troops came back for reinforcements, I had to join the battle with many others. We took the defensive position and formed a compact line in front of the Confederate forces. We were also able to maintain control over Little Round Top. General Meade informed us that whoever controls Little Round Top and Cemetary Hill would have a much better chance at winning this battle.

Day 2 (July 2nd, 1863)

I thought I’d die today. Today, we fought hard over control of Little Round Top and Cemetary Hill. Although we were able to maintain control, we ran out of ammunition. My heart dropped when I heard the announcement. I thought it was over for us. Luckily, Joshua Chamberlain had a plan. He told us all to charge down the hill with our bayonets. As I charged down the hill, I tried my best to avoid getting shot and stepping on all of the bodies. Fortunately for me, the Confederacy surrendered before I had to stab anybody.

Day 3 (July 3rd, 1863)

I was informed that the Confederate soldiers were running through Cemetary Ridge. This greatly confused me because it’s about a mile of open ground. All of our soldiers lined up, readied our rifles, and opened fire on them. They were dropping like flies out there, and the survivors retreated back through their dead or wounded comrades. Finally, the Battle of Ghettysburg was over. This battle was absolutely devastating with about 51,000 total casualties, about 23,000 of those being our Union soldiers.

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Frances Clayton (Harley Diemer) – Blog #5 April 1865 – The End of the War

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Frances Clayton (Harley Diemer) – Blog #5 April 1865 – The End of the War

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The war has been going on for so long now. I’m tired, and I’ve seen too much. At Vicksburg, we surrounded the Confederate army and waited. They didn’t have food or supplies, and they had to give up.

Later, we went on Sherman’s March through the South. We burned buildings, tore up railroads, and tried to destroy anything the enemy could use. Some people thought it was mean. I didn’t like seeing towns destroyed, but I knew we had to end the war. I think total war was the only way to do it.

One of the hardest parts was the burning of Savannah. Seeing homes on fire hurt my heart. But I kept thinking about the people who had been slaves. If burning the city helped end slavery, maybe it was worth it.

I never went to Andersonville, the prison camp. But I knew men who did. They were treated badly—barely any food, sick all the time. If I had been sent there, I would have stayed quiet, strong, and done whatever I could to survive.

Now, in April 1865, the war is over. The Confederates surrendered at Appomattox. It feels strange. I should be happy, but I’m mostly just tired. I’ve taken off my disguise. I’m Francis again. I made it. I don’t know what’s next, but I hope it’s peace.

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Frances Clayton (Harley Diemer) – Blog #4 July 1863 – After the Battle of Gettysburg

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Frances Clayton (Harley Diemer) – Blog #4 July 1863 – After the Battle of Gettysburg

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The battle at Gettysburg was the worst thing I’ve ever been through. We fought for three long days, and it felt like it would never end. There was smoke, yelling, and gunfire everywhere. I was scared, but I didn’t stop fighting. I had to keep going.

I was on a hill called Little Round Top. We held that spot even when the Confederate soldiers kept coming. My shoulder hurt from firing my gun so many times. I saw people fall on both sides—friends and strangers.

On the third day, the Confederates charged at us in something called Pickett’s Charge. It was a big attack, but we stopped them. The field was full of fallen soldiers after. It was so sad. Winning didn’t feel good. It just felt like more loss.

Later, President Lincoln gave a short speech called the Gettysburg Address. It was short, but powerful. He said we had to keep fighting so all the people who died didn’t die for nothing. That speech made me feel proud, and it reminded me why I was still here. We’re fighting for something bigger than just winning a war—we’re fighting for freedom and for a better future.

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Frances Clayton (Harley Diemer) Civil War Blog – Blog #3 September 1862 – After the Battle of Antietam. 

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Frances Clayton (Harley Diemer) Civil War Blog – Blog #3 September 1862 – After the Battle of Antietam. 

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I’ve seen the face of hell, and its name is Antietam.

The battle at Antietam was scary and awful. We marched into Maryland, thinking we might finally stop the war. But the fighting was worse than anything I had seen before.

They say Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history. So many men were hurt or killed. I didn’t even know if I would make it out alive. I was still pretending to be a man. My name was Jack to the other soldiers. Only I knew I was Francis.

The sky was full of smoke. The ground was full of mud and blood. I held my gun so tight. I just kept loading and shooting, over and over. I saw people fall right next to me. I helped carry a young soldier who was badly hurt. He didn’t make it. I buried him myself. That was really hard.

After the battle, President Lincoln said something big. He gave the Emancipation Proclamation. It said that all the slaves in the South should be free. Some people in the army didn’t like it. They said the war wasn’t about that.

But I thought it was the right thing to do. I didn’t grow up with slaves, but I always knew it was wrong to treat people like property. If this war could help end slavery, then I was proud to be fighting.

I’m not just fighting to win. I’m fighting to make things better. To help people be free. That’s what the Emancipation Proclamation meant to me.

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Francis Clayton (Harley Diemer<3). Blog #2

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Francis Clayton (Harley Diemer<3). Blog #2

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After the First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas (That is spelled right), the Union Army suffered a significant defeat. The retreat was chaotic, and many soldiers were dead. As a soldier, I felt the weight of this loss deeply. I was determined not to let this setback hurt me.

The Seven Days Battles, fought from June 25 to July 1, 1862, were a different series of events in Virginia. The battles were intense and marked by heavy weight on both sides.

As a soldier, I recognized the shine of this event. I understood that this advancement would play a crucial role in the Union's strategy to blockade Southern ports and cut off supplies to the Confederacy.

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Francis Clayton(see full name later below) (Harley Diemer<3) Blog #1

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Francis Clayton(see full name later below) (Harley Diemer<3) Blog #1

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I joined the Union army out of a deep sense of duty and love for my country. The secession of Southern states and the attack on Fort Sumter were acts of rebellion that I could not ignore. I believed in preserving the Union and ending the institution of slavery

I am Frances Louisa Clayton, though I enlisted under the name "Jack Williams" to hide the fact that I am a woman. I was born in 1830 in Minnesota. My husband and I decided to enlist in the Union Army. After my husband's death at the Battle of Stones River, I continued to serve, stepping over his body to continue the charge. I was discharged in 1863 and later traveled to various cities, including Quincy, Illinois, where a collection was held to help me on my journey.

The Battle of Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the Civil War. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces opened fire on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.

I was never at Fort Sumter during this battle. But what happened at Fort Sumter made me and many others join the Union cause. The attack on the fort was a direct assault on the Union, and I felt it was imperative to take action to defend our nation.

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September, 1862

The Confederate army has invaded us in the North. We outnumbered them by almost 2-1, but General McClellan still couldn’t decide on what to do. We were all confused as to why the General wasn’t bringing in the reserves. The war could’ve been over if he had just made the right decisions, but General McClellan missed so many opportunities to end it. We won this battle. Although I would hardly call losing 12,400 men a victory. I was lucky enough to survive with only getting my shoes stolen and a scratch on the neck from accidentally cutting myself with my bayonet. Seeing all the 10,000 dead Confederate soldiers, still almost perfectly lined up, was enough to haunt my dreams for the rest of my life. President Lincoln finally fired General McClellan. A few months after the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. I was ecstatic to hear about this proclamation. It reassured me that all this fighting we have been doing has actually made a difference. It was also a relief to hear that with this Emancipation Proclamation, the British or French could no longer join the war on the side of the Confederacy.

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William Everett (Isabella Solaita)Blog #4

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William Everett (Isabella Solaita)Blog #4

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It is July of 1863. We are now in the battle of Gettysburg. This is now General Lee's second attempt to take us down. The first day of fighting wasn't even supposed to be a day of battle, some dumb Confederates came and were shopping for shoes, then we thought it would be the perfect way to attack when they're guard was down. little did we know this fight would engage a battle.

Day 2

July 2nd, 1863

This was the battle of the round top. In this battle we had to think strategically, we decided that chasing the Confederates diwn the hill would give us more power as we try too maintain the advantage the hill gave us. We had won this battle

Day 3

July 3rd, 1863

Gloating of our victory against the south had made General Lee angry, we were at Cemetery Ridge altogether when General Lee had come to attack us. This would have been a smart move on the Confederates end if they didn't have to cross a miles worth of open ground. When they had tried to attack us we were able to get at them before they even came to us. We were able to kill and wound them creating a field of dead bodies.

After Day 3, we were finally able to rest. The battle of Gettysberg was finally over, the Union came out with victory. We had won, for now.

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Maria Lewis (Kaiya C.) November 1863. Blog #4

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Maria Lewis (Kaiya C.) November 1863. Blog #4

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The past few weeks have been full of chaos and fighting, but the Battle of Gettysburg was the most intense and emotional one so far.

It lasted for three long days. The fighting started by accident when soldiers from the other side came into town looking for supplies. Things quickly turned into a serious battle. We had to pull back at first and wait for more troops before we could really fight back.

On the second day, we fought hard to take control of a hill. Even though we didn’t have much ammo, we decided to charge and somehow managed to win that part of the battle.

The third day was when the enemy tried a huge attack, thinking we were weak. But they had to cross a wide, open field, and we were ready. We fought them off and forced them to retreat. It was a tough win, but we did it.

After the battle, I met someone new who had also been through a lot during the war. They shared something very personal that really surprised me—they had been hiding who they really were so they could fight. It made me think about how many people must have made big sacrifices to be part of the war.

Later, President Lincoln gave a speech at the battlefield, which really moved me. It reminded us why we were fighting and made me proud to be part of this moment in history.

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Hello, It’s Clara. I hope this is the last blog I write. So much has happened since I started writing in my journal. One thing I don’t understand is why people believe in and support war. All it does is cause destruction. After everything I’ve seen, I can say I don’t support total war. I’ve witnessed too much suffering, homes getting burned to the ground, and many families getting torn apart. This was the most heart-wrenching thing I had experienced. But when I heard about the burning of Savannah, my heart sank even more. I know it was meant to hurt the Confederates, but it not only affected them, it affected everyone around it. I can’t help but wonder how many innocent children, families, and the elderly had to watch their towns and houses burn down because of us.  How can we call this a victory when all were doing is hurting people. Andrewsonville was another horrific event. It would be filled with many dying people, and the air there would reek with the smell of smoke and waste. It was a truly horrifying place. If I had been there, I would have been scared. No one wants to stay in a prison where people are dying of illness. I would have tried to escape the place, but if I had succeeded in failing, I would try to form shelter with any materials I was given to keep me safe. When the Appomattox Courthouse surrender came, I felt relieved. I couldn’t believe it was finally over. I was not only feeling happy but also sad. The only thing I could think of was all of the lives lost and all of the broken hearts. This made me rethink everything that just happened. When it comes to me,

I’ve survived the injury of a stiff shoulder while tenting as a soldier. It felt very painful. I had to get it checked because I needed the best treatment I could get to minimize the stiffness in my shoulder. I then went back home to Pennsylvania to see my family again. I felt joyful seeing the smiles on my younger siblings' faces. In the end, I stayed in the Union army, helping them enforce the 13th Amendment in the post-Civil War South. I’ve always wanted to do something that would make a difference in the world, and I finally did it.

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Clara Cambell (Hayley B) Blog #4 July,  1863

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Clara Cambell (Hayley B) Blog #4 July,  1863

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It’s me again, Clara. Life has been crazy these past couple of weeks. So many fights and wars have happened recently, but today was the worst day of them all. It was the day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Day 1, on July 1, 1863, was a very tiring day. This was General Lee’s second attempt to attack us. This day of fighting was an accident, caused by some Confederates walking in town looking for shoes. When this started, I saw them walking around town like they owned it, looking for any supplies they saw. Me and one of the soldiers were waiting outside a store just to see the Confederates taking shoes and other supplies they needed from this store. I started to feel anxious, thinking this encounter between us and them would start something. We then left and retreated, waiting for more reinforcements to finally make our move.

Day 2, on July 2, 1863, was then announced as the Battle of Round Top. During this, we decided to charge at the Confederates down the hill, due to many of us being without ammunition. Because of us charging down the hill at speed, we managed to dominate and maintain control over the hill.

Day 3, on July 3, 1863, was known as Pickett’s charge. This was a time when many of the Confederates thought we were at our weakest point, but little did they know that in able to attack us, they had to cross a mile of open ground. This surely benefited us in the battle. They later retreated through the backfield, giving us a victory.

After the battle, I came across a new companion. His name was Jack Williams. We played a couple of games and shared our interests and experiences. He had shared that he was discharged from the army. I was shocked. I then shared one of the most petrifying things that happened to me during this was. One of my closest friends had lost his vision in both eyes because of a gunshot behind his eyes. This was the most terrifying thing I had witnessed. Time later passed, and at this moment, he confided to me that he was not a man. He was a woman. Her name was Frances Clayton, and she joined the war with her husband, who died in the war. I had pondered whether she was the only woman in the war.

Later that year, Lincoln decided to give a speech called The Gettysburg Address. It left me speechless. I’m very proud to say that Lincoln is our president, and that he has made the best-remembered speech in history.

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As we start the Battle of Vicksburg, I am nervous but excited that we are getting closer to the war's end. Vicksburg was the only remaining Confederate fort left to tackle. On Independence Day of 1863, the Confederates surrendered, and never celebrated Independence Day for another 81 years. We took control of the Mississippi River, which is exciting. We are almost done.

General Grant has just been appointed to be our new leader, and he wants to do total war. I support this, but I do not think that it is very fair because we are already winning. We would also be very destructive to the land. I feel very scared because we have to burn things up and whatnot. Whenever we started, we burned the whole city to the ground. Along the way, we found 25,000 bales of cotton and 150 heavy guns that we are going to give to President Lincoln.

A few days later, I got CAPTURED, and taken to Andersonville. I am so angry. It was jam-packed, there was barely any food, and NO water. Basic human needs. Then, we prayed to god to get some water, and lucky enough, we did! We are so happy. Sneakily, I bribed people to protect me, and I dug a hole outside of the fence, and sneakily escaped. It was a relief.

After the war ended, I had to get my infection checked up. It was really bad because it had a lot of dirt and other things in it. Right after I got that checked out, I married the love of my life and had 4 beautiful children, 2 of which were a set of twins. We decided to move west as a family and claim our free land.

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Our next big fight was the Battle of Antietam. The Confederate army tried to attack the North. Even though we had more soldiers, our general, McClellan, didn’t use them well. We still won, but just barely. After the battle, President Lincoln fired McClellan because of his poor choices. Even though we won, we lost about 12,400 soldiers. I think we could have saved more lives if our general had done a better job. I’m shocked I made it out alive, with only a few scars. After the battle, President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, which said enslaved people could join the army. I believe the Confederates are in trouble now, and in the next battle, we’ll win and help end slavery.

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I just barely survived the Battle of Antietam—the bloodiest battle I have ever fought. Dead bodies lie in rows, with blood and guts everywhere. I could probably read a news pamphlet through some of the guys here, with how many bullet holes they have in them. As I'm writing this, I'm lying among the dead, the dying, and my comrades who are still alive.

Why did I join this war again? I still remember how the first battle went—people came to watch, brought picnic blankets, and thought the war was going to be entertaining, just a one-time event.

I want this whole thing to be over. I'm praying the leaders can come to a peaceful compromise, or just agree on something, so the war can end.

Something that came up is this: why is President Lincoln making the war about the slaves now? I thought this was about America. Why do we have to free the slaves?

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I am a soldier, A union soldier at the Battle of Vicksburg. If the Union could control Vicksburg, it would split the Confederacy in two. This gives control of the Mississippi River. Grant forces surround the city and lay siege. Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, 1863. Now the Union has cut off Confederate forces in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. After the Battle of Vicksburg, Sherman's March to the Sea began. Sherman destroyed everything in his path. This made me very sad. After watching Savannah burn and seeing all the death and destruction on the battlefields, I became more sad and jaded. I was captured and sent to Andersonville. I think the only way to survive is by keeping to myself and being quiet. The Civil War ended, and it gave me hope because Lincoln treated Lee and his troops humanely at Appomattox Courthouse. I lost my hearing in my left ear. I went back to my family home. I was a foreign soldier, so after the war I went back to Ireland.

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I am a soldier, A union soldier at the battle of Gettysburg. Today some confederate soldiers went into town to buy shoes. when they got their they ran into union cavalry. They fight a battle all day long. On the second day we fought a battle at little round top. Little round top was very important. who whoever control little round top would control the battle. The Union wins and keep control of little round top so the union control the battle. Next General Lee decided to attack Cementery Ridge. Lee had General George Pickett to led the charge. The union soldiers cut down pickett charge the battle of Gettysburg was over the union won. After the battle I come across a men who introduces himself as jack Willams. I and Jack play a game of cards where I start talking about my experiences in the war. Jack tells me that he has actually been discharged from the army. He then confides in me that he is a actually a woman! Her real name is Frances Clayton and she joined the war with her husband who was killed in battle. I wonder if any other women are fighting in the war. I made it through the battle with all of my limbs intact. I has a new bottle of brandu that was sent to my parents and I was trying to hold onto it until Christmas.

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Clarissa (Scuttle) Dinglehopper (Grace) 1861 (Blog #2)

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Clarissa (Scuttle) Dinglehopper (Grace) 1861 (Blog #2)

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Today will be known as the Battle of Bull Run. We had to fight in trenches and there were bullets flying through the air as I reloaded my gun. It was teriffying. President Lincoln sent almost 30,000 soldiers with us. The camps were very full I can tell ya that. But this battle didn't end well at all. Some soldiers thought the confederates weren't ready but they were so wrong. The Confederate soldiers pounded us. Eventually we retreated but it wasn't a good battle on our part. We fell apart. So many of us thought this would be easy but it's not going to go in that direction at all. But as we were retreating my ankle got nicted in the side of a wagon. I think its just sprained but it hurts when I walk on it.

Few days later,

I was put in a group called the Potomac. But acording to the nurses I caught whooping caugh. I wanted to pass the time with something so I learned to play John Brown's Body on the banjo. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Months later,

Our new general is a scardy cat. He makes us run drills and President Lincoln does NOT like that. When he told General McClellan to march to Richmond, we got there, but he made us wait for reinforcements! Then the Confederates tricked us with making us think we didn't have the upper hand. We lost so many battle with them. We're calling it the Seven Days Battles. While I was running a shell burst on my left side my hearing is coming back but for a few weeks I thought I had lost it entirly.

The next day,

I wanted to help today so I brought some of the wounded to the hospital but I was mortified by what I saw. Soldiers were crying and wailing from the pain on beds that seemed like they could break any second. There were surgeons amputating limbs right and left and throwing them into a pile. Blood everywhere. On their hands, their aprons, on the ground. I think I might thrown up. Then the next thing I know I'm on a bed with my head throbing. Apparently I had fainted. But I didn't want to stay any more than I had to so I ran my behind out of there. To many people have died from the diseases that are there.

Days later,

We're on the open ocean now. We're in a metal boat! It's so cool. and cannons can't penetrait it. We've won so many battle's with this baby.

Few days later,

I found a box of cigaretts. They have General Lee's plans in them! I'm gonna give them to the General right now.

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7/24/1863

I hope that this is the last journal entry I write. I just want war to stop, but I want freedom to end. We’ve been fighting for so long, I just want to see my family again and make them proud. War has been getting worse, more chaotic and very destructive. The union army is required to set fire to all Confederate houses, and kill and the animals in sight. I feel guilty, I didn’t even agree to this. This is going too far but this could mean the end of war. I don’t support total war, I support ending freedom, without any violence. Grant believed in Total War, sadly. Sherman was told to destroy everything in his path, and take everything he could use for the Union Army.

Moments after, Sherman couldn’t be stopped. He burned Atlanta to the ground. This is so sad. His (Sherman’s) success helped Lincoln win his second term in 1864. Sherman also proudly captured Savannah Georgia as a present for Lincoln. I hate this, I don’t want violence. I just want everything to be over, but still win.  Then he marched upward to Columbia, South Carolina, and burned it all down. At last, they planned their final attack on Richmond. People tried to tell Sherman to stop, like Mary Chestnut. She explained that all was left was ashes, ashes and ashes. This was called the burning of Savannah.

After Sherman’s March, there was Andersonville. It was also tragic and terrifying. A confederate troop captured me. I was dragged into a prison called Andersonville. It wasn’t good. Obviously prison’s aren’t sunshine and rainbows, but this was horrendous. The air was filled with hints of waste and smoke. We had to starve, or fight to get food. People would perish every day. I survived, as I’m writing this journal entry right now. Thank goodness, I made a friend and we “politely” grabbed other peoples food together. I know thats not nice, but we had to fight. Other people were very violent.

Then, Appomattox Courthouse. This is when everything finished and we surrendered. Lincoln was free and safe, and enslaved people finally got to experience freedom. People were granted things for their hard work, and this is when we realized it was all over. Thank. Goodness.

As I boarded the plane, I took a deep breath. I was excited to finally see my family again. My mama, my dad, sister and brother. I got to fly back home proudly. My bravery has paid off, even when I doubted it would. I had to ask someone to grab the luggage since I have a stiff shoulder for the rest of my life. Yup, I got this from tenting as a soldier. I felt a wave of relief when I stepped off of the plane to England. Home sweet home. Thank you, journal for being there with me through these crazy times.

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Theodore Segma (Enzo Cenal) 4/9/1865  Blog #5

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Theodore Segma (Enzo Cenal) 4/9/1865  Blog #5

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Thinking back on the war, I didn't really like it. The concept of total war seems very serious. It means that people can die in horrible ways and have to deal with horrible conditions, but it can sometimes be unavoidable. During the burning of Savannah, I had to burn the house of this lady. She was begging us not to do it, but the torch had already been dropped. I felt a little bit guilty, but then I thought about what would happen if I hadn't done it. My superiors would be quite mad at me. I was imprisoned in the Andersonville prison. I had to survive on wall liquids. I wasn't fed, so I was very irritable. Once I got released, I was able to witness the Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. It was genuinely magical to see the two sides of the war treat each other like friends again. Bye for now!

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After everything I’ve seen in this war, I feel tired but also proud. I’ve been in battles from Bull Run to Gettysburg, and I’ve lost friends along the way. At this point, I do support total war because it’s the only way to end this for good. I heard about Sherman burning Savannah, and while it was harsh, I think it helped weaken the South. I was lucky not to be captured, but I heard awful stories about Andersonville and how bad it was. When I found out the war ended at Appomattox Courthouse, I felt huge relief. I know we still have work to do, but now there’s hope. My journey ends with peace, and I’m ready to go home and help rebuild the country.

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The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the hardest battles I’ve fought in. The fighting lasted for three days and we lost so many men. I saw soldiers fall all around me, and I just kept going even though I was scared. When we finally won, I felt proud but also really sad. It didn’t feel like a real victory because of how many lives were lost. A few months later, I heard President Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address. His words made me stop and think about why we’re really fighting. I want to help finish this war so those who died didn’t do it for nothing.

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The Battle of Antietam was the worst fighting I’ve ever seen. There was smoke, shouting, and blood everywhere. So many soldiers on both sides were killed or hurt. I was lucky to make it out alive, but some of my friends didn’t. It was the bloodiest day in American history, and I’ll never forget it. After the battle, President Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation. I was proud because it said all slaves in the Confederate states would be free. That’s one of the big reasons I joined the war, so it felt like we were finally making a difference.

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Theodore Segma (Enzo Cenal) 6/1/1863 Blog #4 

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Theodore Segma (Enzo Cenal) 6/1/1863 Blog #4 

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Gettysburg was crazy. Apparently, some Confederate soldiers were shopping for shoes when my fellow Union soldiers noticed them and attacked them. They attacked and called for reinforcements, and so did we. My leader made it so we were all packed together to form a stable defensive barricade. The battle lasted the whole day.

DAY 2: We managed to seize the hill of Little Round Top. We were shooting and successfully defending the hill, as it was an excellent place to defend. We were running low on supplies, causing panic from our leader. He suggested that we use our bayonets and run down the hill, stabbing anyone who's in our way. We agreed because we were running out of ammo. When we charged, I fell over and rolled down the hill with the knife by my side. I ended up slicing two dead guys and slashing the ankles of a dude who was still alive! At least the union won!

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After the Battle of Bull Run, I realized this war would be harder than I thought. We lost that battle, and it made me feel scared and confused. A lot of soldiers ran away, but I stayed and kept fighting. During the Seven Days Battles, things were rough and many men got hurt or died. I saw how strong the Confederate army was, but I didn’t give up. I also heard about the Battle of the Ironclads and how they used big metal ships. It showed me how fast technology was changing the war. I think the Union has a chance to win if we keep pushing and working together.

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Blog #1 Character: Max Verstappen (Ecsedy)

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Blog #1 Character: Max Verstappen (Ecsedy)

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My name is Max Verstappen, and I’m a Union soldier from New York. I joined the army because I wanted to fight against slavery and protect the country. My dad is a blacksmith and always taught me to do what’s right. When I heard the South attacked Fort Sumter, I knew the war had started. I felt nervous but also ready to fight. We had to leave the fort, but luckily no one died. It made me angry that they started the war. I want to help the Union win and stop slavery for good.

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Wendy William (Brooke Cobb O'Sullivan) 1863 (Blog #5)

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Wendy William (Brooke Cobb O'Sullivan) 1863 (Blog #5)

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Another Battle for another Day. I am here to tell you people that we soldiers are going to be fighting another war. That War is called the Battle of Vicksburg. This sounds like it might be harder than the other battles we have encountered before. Unfortunately, I know how to use a gun and fight.

Wait, I just realized that I was previously injured and I need to take it easy. Or other wasie that I would reinjure myself. Once I heard about Sherman’s March, he was destroying towns, and even RAILROAD’S. I was like, “Man, that is just messed up.” I felt sad that the villages had to be burnt down to the grown, in ASHES, I was like, dude we could have just told the enslaved people to give us the cotten. Not BURN DOWN THEIR VILLAGES.  Well although we are cutting down the Confederince supplies, we were just burning down Villages,man. Well, do what you got to do.

Durning the War

There was a lot of guns firing in the background. But then I realise that there was this one person that was on the ground and that person, looked like he was related to James. I went over to see who it was. And it was someone who was related to James. Me and James went over to help that person up and go to the Nurses tent to get better. “James, who was that?” I said to James. “That was my Brother, Charles.” James said to me. I felt sad for him. Cause that was his older brother that he told me about.

April 9th 1865

Then I was kidnapped by the Confederite. I was in a fort, and there was James, and Charles. I hope that Charles can make it out. But then later on at night. I saw Zombies rasing from their graves from previous Union Soldiers. So I was the only one awak to see this, but then I fet this urge, I saw my hands has purple flames surrounding my hands, so then I decided to trough it at the Zombies, and Guess what……It killed the zombies. So I thought of so many things, but then I thought of one more things, I was a witch.

After I found out, I woke upu James, hoping that he was not going to freak out. “James, wake up.” I said to James. “What.” James said. “ Please don’t freak out, but I just  found out that I am a witch.” I said. “Okay, that is great.” James said.

The next morning

The Confederite saw all the dead-dead zombies on the floor. And asked “who did this?” A Confederite soldier asked. “I did, sir.” I said. “All of you guys are free to go.” a confederite soldier told everyone. So  we all left and went to our family’s.

After all of that

Me, James, and Charles went to my house, to tell my mom. “Mom, I have something to tell you.” I said to my mother. “What is it, my child?” My mom said, “I just found out that I was a witch.”

After that I told my mom, I went for a walk but then I stumbled upon a person. But there is this one little problem, that person looks like me. I was just wondering if she was my long-lost twin, or some rado person.

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Clarissa (Scuttle) Dinglehopper (Grace) Blog #5 1863

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Clarissa (Scuttle) Dinglehopper (Grace) Blog #5 1863

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July 4, 1863

We're still alive and still going. Today we're fighting in Vicksburg. General Grant says that if we win this battle we'll win the war. I pray that God is on our side and we win this, hopefully last, battle.

Later that day,

They finally surrendered! We won the war! I can't believe it. General Grant has become the head of the Union army now. But he gave us orders to set fire to every confederate house. It's not right. The war is over. This will just cause more blood shed. Adding onto their resentment. This isn;r going to end well in the future.

December 21, 1864

They can't be stopped. The fire's of the union blaze on as they grab onto the wood in the houses. No one can stop General Sherman. The houses won't make it. But President Lincoln will definently be reelected. He's moved onto multiple other states burning their towns. All the people were evacuated but still they lost their home it isn't right.

January 1, 1865

I. Am. In. Jail. The Confederates found me and a few other guys. They're dying here. I don't know how much longer I can stay here.

January 8, 1865

I finally made it out. But I can't hear in my left ear anymore. They put something in my ear and I had an ear infection that bursted my ear drum. But it's ok. I'm still alive.

April 9, 1865

The war is finally over. It's done. Now I get to go back home and see my family.

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Suddenly, I heard faint footsteps and hushed whispers in the distance. Then, without warning, cannons roared. We scrambled to wake the others, straining to hear any more signs of the enemy. My heart pounded, and I couldn’t tell if the footsteps were near or far. Then, a sharp pain hit—I’d been shot in the hand. Stunned, I looked around, trying to see who fired, but dawn was just breaking, and the area was chaotic.

A fellow soldier noticed and helped wrap my hand with a sock. I managed to stay in command. As if that wasn’t enough, the heat later that day was unbearable. Sweat soaked us, and I had no water. Dizzy and weak, I collapsed. A nurse found me, gave me water, and took me to the medical tent. Others were worse off, but I was lucky—just dehydrated. I was grateful it wasn’t more serious.

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I never imagined someone could carry this much trauma, but I do. The war is over, but it lives in my mind—it always will. I can’t understand how anyone supports war. It took my hearing in one ear and left scars I can’t forget. Savannah burned, and I could only watch. I didn’t survive because I was stronger—I survived because I held on to my humanity. I stayed grounded and didn’t let dark thoughts take over. When the war ended at Appomattox, it didn’t feel real. The South had lost. I lost my youth, my hearing, and my old life—but I gained freedom, and that means everything. I don’t know if my family is alive. I won’t settle down or marry. That’s not who I am. I’ll keep moving—maybe to England, Ireland, or Germany—but I won’t stay. I’m a free spirit. I survived the war, the camps, and the pain by remembering who I am. Now, I walk my own path. Others wept, but I didn’t. To me, the war ended a cruel system. It gave people like me a chance to live freely and fully. Andersonville still haunts me—the men there lost more than their lives. They lost everything.

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Clarissa (Scuttle) Dinglehopper (Grace) Blog #4 1863

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Clarissa (Scuttle) Dinglehopper (Grace) Blog #4 1863

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July 1, 1863

Today we are going to be fighting the Confederates again. I don't know how much more I can take this. And for what feels like the millionth time we are going onto the next battle. This time we're in Gettysburg. General Lee has told us that we'll be close together on the battlefield's layout. We have the high ground this time, although it seems like some of the soldiers are still scared about what's to come. Wish me luck.

Later,

General Lee told us to run down the hill that we just spent ages climbing up. As I ran down, bullets started flying. One just barely skimmed the side of my cheek. As we charged down bodies started to fall to the ground. We had to leave them behind and continue on. I was so scared that I was going to be the one on the ground. Dead. But I made it out alive. We lost 23,049 soldiers. The soldier that I was talking to at the campfire before sadly was shot in the eye. Now he's sadly blind. But I'm grateful he's still alive.

That night,

A soldier named Jack Williams started talking to me while I was sitting by the campfire tonight. We started talking about what we had done before this war. About our lives before the war. He worked in a house before this. I wonder what that was like. But then it turns out that he is a woman! Her name is Francis Clayton. She and her husband had joined the army but he sadly passed away during this battle. I feel so sad for her. It's hard losing a husband, brother, or sister. I can't even imagine it.

March 5, 1863

I just heard that President Lincoln passed the Enrollment Act. Now anyone can skip the test if they pay $300. So annoying. I think we're getting desperate. People have to have some fighting knowledge. More and more people are going to die in these battles. Desperation. That's what this is.

November 19 1863,

President Lincoln just gave a short speech. It was better than nothing but it was still super short. But still very meaningful.

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Thomas Fox (Tristan) July 4th, 1865 (blog #5)

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Thomas Fox (Tristan) July 4th, 1865 (blog #5)

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The war is over, and the memories of Vicksburg, Sherman's March, and Richmond's fall still haunt me. Vicksburg's siege tested our limits, and the brutality of Sherman's March is etched in my mind. The capture of Richmond signaled the end, but the cost was immense. The war changed me, leaving scars and the ringing silence in my left ear. The hope is that our sacrifice will lead to a better future. I'm heading west to claim land under the Homestead Act. My service will shorten the time I must work the land. The work will be hard so Katie and I can live peacefully, but I seek a new beginning. The memories will stay, but I'll face the setting sun with determination. I hope to find peace on the plains.

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Nevaya Ortenom (Avalynn Lopez) blog #5 May 2nd 1863

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Nevaya Ortenom (Avalynn Lopez) blog #5 May 2nd 1863

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I never thought someone could experience and be left with so much trauma as of how much I was left with. The war was over now and I will never forget it, It’ll be in my head till the day I day. In the state of mind I am in now I don’t understand why people even support war. Being in war had made me lost hearing in my left ear from a gun. This is a constant reminder to me that i sacrificed things to be in the war. Savannah burned to ashes and I just had to watch the flames. While others had wept I felt no sorrow. In my opinion it was a good end for the cruel system they had. It sent a chance for people like me to be free people like me to leave their live how they all say live is a chance for them to live to their full potential. Andersonville the memories are still too raw to speak of. The place was drained of men but not just men it was their everything. Their hope, their bodies, their very lives. I had not survived because i was stronger but because i didnt let myself forget I was human even in pure suffering. I kept my mind in the right place i did not think bad thoughts our thought i knew that was going to bring me down. When I heard the war ended at Appomattox it didn’t feel real. The South lost, and it was finally over. The war took my hearing, my youth, and my old life but it gave me freedom, and that means everything. I don’t know where my family is or if they’re still alive. But I’m free now, and I’ll keep moving forward. I don’t want to settle down or get married. That’s not for me. I’ll travel, maybe go back to England Ireland or Germany but I won’t stay long. I’m a free spirit.

I survived the war, the camps and the pain by holding on to who I am. Now the road is open, and I’m walking it my own way.

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Thomas Fox (Tristan) July 2nd, 1863 (blog #4)

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Thomas Fox (Tristan) July 2nd, 1863 (blog #4)

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The Battle of Gettysburg was a brutal reality. As a soldier on Cemetery Ridge, I witnessed the terrifying advance of Pickett's Charge, feeling the cold dread and the sting of gunpowder. I saw friends fall, and felt a searing pain in my shoulder. We held the line, but the victory came at an immense cost. Exhausted and wounded, I collapsed, the weight of the day's horror crushing me. Later, in the makeshift hospital, I discovered my meager possessions had been stolen. Katie's comb and a lock of her hair were all gone. The theft felt like a final, cruel blow. Weeks later, I heard Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Initially skeptical, I found his words resonated deeply. It was a balm to my wounded soul, reaffirming the ideals we fought for. His words stirred a sense of purpose, promising that our struggle would lead to a better future. The address gave me hope.

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) 1865 (Blog #5)

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) 1865 (Blog #5)

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The Confederates' last fort was in Vicksburg along the Mississippi River, and we had them surrounded and attacked them with cannonballs for weeks. They eventually had to surrender to us the day after Gettysburg. I also heard that General Grant was the new commander of the entire Union Army. However, he proposed an idea I don’t support: Total War. This would mean we would have to set fire to all houses of the Confederacy. I couldn’t believe General Grant actually forced us to burn down the houses of the Confederates. It was unfair to them, they had already lost the war and accepted defeat. I don’t know why we needed to offer them more suffering as a “Christmas gift,” is what General Grant says. The Confederate troops captured me as I was marching out with the army. I didn’t resist because I know what I did. I didn’t know how I survived, though, many people died every day because of diseases. I prayed to God every day, hoping I would survive, and thankfully, my prayers got answered. The leader of the Confederacy surrendered to General Grant, but I didn’t think General Grant would come to realize the war was over due to his brutal beliefs in war. I was just happy this whole war ended and I finally get to go home to my family. All it cost was going deaf in my left ear, a few scars, and PTSD. I didn’t want to stay in the land that caused me trauma, and I was originally a foreign enlistment, so I decided to go back home to Europe and create a family with my wife.

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James baker (Ethan Abella) 1863 (Blog #4)

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James baker (Ethan Abella) 1863 (Blog #4)

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Our next battle was the battle of Gettysburg, and General Lee attempted to attack the North hoping to feed his soldiers after supposedly defeating us. Something unexpected happened during the battle though. We used up all the ammo for our rifles and ended up using our bayonets. It was nice to win this war and charge the other side with confidence. After the battle, I decided to play a game of cards with one of my comrades. It was a surprise to me to find out that she was actually a woman disguised as a man to fight in the war. It made me wonder if any other women were also fighting.

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Total War might be our only option left... We've exhausted all other options, and we just really want to go home... I heard we have to burn all of the houses and kill all the animals we see... I don't want to kill innocent life, how could you even consider that! But at the same time, I understand that we need to cut off all of the Confederacy's supplies. Overall, I don't exactly have a say in all this, but...you have to do what you have to do. I'm going to write a letter to my sweetie so that she doesn't lose hope in us. I promised her that I would make it home

This is horrible! Worse than I imagined! We've burned every Confederate building in sight, killed every animal, and eaten what we could before burning the scraps... This is hell, pure hell. I hate it, but I hate the Confederacy more. I'll do whatever it takes to overpower them and enforce the Union!
We won. I was so overwhelmed with relief, that I cried. I was so happy I could go back home to my sweetie; Carina. After we were released, I rushed home to Germany. Soon after I arrived home, me and Carina got married, and had two children. Ever since my hearing in my left ear started going in and out, it got worse and worse, and now I am unable to hear out of it. However, it was worth it to be with my now wife, Carina, and two children; Annaliese and Elke.

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May 2, 1865

The war has been going on for so long, and I am really tired. I have seen too much sadness and pain. Families have been torn apart, and people have lost their homes. I miss the days when life was more normal. Now that the war is ending, I feel a little bit of hope again.

When I heard about Sherman’s March, I didn’t know how to feel. His army destroyed towns, farms, and railroads. Some people say it was too much, but I think it helped end the war faster. If tearing things down means stopping slavery forever, then I think it was worth it. I want freedom for everyone, especially people like my parents, who used to be slaves.

I was sad when I heard that Savannah was burned. Even though it was part of the war, it still hurts to see beautiful places ruined. If I had been there, I would try to help save people and anything important. I always try to help when I can.

Andersonville was a terrible prison camp. I can’t imagine how hard it was to survive there. If I had been there, I would try to stay strong, help others, and keep thinking about freedom. That’s what keeps me going.

Now that General Lee has surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, I feel like this long nightmare is finally ending. I’m not sure what comes next, but I want to learn, grow, and help others. My journey isn’t over. It’s just beginning.

Update

During the war, I lost hearing in my left ear. It was hard, but I kept going. After the war, I found true love in New York. It was unexpected, but it made me happy. Now, I have decided to go west and claim land through the Homestead Act. I want to build a new life on my own land and start fresh.

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Blog #5
 James Pereson (Piper)
 Year: 1865 – After Appomattox

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Blog #5
 James Pereson (Piper)
 Year: 1865 – After Appomattox

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After three years of blood and mud, the war finally ended. At Appomattox, we didn’t cheer. We just stood there—exhausted, hollow, grateful. The fight was over, but the weight of it would follow us.

I didn’t leave it untouched. In the spring of ’64, a minie ball shattered my right leg near Petersburg. The doctors took it above the knee. I woke up in a hospital tent, missing part of myself—and part of who I used to be.

After recovering, I couldn’t go home. I’d left that life behind the day my father slammed the door on me. Instead, I moved to New York City, looking for something new. Among the noise and brick, I found love—a woman named Clara who saw past the limp and the pain. She reminded me I was more than what the war left behind.

But I couldn’t sit still. When word came of the transcontinental railroad, I signed up. I worked with the Union Pacific, helping lay track across the West. Crutches under one arm, hammer in the other. I wanted to build something again—something that connected the country I helped hold together.

Every spike we drove felt like a step forward.

I may have lost a leg, but I gained a purpose. I fought for unity. Now I help build it—mile by mile, rail by rail.

And for the first time since the war began, I believe in the future again.

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Blog #4
 James Pereson (Piper)
 Year: 1863 – After Gettysburg

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Blog #4
 James Pereson (Piper)
 Year: 1863 – After Gettysburg

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I spent the fight on top of Little Round Top, firing down at Confederate soldiers as they charged again and again. The heat was awful. Smoke burned my throat. We could barely see the enemy at times, just shadows through the haze.

When it ended, the hill was quiet, but the fields below were covered in bodies. I couldn’t believe how many. I was grateful just to still be breathing.

Then I found Samuel.

He was the man I tried to save at Bull Run. I hadn’t seen him since that day, thought he was dead. Turns out he made it back into service. We’d only just reconnected before Gettysburg.

Now he’s blind.

A bullet struck him just behind the eyes. Didn’t kill him—just took his sight. When I found him, he was sitting with a bandage wrapped around his head.

“Is it still light out?” he asked.

I didn’t know what to say. I just sat beside him.

Later, we heard President Lincoln speak. Just a few words at Gettysburg. But something about it stuck with me. He said we’re here to make sure these dead “shall not have died in vain.”

I keep thinking about that.

Maybe this war isn’t just about the Union anymore. Maybe it’s about building something better. For men like Samuel.

For all of us.

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After being in the war for so long, my character felt tired and worn out. He had seen so many battles and started to understand why the Union had to go all out with total war. He didn’t like it, but he thought it was the only way to make the war end.

When he saw what happened in Savannah during Sherman’s March, he was shocked. The city was burning, and it felt like nothing was safe anymore. He was glad he didn’t end up in Andersonville prison, but if he had, he would’ve tried his best to survive and keep hoping for freedom.

Finally, when the war ended at Appomattox Courthouse, my character felt super emotional. He cried because he was happy and relieved. He just wanted to go home, be with his family again, and live a peaceful life. Even though the war changed him forever, he was ready to move on and help make the country better.

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At the Battle of Gettysburg, my character was right in the middle of the fight. It was loud, scary, and full of smoke. He saw friends fall and had to keep going even when he was tired and afraid. He felt brave for fighting, but also really sad about all the people getting hurt.

Later, he listened to President Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address. Even though the speech was short, it made a big impact. He felt proud to be part of something important. It gave him hope that the country could come together again and that the people who died didn’t die for nothing.

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Beatrice Jones (Mari Nakamoto) -Blog #5 

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Beatrice Jones (Mari Nakamoto) -Blog #5 

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July 1, 1863

Here's our plan: breaking the Confederacy in half to end once and for all. How? Destroying the only remaining Confederate fort: Vicksburg. We surrounded their city and destroyed them with cannonballs. This was probably the most devastating thing to watch.

July 4

They finally surrendered. Since we won the battle, we cut off all Confederate forces in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. We also got control of the Mississippi River. Now I can finally go to sleep peacefully knowing that the war is finally over and there will be no more terrible violence.

July 5

UPDATE: I want to leave this Union. I can't stand it anymore. General Grant just informed us that we will be destroying everything that is in the Confederate States. Also known as Total War. So many lives will be lost, but General Grant believes it's the only way to victory, and the Confederates will finally be on our side. He is more aggressive than General McLellan. The song "Tenting Tonight" has a good tune. But it is also a hopeful song. When I listen to this song, my tummy aches. I don't want to go back to war. I'm too tired.

November 15

It is the day we march. General T. Sherman is marching to us. Tennessee to Atlanta.

December 19

Exhausted. We've been marching for more than 200 miles, and I haven't gotten much sleep. I don't like this. Everything that is in our path is going to get destroyed. Civilian houses, stores, the entire thing. I wish we could stop Sherman. It's getting out of hand. All the goods, like ammo, food, and essentials, we took from the places we marched.

December 20

After Fred and I reluctantly burned the last civilian home, I continued to march ahead. Not knowing what is coming my way. The more I marched, the more I was unsure. Suddenly, a railroad came riding beside me. I spot arms that grab me. Everything was dark.

December 24

That was a crazy experience. I barely made it out alive. On December 20th, I was captured by the Confederates. They took me to Andersonville, the dirtiest place ever. I got placed in this shelter with these other Union Soldiers. The look on their face told me that there was no way of getting out. It looked like they've been stuck there for a long time. Right now, I'm still sick from that place. The air was full of smoke. Who knew that using a spoon from one of the Confederates' households would work? I dug underground for 3 days straight.

April 10 1865

Finally, my prayers have been answered. News has it that General Grant and General Lee have finally made a compromise. A news headline said, "Our Nation Redeemed." After hearing this news, I headed home. After such a long four years, my shoulder was stiff from sleeping on the hard terrain every night. I have never felt happier to head to my hometown, New Jersey. Every night I was away, I would cry. I missed my younger brother Sam and my parents. They probably would be upset that I kind of sneaked away from them and tried to join the army. But I got to learn about honor. Before, I just wanted to fight and have a war, and get that anger out of my system. But now, I realized, it's terrible. We can't live like that.

September 13 1866

It's been a while since I have written in my blog. After living and spending about a year with my family, I decided to start my own independent life West. I will be buying land through the Homestead Act. As year goes on, I've realized that most people didn't fight just for power, but for honor. And honoring the ones who lost their lives.

~ Beatrice Jones (1866)

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Padlet Dalan (Dylan Tacras Saul) Year: 11/22/1870 (Blog #4 and Blog #5)

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Padlet Dalan (Dylan Tacras Saul) Year: 11/22/1870 (Blog #4 and Blog #5)

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I recently took part in an offensive and ended up in a remote area where the Confederate forces stretched for 6 miles. It was a harrowing experience to confront the devastation and see the dead bodies, but I was fortunate to receive crucial support. One of my friends was shot in the eye and, despite the odds, he survived, although he now faces significant blindness. We swiftly located the nearest doctor's tent for treatment. A few days later, I developed a life-threatening infection, but I fought through it and emerged healthy once again. While I typically keep my experiences to myself, I decided to return home and reunite with my entire family after 9 long months apart. Following that, I chose to remain with the Union Army and played a vital role in enforcing the 13th Amendment in the post-Civil War South.

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After the battle of Gettysburg, I begged to go home. I haven't had a letter from my love and my daughter in a year now. I worry a lot about them. After the battle of Vicksburg, it was the usual patrol around our newly claimed territory. Until a little over a year later, General Sherman called us to march. To march from Tennessee to Atlanta. Great. Now I was farther away from home. When we finally got there, we were told to burn everything to the ground. They never told me we would take away innocent people's homes. I feel terrible every time my torch lights a new home and block. Thankfully, the citizens were evacuated, so I couldn't see their faces of horror. I felt terrible. While the other men were cheering, I was silent the entire day. When I was about to leave the street to drink water from the nearest lake, I was taken by the Confederates. I was caught off guard so quickly that they snatched my rifle off my back before I could. I tried to yell, but they immediately gagged and blinded me. The next thing I see is hell. Actual hell where I see people being tortured, barfing, crying, yelling, and much, much more. Some of the people I even recognize. I realize this is much like a concentration camp, but in this case, for Union soldiers. I was there for a month. A month of torture and humiliation. I was scarred for life, and I knew it the moment I saw a man shoot my bunk buddy. (Not that there were bunks, but we often sat next to each other) One day, the soldiers who were capturing and torturing people left us immediately to fight. Finally! We're saved! I thought. And I was right. The Union soldiers clothed us and took care of us. Unfortunately, I lost hearing in my left ear again because of an infection. But the war was over at last. I got home, my daughter is better, and my wife is more beautiful than I last saw her. I was so tired of civilian life, many people congratulated me on my return home, while others bashed me for burning homes. I took my family to the West and became a "Cowboy." But I'm just a farmer with my family. My wife is expecting soon now, it's been a year since the war ended. I'm scarred for life, but finally happy again.

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On July 1, 1863, day 1, the Battle of Gettysburg was very tiring. It was General Lee's second attempt at attacking the south. They had no supplies, so when they came, they started looking for things. They stole my dad's shoes. When we found them walking around town, we retreated and waited for reinforcement.

Day 2, at the battle of Little Round Top, we decided that we would charge at the Confederates down the hill, and we dominated it.

Day 3, the Confederates thought that we were at our weakest point, but they were the ones who made one of the worst choices. They wanted to attack us on the military ridge, but little did they know that they would have to cross almost a mile of open ground. They lost that battle.

After the battle, I came across someone named Jack Williams. He seemed nice, and we played a game of cards together. We were talking about our experiences in the war, and I found out that he was discharged from the army. Then, when he keeps on yapping, he tells me that she is a woman undercover, just like me! Her name is Frances Clayton.

After the battle, Frances and I decide that we want to become friends, so we decide that we are going to hang out.

A few days later, Lincoln made a speech called the Gettysburg Address, and I really think that it is cool because he is our president, and I look up to him because he inspired many people.

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Wendy William (Brooke Cobb O'Sullivan) 1863 (Blog #4)

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Wendy William (Brooke Cobb O'Sullivan) 1863 (Blog #4)

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I am joining the war. The war name that I joined is the Battle of Gettysburg. The name sounds like an easy one. I hope that it is an easy Battle to win.

During the war

Guns were firing loudly. But then, we were out of ammunition and on the hill. So then the Confederation was running up the hill. So we just put the knives in the guns. And then I got.........INJURED I got stabbed from the back, and then shot in my stomach.

After the War

It was not an easy war to win. Sorry, I thought that it was goignt to be. So then I had been wagoned to the nurses' to my house. So that my mom and take care of me. And then there came James, to came and worry about me. "James I am okay, you don't have to worry about me, Mom is taken good care of me, she used to be a nurse. " I said to James.

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The Battle of Bull Run was one of the scariest days of my life. At first, I felt really excited and sure that we were going to win. This was my first big fight since joining the Union army, and I thought it would be a victory. But suddenly, everything went wrong. We had to run away, and I was so scared I dropped my rifle while trying to escape. As I was running, I saw something horrible—my Captain got hit by a shell and was killed right in front of me. I was so shocked I just froze and fell down. That moment kept playing over and over in my head. I knew I had to move or I might die too, so I got up and ran as fast as I could.

After the battle, General McClellan said we needed more training. I became part of a group called the “Army of the Potomac.” I got sick with whooping cough but got better pretty fast. To pass the time, I learned to play the banjo and even learned a song called John Brown’s Body.

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Noah Wilhelm (April) year 1863-1865 (blog #4 and #5)

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Noah Wilhelm (April) year 1863-1865 (blog #4 and #5)

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1863 July 2, Today changed everything the confederets had to fall back after we the Union striked while marching down the hill.

It was a exhlierating but tring attack but it was worth it in the end 1863 July 3, Genral Lee tried to attach our forces but failed as we cut them down and protected our line.

I had stayed at the top of the hill shooting and thankfully remained unharmed through the battle and for that i am greatful though a mate of mine ended up blinded during the battle.

1863 July 4, we attacked Vicksburg and won the attack though our new comander is rather rough on the confederts lands making us burn land and matierials but its all become a blur to me as we had also broken railrodes.

1864, I have forgoten the days and mothes i'm tired of this war and want peace for this to end but we gave the Savahnea to our presidint as a gift though I am not surprised by out burning any longer.

1865, I think i was captured and brought to a confederet prison called Andersonvill its horrorfiying bodys scattered people starved nothing but skin and bones and coved in filth and blood.

1865, I am tired starving and hungry i've lost complete since of time all i know is that i am starving and thirsty i along with the rest of us have been prying and for water rain what ever quenches this thirst.

1865, It happend a mirical a spring quenched our thisrt and has givin us hope though people are still diying i will survive no matter what and end this blood shead.

1865, I'm free I managed to escape the prison at night and i ran for the hills not looking back though I have lost commrades i have said my goodbyes.

1865, It's been monthes but we finally corrnered General Lee and we meet at Appomattox Station it was only 90 minutes it felt like hours but we finally ended this blood shead.

1865, With the war ended I returned home to my family and wife in Ierland with lost hearing in my left ear as my war ingury to never forget and now storys to tell my childern.

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Today, we saw confederate troops and they were looking for shoes...? Anyways, we started fighting, and we eventually got to the high ground after a bit. We waited for the Confederates to climb the hill and get tired before we charged down at them. It took a while to get through them all but it was way easier than climbing the hill. However, during the fight, my left ear started having hearing problems. I could still hear out of the ear but sometimes, it just wouldn't work.

Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address today, and it didn't really help much... If anything, it just made us more irritated at our situation, especially since he gave a very short speech.

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) September 1862 (Blog #3)

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) September 1862 (Blog #3)

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Our next war was the Battle of Antietam. The Confederates decided to attack our Northern territory. We quite literally outnumbered the Confederates, but McClellan decided to hold back despite the fact that we could’ve already ended the war with our numbers. Despite our General’s ridiculous mistakes, we still won somehow. From this point, President Lincoln fired General McClellan. Though we had a victory, we lost so many people. We lost 12,400 people. I blame the general; had we just attacked the Confederates, we could have lost a lot less. I’m surprised myself, though, from all the deaths I just witnessed, including the past battles, I’m surprised I managed to survive with only scars. President Lincoln also proposed the Emancipation Proclamation to the public, which would allow enslaved people to join the Union and fight with us. It’s finished for the Confederates. Now they are outnumbered, and in our next battle, I’m positive that we will win and free the enslaved people.

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) 1862 (blog #2)

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) 1862 (blog #2)

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2 years have passed. The Battle of Bull Run, the Seven Days Battle, Battle of the Ironclad. I’m exhausted. We lost at the Battle of Bull Run, but we weren’t trained or prepared at all. It was almost embarrassing, seeing as we had to flee, but we learned from our mistakes and trained as hard as we could. Soon enough, our hard work paid off and rewarded us with a victory in the next war. President Lincoln was upset with General McClellan because all we did was train instead of going into battle. We arrived at Richmond, but we didn’t take the initiative and waited for reinforcements. This forced us to flee back to Washington. The Confederates pushed us back again and again, but we won eventually. After the battle, we had to treat our comrades, as most of them were wounded, and some even caught some diseases. Most of our soldiers had to get their limbs amputated, and I wish I didn’t have to witness them suffering. I passed out because of all the blood I saw. At the Battle of the Ironclad, we fought on the ocean. The Confederates covered their ship with iron, but I’m glad we thought one step ahead because we also covered our ship with iron. In the end, we all sailed away, which didn’t leave us with a winner or a loser. After the battle, I found very valuable information that might give us an automatic victory. I was marching with the Union and found a pack of cigars on the way that explained General Lee’s plan for the war! Apparently, he divides his army into two. I knew I had to get this to General McClellan as soon as possible.

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July 4, 1863

The Battle of Gettysburg was like nothing I ever imagined. The noise from the cannons and gunshots was crazy. Everywhere I looked, men were falling. I fought as hard as I could but it felt like everything was happening too fast. I started to wonder if I was even meant to be here. My parents fought for their freedom before I was born, and I grew up understanding what it meant to survive. But out here, in the middle of this battle, I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to keep going.

After the battle I met Jack Williams. He told me he had been discharged and we started talking. As we played cards, Jack told me something surprising. His real name was Frances Clayton and she had been fighting disguised as a man after her husband was killed. I couldn’t believe it. She was just like me. She decided to fight in the war and keep going just like a man.

That made me think about why I joined. I had decided to fight as a man too because I wanted to prove I could do it. I wanted to show that I was just as strong as anyone else. When I heard President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address it really spoke to me. His words about freedom made me realize that this war wasn’t just about winning. It was about starting something new and fighting for a better future. I may not know exactly what comes next but I know now that I’m part of something bigger. And that makes me want to keep fighting.

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Clara Cambell (Hayley B) Blog #3 September 1862 

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Clara Cambell (Hayley B) Blog #3 September 1862 

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Hello, it’s me again, Clara Cambell. The last couple of days have been crazy. We’ve been fighting against the Confederates for a while now, but even though we outnumbered their troops by 1 or 2, the battle of Antietam was a very awful event. It began when the Confederate spies figured out that we knew their plan of splitting their troops, so they decided to form as one force again because of this new information. I thought we could win this war and end it, but that didn’t happen. We had the opportunity and missed it all because of our general. Luckily, he was fired by Lincoln because of this mistake. I felt relieved that we would get a new leader. During the war, I had run out of bullets for my rifle. Thankfully, I was issued a new rifle with 16 bullets in it by another fellow soldier. With my new weapon, I managed to take out more confederates easily. I felt like this was the most traumatizing event I had witnessed. There were many soldiers on the ground, wounded or dead. The war had finally ended, and we achieved victory. Lee and his troops scurried away and retreated like little mice. I was pleased that I was one of the soldiers who survived this horrifying event. More than 12,400 soldiers had lost their lives to this, which is a scary number to think of. I finally got back home and had many newspapers sitting on the steps of my house. I read through them and was surprised to find out that Lincoln was giving an Emancipation Proclamation speech. I was left speechless. This meant that the enslaved people in the South would gain freedom. Even though this is a good thing, it means that we're gonna be seeing the Confederates more often in the future.

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7/3/1863

As my eyes were about to shut, I wanted to write in here before I fell asleep. These past 3 days were crazy, with a crazy experience. War has broken out and it was the Battle of Gettysburg. There was bodies and blood everywhere. All you could hear was screams and gunshots. I was terrified. But I had to stay strong, I didn’t disguise as a man and chopped all my hair off for nothing. As a group, we created a plan. We planned that if we stay compact together, we could finally win. This is good because we’ll always stay together, if anyone needs to say and inform us about anything. As my heartbeat races, we run through the trees. We were stepping over and sometimes on top of dead people. My life flashed before my eyes as I tripped, and I screamed so someone could stay back with me. I rolled my ankle on a tree stump. A tear fell down my face, but I knew we had to keep going. I wasn’t going to give up. So I stood back up and limped my way to my group.

Fast forward to the end of the war, we won!! Everyone was ecstatic! Our plan and bravery worked. The confederacy had a lot of casualties, while we did as well. Robert E. Lee explains that this battle is considered the turning point in the war because he would no longer have enough men to attack the north again. Not too long after the battle, I came across this man who’s known as Jack Williams. He asked me if he wanted to play cards, and I said yes. I wanted to get to know more people around here. We played, and talked about our experience in the war. We both agreed that this was really scary, and that we have stayed brave throughout this whole process. Then Jack looked a little bit frightened. I asked if he was okay, but it was because he wanted to tell me secret, and I could tell anyone. I’m good at keeping secrets, so he trusted me. Long story short, he’s actually a woman, who goes by Frances Clayton. She explained how she joined the war with her husband who was killed in the battle. I knew I could trust her, so I explained how I’m doing the same thing. Not for a specific reason though, just for my commuinity to have freedom. I stood up to hug her, the she smiled and grabbed her cards, and walked away.

Abraham Lincoln, I knew him, but not everyone knew him. The south was still frustrated at him, and thats why we’re going through a tragic war right now. But, he was invited to give the Gettysburg Address at a memorial for the burial of the soldiers who had died. His speech was so amazing and memorable. There wasn’t a dry eye at that memorial. He explained how we had to keep fighting for the people who have perished. We’re not doing it only to benefit ourselves, but for them. He explained that no matter the circumstances, we can do this and continue to stay hopeful.

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Abraham Galloway (Grayson Hanson) Blog #1 

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Abraham Galloway (Grayson Hanson) Blog #1 

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Abraham Galloway was a brave man who helped fight for freedom during the Civil War. He was born a slave in North Carolina in 1837. Life was very hard for him because he was not free. But when he got older, he escaped by hiding on a ship and sailing away. It was scary, but he made it to freedom in the North.

During the war, Abraham became a spy for the Union Army. He helped them learn secrets from the South. He was very smart and sneaky, and he helped lots of people. One big thing he did was help keep Fort Sumner safe. It was a strong fort where Union soldiers and freed slaves stayed. Abraham worked hard to make sure it didn’t get taken.

After the war, Abraham didn’t stop helping folks. He worked for fair rights for Black people. He even became a state senater in North Carolina. That was a big deal becuse \ not many Black men could vote or be leaders. Abraham Galloway was a hero who stood up for what was right, even when it was dangerous.

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John Thompson was just 19 when he join the Union army in 1862. He was a farm boy from Ohio, full of hope and ready to fight. But war was not what he thought. At the Battle of Antietam, he got shot in the leg. The doctors said they had to cut it off or he would die. The surgrey was quick and dirty, with no real pain meds. They cut his leg off above the knee. John got lucky. Many men died from infecshun, but he didn’t. He stayed in a field hospital for weeks, weak and hurt. The place smelled bad, and there was blood and moanin all the time. But he was tough. He learned to use cruches and even helped the nurses when he could. After the war ended, he went back home with one leg and a heavy heart. But he didn’t give up. He became a teacher and helped other soilders who had been hurt too. John never forgot what he seen, but he lived on, strong in spirit. He showed that even when war takes so much, a man can still stand tall, even if he’s only got one leg to stand on.

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After the Battle of Bull Run, I was tired, sick, and scared, but alive. I had seen friends fall beside me, and I had run for my life with the rest of the army. We were embarrassed. I thought we were going to crush the Confederates easily. Now, I knew this war was going to be a long and bloody fight. I was part of the Army of the Potomac now, under General McClellan. He trained us hard. We marched every day. We cleaned our rifles, practiced shooting, and drilled until our feet bled. McClellan kept saying we weren’t ready. Lincoln wanted us to fight, but McClellan kept waiting and waiting. Some soldiers joked that McClellan was waiting for the war to end itself. Finally, in the summer of 1862, McClellan marched us toward Richmond. We took ships down the Chesapeake Bay. We thought this was it, we were going to end the war! But instead of attacking, McClellan hesitated. The Confederates tricked him into thinking they had way more soldiers than they did. Then they attacked us during the Seven Days Battles.

It was terrible. I thought we had the upper hand, but I was wrong. The rebels came at us strong. We fought every day. I made it through, barely. My ears rang from cannon fire. I saw soldiers with arms and legs blown off. After the battle, I helped carry the wounded to a field hospital. What I saw there… I’ll never forget it. Surgeons were cutting off arms and legs like it was nothing. Screaming filled the air. Blood was everywhere. They just threw the limbs in a pile like trash. I saw a doctor with a saw in one hand and a sandwich in the other. I felt dizzy, then everything went black.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed myself. I didn’t even know how I got there. I jumped out of bed and ran out the door, I didn’t want to catch anything. Disease was killing more men than bullets. Then, news came from the coast. Two iron ships had fought each other. The Confederate Merrimack (renamed the Virginia) and the Union’s brand-new ship, the Monitor. They blasted each other with cannons for hours, and neither one sank! Cannonballs just bounced off their sides. Everyone said it was the end of wooden warships forever. I couldn’t believe it, metal ships, floating and fighting! It made me think. This war wasn’t just muskets and marching anymore. It was changing fast. New technology, new weapons, and new types of soldiers. Some folks in camp talked about Black soldiers, too. We’d heard about men like Frederick Douglass pushing Lincoln to let them fight. I hoped they would join us soon. We needed all the help we could get.

Then something crazy happened.
As I was marching one morning, I found a small package by the side of the road. Inside were three cigars… and a piece of paper. My hands shook as I opened it. It was General Lee’s war plans! Somehow, someone had dropped it. And now it was in my hands. It said Lee had split his army into two parts! I ran straight to my officer and gave it to him. This was big. If McClellan used this information right, we could finally beat the Confederates in a real battle.

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William Everett (isabella solaita) Blog #1 redo

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William Everett (isabella solaita) Blog #1 redo

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My name is William Everett, and I am or was a slave. I escaped my plantation to fight in the war. I will fight for the Union as if they win not only me but my family would be free. I could maybe just maybe see my dad again. That is if he is alive still, ever sinxe my dad had been moved we haven't had contact with him at all, we don't knwo where he was or if he was even alive. Seeing him again would be a miracle.

It is April 16th, 1862, and the Confederate army is attacking Fort Sumter. Before the whole war the confederates were apart of the union. They seceded from the union when president lincoln was elected president, knowing that his presidency would mean an end to slavery. When they seceded, it wasn't just that, they were angry and wanted revenge. And now we are here, at war at Fort Sumter.

When i get on the field, I have so much confidence, I have a fire inside of me burning and ready to go. My motivation is being able to see my father again. But that confidence and fire shortly burned. A few minutes intto the battle I see a older white man shot beside me. I decide to help him, as I flip him over I sdee he is someone I knew. His name was John, he was a man of truth and wisdom. When I jonied the army he didn'y have a problem withi it, he comforted me in the times I was confused or needed help, he gave me great advice in the times I needed it. Seeing him like this made my heart drop. When I try helping him I just see it in his eyes, he's gone. My whole body came to a stop, My hands were covered in blood, and I felt as if I were to throw up right then and there.

Then I remember what John would have wanted me to do and that is to keep on fighting. I remember why I am here and why I fiight in this war, I fight in this war to fight for what others can't.

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Beatrice Jones (Mari Nakamoto) - Blog #4

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Beatrice Jones (Mari Nakamoto) - Blog #4

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July 1, 1863

I wish I hadn't spotted Confederates in town. They were simply minding their own business, picking out shoes, and just not caring. I didn't want to let my other fellow soldiers know because a war would break out... uh oh. I just heard a yell. I hear gunshots from afar. My biggest fear has come. A war has broken out. We made a plan: compact as a group and take the round top.

July 2

We planned that if we could control the hill, we could dominate the war. I run through trees, clutching my rifle. I step over some dead people. And even on top of them. It was a terrible experience. My fellow soldier told us to stay on the hill to get the high ground. That's what we managed to do. I spot some Confederate soldiers heading to Cemetery Ridge. What could they possibly be planning? It was open ground that they were on. Now this is an opportunity. I know I said I don't like violence and we need to end the war altogether, but I think the Confederates kind of deserved it. We open fire on them.

July 3

Can you believe this war has been going on for 3 days already? I'm exhausted. The soldiers who survived the fire from the open ground still had to face us when walking back. Now, I honestly feel bad for the Confederates facing this tough time. The battle was finally over. On the happy side, we won the battle. A lot of casualties from the Confederate side. Hopefully, this is a sign to make amends and just end the war. I sat on Little Round Top. Having the high ground, there were some advantages, seeing enemies from afar, and something called gravity, with force and power. ON the other hand, there are some disadvantages. The sun was beaming against my back, and the air was filled with smoke. And also seeing so many dead bodies along the hill. I take a glance at my hand. In shock, I saw it wounded. I didn't even feel a thing. That's how bad it was. Probably swollen and numb by now. (UPDATE: Fred Smith is now my friend. We finally got to talk to each other and work out our differences. He was nice enough to patch my hand.)

November 19 1863

Gathering around Lincoln, I was being blocked by some guy with a tall hat. I guess I'll just have to listen. Lately, news has been going around that in New York City, the Northerners wanted to make a compromise with the South to end it once and for all. I'm all in. I agree at this point. We've been through so much, and so many lives have been lost. But something also caught my eye. THE ENROLLMENT ACT. I don't have $300! But luckily, I just made it to 20. Anyways, back to the lives that have been lost: Lincoln gave a very touching speech at a memorial for the people who fought for honor. He is right. We are not fighting for just our country but for the people who lost their lives in the war. He wanted to lift our spirits, while giving this speech.

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My name is Tristyn Elliot, and I'm just a farm boy from Ohio. I joined the Union Army because I believed in keeping the country together. My dad said if the South left the Union, then we would lose everything we fought for in the Revolution. I wanted to fight for freedom and to prove myself. I thought it would be a quick war, just like everyone else. I was only 18 when I signed up I never thought I'd have to leave home, not even for a battle. Fort Sumter was the spark. The South fired the first shots. It was April 1861. The Confederates attacked the Union-held fort in South Carolina. We tried to hold it, but we had to surrender after two days of constant bombardment. That’s when I knew the war was real. Then came the Battle of Bull Run. We marched in hot, sweaty lines down to Virginia. Everyone thought we’d win fast. Some folks even followed us with picnic baskets like it was a parade. But the battle was chaotic. The Confederates didn’t run. That’s when we heard the “rebel yell.” It was loud and wild.

Suddenly, everything fell apart. Union soldiers ran in all directions. I was almost caught in the stampede! I dropped my hat and barely kept hold of my rifle. I made it through the battle, but just barely. We lost, and I realized this war wouldn’t be easy.

After Bull Run, I got sent to a camp with the Army of the Potomac. General McClellan said we needed more training, and he was right. We drilled every day. I got sick with whooping cough but improved after a while. It was rough.

To pass the time, I picked up an old banjo someone had left behind. I didn’t know how to play at first, but I kept practicing. Soon, I could play “John Brown’s Body,” and the boys would sing along in the evenings. It made the war feel a little less scary. We’re still waiting to fight again. But now I know it’s not a game. It’s war.

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July 21, 1861.

The Battle of Bull Run was a terrifying emotional roller coaster. My adrenaline was pumping, and I was confident that we would win this battle. I was excited for my first win since I joined the Union. All of a sudden, everything fell apart, and we were forced to retreat. I was so embarrassed that I accidentally dropped my rifle while I was running away. As I was making my retreat, I watched as my Captain was cut in two by a shell. My body completely froze in shock, and I tripped over myself. The moment replayed over and over in my head, and I didn’t know what to do, but I knew if I didn’t move, I might meet the same fate. I picked myself up and ran as hard as I could. After the Battle of Bull Run, General McClellan decided that we still needed more training. I became a part of the “Army of the Potomac”. I caught whooping cough, but recovered pretty quickly. I also learned how to play the banjo as a pastime. I learned how to play a song called John Brown’s Body.

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April 12, 1861.

I’m 16 years old and I grew up in a family of slave owners. I strongly disagree with all of my family’s political beliefs, so I ran away from home to join the Union. I lied about my age and said I was 18, and to my surprise, they believed me and let me join. I was proud to finally be able to fight for what I believe in. America is supposed to be a free country, and I believe that includes the slaves. Fort Sumter was pretty traumatizing, though. We were bombarded by Confederate forces and forced to surrender. Although we had no casualties during the battle, two of our soldiers were killed in an accidental explosion during our surrender ceremony. I can still see the explosion when I try to sleep sometimes.

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It was day 2 of The Battle of Gettysburg, it was dark and some of the soldiers were sleeping and some were alert. I was one of them that were alert we would switch to what felt like around 1 ish hours. IN this moment I was always felt unable to sleep so I didn’t mind watching out. Soon later I heard distant sounds like footsteps and whispers; low rumble I heard. Then right after cannons went off. We quickly woke up the other soldiers and waited to hear for anymore sounds. I was waiting for a close footstep or gun to go off with my heart pounding so fast I couldn’t focus on what footsteps were near or not. Then I had felt a gunshot go right through my hand i was so stunned; looking around to see who had shot me with my hand in so much pain I was unsure with it just starting to get light there were many soldiers around. One of the guys seen my hand shot he had helped me tie it up with one of socks and I was able to stay in command. As this wasn’t hard enough for me to handle later in the day it started to get so hot it had felt like we got rained on with sweat and heat. It started to get so hot and I had no water to drink around. I started to feel dizzy and my head started to hurt so bad. I stood there for a second trying to regain my strength but i had collapsed from the heat. A nurse found me and gave me a little water. She took me to a medical tent where they were helping the hurt soldiers. Some people were really bad off. I was lucky they said I just had dehydration so I was one of the mild cases. I was glad I didn’t get hurt worse.

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Over the three days of battle, I cried, barfed, screamed, and mourned over many bodies; Confederate and Union soldiers, known or not. The first day, I was caught off guard while eating scraps by myself. I was told to stop and gear up immediately. I was beyond ready, considering 30 minutes of marching. I embarrassed myself by barfing up my sorry dinner. I was already exhausted by day two, no food, no sleep, and little water. At least we managed to dominate the hill. I don't understand war tactics, but I believe the hill gave us a better position for snipers.I was finally able to get sleep that night. We took turns being on the lookout for each other while some slept. The next day, the last day, the Confederates made a real dumb move: moving in open land. We won the battle of Gettysburg, and all I yearned for these 3 years was my family. The next day, one of my friends yelled out my name when they asked for volunteer doctors. I had to haul limbs back and forth to essentially drop the limbs on a mound. I kept throwing up, despite wanting to be a doctor all my life. I don't think I ever will again after this civil war. While assisting, I saw a group of people walk in with "Mild" injuries. They look like absolute zombies. Until... I saw Bob with a cane poking around at everything. I walk up to him after cleaning myself up, he got startled. I look at the bandages at understood. He was shot behind the eyes and now he's blind. Turns out you can survive with a part of your brain being pierced. I felt bad and helped patch him up. It's safe to say he'll go home at least a week later. I'll miss the guy. He was like a big brother to all of us newbies at the start of the war.

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Hi, it's me again. There have been many terrible things these past days. We did outnumber the Confederates. Their spies realized we knew about Lee dividing his troops, so he brought them back together. Our leader could've ended the war, but he missed the opportunity. It's okay though, in the end we still won the battle. Thank the lord that Lincoln fired him.

During the Battle of Antietam, I thankfully survived. I am really happy that I have lived through that traumatic experience. After the battle, I read a lot of the new newspaper articles. They were talking about how Lincoln was planning to issue an Emancipation Proclamation very soon. This meant that many slaves in the South would be free. While this is a good thing, I fear that the Confederates will fight against us even harder.

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Mary "Arthur" Jane, 1862 (Ruth Hinojosa) Blog #3

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Mary "Arthur" Jane, 1862 (Ruth Hinojosa) Blog #3

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If I recall correctly, about two months later, General Lee plotted an invasion of Yankee territory, hoping to shut down the railroads at D.C.

Word from spies was relayed to us, stating that McCellan was well aware of the fact that General Lee had split his troops in half.

Under the unforgiving sun, I was stationed in a defensive position among many other soldiers behind the creek of Antietam.

Boy ... being in the army done polished my patience real nicely.

Whole lotta waiting and stalling we had to do until my pocket watch hit dawn.

That was until I was startled by the harsh noise of a BANG, followed by a grueling collapse of a heavy object.

With an unsteady Pirouette, my head snapped to the source of the noise -- but I was nearly knocked over by the other fellow Rebels, who fiercely fought off the armed forces.

I felt a shockwave of terror scatter across my paralyzed form, witnessing the macabre scenery unfold right before me.

A sense of anguish and horror bubbled in my chest like a tea kettle threatening to overflow, and I collapsed beside the carcass of a fallen soldier.

The stench of gunpowder assaulted my nostrils, and there was so much blood you could practically relish the metallic aftertaste of the ichor.

When a group of Yankees zipped right past me, I stumbled back up -- prepared to make a run for it.

A million thoughts rushed through my head as I began to desert the blood bath.

What was I thinking? Oh, Arthur, what have you gotten yourself into? In search of a man who is most likely deceased, like the rest of them.

But as I began to make a run for it, a man dashed right at me with a murderous intent set ablaze in his eyes. Once he crashed into me and we landed harshly, he reached for his pocket knife -- struggling as we rolled downhill.

We engaged in a poor excuse for a catfight, and we vigorously tumbled around the cornfield.

Just as he aimed the tip of his Bowie knife right at my airway, I drew out the holstered pistol resting on the side of my hip -- and in a panic, I pulled the trigger.

The Yankee only managed to scrape at my neck, while he fell backward and landed between my sore ankles.

I rushed back up to my feet, flabbergasted and barely registering what had happened. But before I could make my escape, I felt a haunting hand grapple onto my ankles, which halted my movements.

A loud, piercing screech evacuated the premises of my mouth, and I plummeted back to the ground once my feet lodged themselves out of my shoes.

With blood tainting my once sun-kissed face, and like the coward I was, I fled and regrouped with the remainder of the surviving Rebels.

As I lay traumatized back at camp, the horrid sight of the fallen Yankee I had slain was haunting every waking moment of my life. I had killed out of self-defense, but the thought didn't soothe the guilt that invaded my morale.

If things couldn't get worse, Lincoln, the president of the Union, issued a future Proclamation that would free every slave belonging to the Confederate states.

Casmire and I had never owned slaves during our time on the farm. It wasn't like he disagreed with the concept of slavery, nor did his mother. But she insisted that he had to do everything himself, and if he really wanted extra hands, we could well ... have offspring. But I never entertained the idea of children, it wasn't my top priority to bear his kids. Disgusting, really.

How I missed Casmire.

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Hi, it's Maria. Some things have been happening over the last few days that I can't really explain. I'll try, but it'll be hard to.

For one, I’m proud to be part of the Union. Today, everything changed. Fort Sumter was attacked, and now the war has really started. I’m nervous, but if we win, my people could finally be free. But I can’t stop thinking, what if we lose? I could hear people shouting in the streets. Soldiers were rushing to get ready. We all knew the war was coming, but it still hit me hard, like a cannon blast.

For the past few months, I’ve been helping Miss Harriet Tubman with the Underground Railroad. She trusts me to carry messages, hide people so they can be free, and move supplies. She treats me like I matter, and that gives me strength. She says this war isn’t just about land; it’s about freedom. I believe her.

My parents were born into slavery, but they escaped before I was born. Because of them, I grew up free. Now it’s my turn to fight in the ways I can. When I heard the first gunshots, I froze. I wasn’t there, but I could feel it deep inside. I’m scared, but I’m even more angry. Angry that people still treat others like property. Angry that we have to fight just to be free.

I helped pack food, clothes, and supplies for the soldiers. My hands shook, not because I’m weak, but because I know how real this is now. No more waiting. No more silence. Even girls like me have a part to play. This war is going to be long and hard, but I won’t let fear stop me, not when so many lives depend on what we do.

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9/21/1892

Hi, it’s Callie again. The battle of Antietam was frightening. It was bloody, everywhere you looked there was bodies and blood. At least our side won! The union! Sigh, we suffered casualties of 12,400. I was sent to go search in the fields. I was already tired enough, but I wanted to show my strength so I accepted the adventure. I legs ache as I walk through the muggy fields. Then, I come upon a drummer boy, as I looked closer.. he passed away. My heart pounded, and felt really sad after that. I slowly walked out of the fields.

Wow! The Emacipation Proclamation, this is outstanding! This is going to completely change the war, and our hopes and dreams are really coming true. We’re preserving the union, equal end that stigma. Slavery!! We are so happy and proud, Lincoln sees this as his greatest achievement! And we see this as our greatest blessing, how could this get any better!?

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) April 12, 1861 (blog #1)

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James Baker (Ethan Abella) April 12, 1861 (blog #1)

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I joined the Union. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I don’t regret the choice I made, despite the trauma that I had to overcome. The sounds of rifles shooting, the thundering noise of the cannons as the massive bullets came at us, the cries of my comrades calling for help, the blood on my hands as I struggled to try and cover their wounds. It’s an experience I’d rather not talk about. Like I said, I don’t regret the choice I made. Part of why I participated in the war was because I wanted to get out of this darn farm life, but joining the Union also lined up with my political views. People should be treated equally, and having human beings be used as tools and being physically abused is not okay. America is a free country, which is why we should work to free slaves. Thankfully, not many casualties occurred, but we surrendered. It was a loss for us.

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Elijah Carter (George M.) 9/18/1862 Blog #3

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Elijah Carter (George M.) 9/18/1862 Blog #3

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antietam was wild i thought bull run and the other battles were bad but this was worse. we walked a long way to get to maryland and i was so tired. the night before i couldn’t sleep everyone was scared. when the sun came up the fighting started right away. it was so loud cannons and guns and people yelling everywhere. i played my drum but my hands were shaking. the ground was all mud and i saw people fall down. some were my friends. i tried not to look but i couldn’t help it.

i helped get water for the hurt soldiers. there were too many. the doctors were running around and i heard someone say this was the bloodiest day ever. the creek looked red and the smoke made it hard to breathe. when it was over i was so tired. we didn’t win but the other side didn’t win either. i felt empty inside. that night i wrote in my journal and tried to understand everything. i miss home and my family. i wish the war would end but i know i gotta keep helping. war is hard but maybe one day it will be better