6th Children of the Civil War by Tracie Connor https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8 Made with joy en-us 2018-04-24 14:19:54 UTC 2025-11-15 08:21:00 UTC hello@padlet.com Kathryn Burger kathryn_m_burger https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254917528 “War means fighting, and fighting means killing” This quote by Nathan Bedford Forrest portrays the grueling and fatal events that are caused by the Civil War. It was more difficult for a child to live on the frontline during the Civil War because they have to bear the deadly and horrific scenes that no child in their lifetime should have to live through. 
According to document A on the frontline Michael and John says in their diary, “One hundred have died within the last 24 hours.” This horrific line from the text shows what happens to children when entering the war. It explains the difficult times that they have to live through and experience. The Civil War created children involved to become incredibly mature and possibly mentally and emotionally unstable because of witnessing so many deaths.
In addition according to document F on the frontline Charles states in a letter to his mother, “My first battle is over and I saw nearly all of it.” This terrifying quote from the text proves that the events can truly be a damaging time to a child’s innocence after entering the war. This horrendous scene that children in the war experience can never be removed from their mind and young people like Charles will have to live with the occurances forever. 
All in all, a child living on the front line during the Civil War is more difficult because of the life-threatening events that they have to live through and experience.
]]> 2018-04-24 16:28:10 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254917528 Bella A https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254917861 Being a child, it was more difficult to live on the front line instead of the home front during the Civil War.
Boys in the front line physically fought against the opposing side during the civil war.
Knowing about the boys who physically fought in the war shows how it was difficult living on the front line. They experienced what is was like to fight against the people who were once apart of the same country. They found what it was like to live life in dangerous places while trying to fight. Sacrificing their lives for their country, putting their lives in danger for a serious problem across the nation. In comparison to people who lived on the homefront, the frontline sacrificed a lot more by physically fighting in the war.
The front line experienced the traumas of both soldiers who were alive and who were deceased while fighting.
This shows how traumatic the events were for the front line. Imagine being friends with someone during this time and watch them slowly sie in front of you. Events like this can put someone in a state of shock, depression, etc. Fighting for a cause for 5 years will cause people to become closer to one another, the more it becomes like this the more traumatic it is to see someone close die. Unlike the homefront, the front line had to experience death and loss in such a quick way that the people in the homefront almost never had experienced. Seeing people who are mangled and taking their last breath will do something to someone. Thus, showing how the traumatic events that the front line experienced is more mind boggling than the homefront.]]> 2018-04-24 16:28:55 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254917861 Jack Gardner https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254917936 It was more difficult to live and fight on the front-line than sitting around on the home-front.

This is shown when the text states “We are without a merry home to come home to during the holidays”. This shows it’s harder to live on the front-line because they have no stable homes or safe houses to go to on holidays. Also they have no family to celebrate with on fun and special occasions. Another quote from the text that states front-line was more difficult is “My dear sir: It is with deep regret that I am compelled to inform you of the death of your son”. This quote shows that it’s more difficult to live on the front-line because you are at severe risk of death or serious injury. Meanwhile people on the home-front are knitting and tending to the garden. All in all it is much harder to be fighting and risking your life on the front-line than  sitting home and taking care of the house on the home-front.]]> 2018-04-24 16:29:07 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254917936 Ben Nickels https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918121 It was more difficult to live on the front line during the civil war.
In Document A it says “We lost poor Henry Simmers, the drummer of company G during the night.” In the front line these kids will see lots of death. Their friends or even their enemies they see die. These are horrific events that kids will mostly only experience on the front line. Kids on the home front are safe from the dangers of death.
Later on in document A it says, “It was hard to be homeless at this merry season when folks up north were having such happy times.” This makes it harder to live on the frontline because they do not have the pleasures of what it is to be like on the homefront. They had to save up their money so they could celebrate christmas with their fellow friends. It is better than having nothing but the problem is that they don’t have any family with them to celebrate christmas with, which is always about spending time with your family.
For kids on the front line it is harder to live and have a good overall experience than if they were on the home front.
]]> 2018-04-24 16:29:31 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918121 Isabella Gonzalez https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918208 The homefront and frontline was groups of people that were part of the infamous Civil War. The civil war was and still is an important historical event. It was north America against south America. Many people were involved in this event. Children, Grandparents, and adults were all included. Those three groups of people all got affected by this war. However, I do believe children had it the hardest. But what exactly is the homefront and frontline? The homefront is “the people who stay in their own country during a foreign war”. Whereas the frontline “is the place where two opposing armies are facing each other and where fighting is going on.” Children had it the worst. They had to see and feel many awful things. In the end as a child, it was more difficult on the homefront during the Civil War.
For instance, Emma Leconte said that “I have seen it all - I have seen the 'Abomination of Desolation.' It is even worse than I thought. The place is literally in ruins. The entire heart of the city is ashes. Standing in the center of town, as far as the eye can reach, nothing to be seen but heaps of rubbish, tall dreary chimneys and shattered brick walls.... Poor old Columbia - where is all her beauty so admired by strangers, so loved by her children! The wind moans among the black chimneys and whistles through the gaping windows.... I reached home sad at heart.” This is showing what the children have to see when the war is over. They have to see their homes gone. This is harder for the children because if a family member died then they have nothing. No home, no family, no food, no water, literal nothing. Also children shouldn’t have to suffer like this. They are young they shouldn’t experience this.
Not mention, Tillie Pierce also said “On this evening, the number of wounded brought to [Weikert’s farm] was indeed appalling. They were laid in different parts of the house. The orchard and space around the buildings were covered with the shattered and dying and the barn became more and more crowded. The scene had become terrible beyond description.” Children have to see family members with wounds all over them. It is harder to be the person seeing it then be the person. Especially family. You have to see a loved one being injured, usually severely. Sometimes even death which is bad because when you're dead you don’t feel anything but your loved ones do. Children have to suffer seeing people cut open. Some adults can’t even take seeing blood what makes anyone think that children can too. 
In the end, during the civil war being a child it was more difficult on the homefront. Seeing wounded men and everything demolished is hard for a child. Some might even agree that it is harder to live on the homefront than the frontline. Which is true because not every child has to go to war but when they do it can be hard but the homefront is still harder. 
]]> 2018-04-24 16:29:43 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918208 Wyatt VanDeVoorde https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918827  As a child, it is more difficult to live on the front lines than in the home front. In the front lines you are at high risk for disease and dying than in the home front. In the home front depending of where you live you may be having a tough time with covering for your missing family members, financially, etc. If you lived in the front lines you in almost constant danger. Sometimes you have to march for days non-stop to go fight the Union or Confederates.   if you were of the front line you may have to watch a friend or family member die in front of you. Killing someone close is one of the hardest decision any person could make, For what a simple idea like slavery.  It's awful no matter how you slice it killing someone close to you. Living in the home front is nothing compared to living of front line because you are at higher risk to be casualty.  Also you may have to kill a family member or friend in the middle of battle. ]]> 2018-04-24 16:31:21 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918827 Kennedi https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918966      As a child, it was more difficult to live on the front line during the Civil War because the challenges faced were bigger. 
     A letter from Charles Bardeen, a fifteen year old, stated, “I saw wounded men of shot and shell and almost decimated...I saw wounded men brought in by the hundred and dead men lying stark on the field.”These children were running into the danger with a ton of bravery and courage. They didn’t stand back and try to protect themselves from the dangerous conditions, they ran towards them in order to fight for their side (union or confederate). It takes a very strong person to risk their life by fighting instead of trying to save their life be seeking shelter.
     Children on the front line see more traumatic events and face worse conditions. A diary or journal from a 16 & 17 year old, Michael Dougherty and John McElroy, states, “teir faces black with grime and pinched with pain and hunger”. These child soldiers are not only watching people suffer, but are suffering themselves. They have poor shelter, not a lot of food,etc. It’s sickening to watch that, however, these children choose to fight still so their side (union or confederate) could attempt and hopefully win. Most children can’t even imagine that. 
     Overall, as a child, it was more difficult to live on the front line due to the obstacles faced. They experienced much more traumatic events and were always risking their lives. 













]]> 2018-04-24 16:31:39 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254918966 Lillia Kaye https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254919016 2018-04-24 16:31:45 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254919016 Olivia Zak https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254919044 It was more difficult as a child to live on the front lines for many reasons.One reason is they fought through the holidays. In the document it states, “We have been having Christmas in Jubilee.” It shows how they were still in war during holidays and they had to find happiness while the war was going on. They also couldn’t be with their families or even know what was going on with them. Another reason is, the disease risk was horrible. In the text it says, “had been in feeble health for four or five weeks, and had just gotten over a spell of Measles when he was attacked, as his physician said, with Typhoid Fever, but I think it was a relapse from the Measles, and [he] died in five days…” There was no way of preventing disease. There were so much events and things that could have caused the disease that it was hard to avoid. Some people didn’t even die because of the war, they died of disease. That is why it was more difficult for a child to live on the front lines.]]> 2018-04-24 16:31:49 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254919044 Frankie Scarpelli https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254919074 The home front and front line were two different dangerous lifestyles that children had to live through during the civil war, but of the two, As a child, it was more difficult to live on the front line during the Civil War.
   “My dear sir: It is with deep regret that I am compelled to inform you of the death of your son, Langdon… ...as the physician said, with typhoid fever, but I think it was a relapse of the measles, and he died in five days…” In this excerpt of document C, it is shown that the children on the front line were vulnerable to diseases, which at times like the one stated, could be deadly.
   “There were millions and millions of all kinds of vermin here, flies, bugs, maggots and lice, some of them as large as spiders. If they once get the best of you, you are a goner.” In this excerpt of document B, it is explained that there are large creatures that children and other soldiers are vulnerable to , that can kill you if they get the best of you only once, which makes it highly dangerous for soldiers to live in these conditions.
   As told by these two experiences, it is shown that as a child, it was more difficult to live on the front line during the Civil War.]]> 2018-04-24 16:31:55 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/254919074 Danielle danielle_a_webber https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255026729   As a child, it was more difficult to live on the home front of the Civil War than to live on the front line because the people on the home front’s life styles had to change, they were constantly worried, and they were in danger because of the ammunition from the war.
  A diary entry from Warren Leander, a child, wrote, “Some of the boys wanted to see where the shells were coming from, so they climbed the trees nearby.  About that time a shell came over that way- they did not climb down, but fell down.”  Warren explains that civilian’s as well as children’s lives were at stake from the ongoing war that was being fought near their homes.  Children and civilians are suppose to be safe in their towns but this war was putting their lives at stake.  A young mother, Mary Loughborough wrote in her diary on May 19th sometime around 1860, “So constantly dropped the shells around the city, that the inhabitants had made all preparations to live under the ground during the siege.”  Mary was explaining that the war made the civilians in the town live underground just to stay safe.  This war was so terrible that they had to change their living conditions just to stay safe.  Also, seeing these bullets must have messed with the civilians minds because it constantly reminded them of all the death and tragedy that was happening around them.  In short, the home front had a more difficult time during the Civil War.  Although the soldiers on the front line experienced death right in front of their eyes they left their families to do all the work that they were missing.  The soldiers also caused their families to worry which made them even more tense when they say the shells flying over and into their town.]]> 2018-04-24 20:29:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255026729 Carley Faulkner https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255033763 “Civil War leaves nothing but tombs” this quote from Alphonse De Lamartine represents the scary and dangerous events that younger soldiers had to witness during the civil war. Many kids and possibly adults have to face all of these risks of being on the front line. Other soldiers had to overcome fatal digression from being on the front line and not witnessing what the home front people got to enjoy.
According to document A, William B, 15 years old, said “It was hard to be homeless from the war at this merry season when folks up North were having such happy times.” Therefore this shows, that being in the Front Line was way worse for them then the people on the Home front. While the soldiers were fighting and experiencing very dangerous situation, other people that was living on the home front gotta celebrate and does not have to experience live-risking wars. The soldiers had to experience something no other person should experience in their lifetime. On the journey there was also many hardships that came along with fighting in a war. Living on the Home front is not nearly as bad then living on the Front line.
According to document F, Charles Bardeen, age 15 said “My first battle is over and I saw nearly all of it… Saturday the hardest fighting was done… I saw wounded men brought in by the hundred and dead men lying stark on the field” In addition, being in the front line comes with witnessing gruesome things and scary hardships. Seeing all of the battle must have been uncomfortable seeing all the deaths and possibly the people dying from the other side. In conclusion, living on the front line is way more gruesome and dangerous then living on the home front.

]]> 2018-04-24 20:57:58 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255033763 Ben Burt https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255039759 Life was much harder for children on the frontline than it was for children on the homefront.
For starters, the children on the frontline had to deal with the thought that they might die. Which isn’t an easy thought to digest. And as we learned in history about all the tech of the time, those chances of death were rising ever more. While their family members would obviously hate the fact that there boy died and would mourn for him, it doesn’t compare to the fact that death is it. Once you’re killed that’s it.  While their family members would obviously hate the fact that there boy died and would mourn for him and that in it's own right is terrible, it doesn’t compare to the fact that death is it. Once you’re killed that’s it. No second chances. And to have to cope with the fact that you could die as soon as within the next hour would be a terrible thought for someone, especially a kid to go through.
 Kind of again going on the idea of death, even if a boy soldier doesn’t die in combat, the things he would see would be absolutely awful, people with missing limbs, heads. The dead everywhere. In one text, a soldier describes the “pile of bodies”. The screams of the wounded and dying are according to soldiers throughout wars, are some of the most traumatizing things a person can hear. Seeing a pile of body’s or hearing the screams, just seeing the things war can do to humans or completely and totally awful. Maybe not hearing from a loved one for awhile can be very scary not knowing if they’re alive or not. But it doesn’t come even close to seeing the horrors of war first hand.





]]> 2018-04-24 21:30:46 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255039759 Alexis Becerra https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255050415 2018-04-24 22:59:55 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255050415 Kayla Rodriguez https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255242879 As a child, it would be more difficult to live on the homefront during the Civil War because they face more obstacles and hardships that are tough to encounter only as a kid.
     According to Document A, Carrie Berry writes, “We have been in the cellar all day…” and “We did not feel safe in our own cellar…”
     This shows that living on the homefront as a child would be more difficult because it shows how the people had to hide in their own homes, with shells and fights happening right outside them. It also demonstrates how unsafe kids and their parents were, even in their own house, because an enemy soldier could just barge through the door, kill, rob, or hurt them just because they’re the opposing side. The kids also had to stay in their basements all day, unable to go upstairs to eat, play with friends, or run around and have fun.        
     According to Document B, Tillie Piece, age 15 writes, “. . . striving in vain to keep up… falling and, crying…” and “clad almost in rags… firing left and right.”
     This shows that it was harder living on the homefront because at just age 15, kids like Tillie had to experience these things, struggling to survive or not go insane will bullets whizzing past your head and other people dying all around you. It would be especially hard if a loved one or friend died near you, and you wouldn’t be able to do anything because you would be too busy running away or hiding. 
     In conclusion, living on the homefront during the Civil War has proven to be more difficult and hardening than going out in the front lines.]]> 2018-04-25 14:12:10 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255242879 Abraham Christian abraham_g_christian https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255259106 I think that during the Civil War it would be more difficult to be on the front line as a child than it was to be on the home front for many reasons.    
       One reason as to why it is harder on the front line is because of the lonely, and sad celebrations during the happiest times of the year. In document D it states “We have been having a Christmas Jubilee” 
      With all the soldiers away from their family it must be rougher for them to find any spirit during the holidays. Although the people on the home front are missing their loved one at war as well the soldiers have to deal with the rough living conditions, and smaller rations of food. At home the family can enjoy themselves and celebrate the exact same and still be comfortable at home while their family member is without their family and eating different food and having different traditions rather than being at home. Also the soldier has to worry about being attacked directly at anytime. That is one reason as to why the front line is harder than the home front.
         In document F there is another reason as to why it is much more difficult and terrifying on the front line rather than the home front, and  it states “ My first battle is over and I saw nearly all of it.” 
      On the front line people that these soldiers befriend have a large chance of passing away right in front of you. There is also many other things that a soldier can go through like getting something on their body amputated, getting infections and other illnesses and much more. On the other hand people on the home front are staying at home not having to deal with any of these things.
      Overall I believe that the front line is much harder and petrifying than the home front for many reasons and especially because of the circumstances on the front line and seeing people go down right in front of you.







]]> 2018-04-25 14:41:47 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255259106 Ansel Dias https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255325471 As a child, it was more difficult to live on the front line during the Civil War for many reasons. According to Document F Charles Bardeen writes “I saw wounded men brought in by the hundreds and dead men lying stark on the field… a loss of incalculable men, horses, cannon, small arms, knapsacks, and all implements of war, and I am discouraged” This shows that when in war, there are horrible sights of suffering soldiers that could possibly be you and a person you really cared for. The moaning, and terrible screams can scar you for life and mentally and physically cause you to give up and be demoralized by the sight. If this could already be hard enough to a adult, imagine a promising 15 year old watching hundreds of people adding to the death toll and pleading for help. This would completely change his life and make it hard to live it in his war career. According to Document B “There are millions and millions of all kinds of vermin here, flies, bugs, maggots and lice, some of them as large as spiders. If they once get the best of you, you are a goner. A great many of the prisoners are hopelessly crazy, starvation, disease and vermin being the cause….” In the Civil War, there was not a lot of medicine and remedies back then so disease was very common, and also, after some got shot or needed a surgery, there was a huge chance of infection when gangrene spread which killed most people back then and making it hard to recover. Also there is the amount of bugs that could carry these diseases like to listed above. If you were shot or injured, life would be very, very grim for you. All in all, children in the front line of the Civil War had a much harder time living mentally and physically  than children living in the front line.


]]> 2018-04-25 16:33:12 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255325471 Aiden A https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255347645 2018-04-25 17:13:55 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255347645 Aiden Saez https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255466242 It is more difficult to live on the front lines then to live on the home front. It is harder because you have a higher chance of dying and getting hurt then you do in the home front. In the home front, vandalism and possibly other soldiers will be in that town and try to hurt you where in the front lines soldiers will always try to hurt you. In both sides they wonder if each other is ok. But in the front lines they worry about their family being ok, their homes being ok, their belongings being ok, and if the enemy is close and if they are going to win. The home front isn't that easy]]> 2018-04-25 23:58:36 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255466242 Lillia Kaye jonathan_w_kaye https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255508941 I think that it was equally difficult for children living on the homefront and frontline during the Civil War because of the dangerous situations that they were faced with, and being forced to grow up. Both of these groups had their own dangers of death and injury, including shells and fire on the homefront, and guns and battle on the frontline. In document A of the homefront, Carrie Berry writes, “Aug. 9. We have had to stay in the cellar all day the shells have been falling so thick around the house. Two have fallen in the garden, but none of us were hurt....”. Neither group was really safe from the battles, resulting in many deaths on both sides. Even though the homefront wasn't actually a battlefield, they couldn’t escape the war. There was no way to hide from the war unless you took flight to another country. The homefront and frontline were both faced with making their youth and grow up and lose their childhood. In document E of the front line, Private Harvey Reid states that “Everybody in the regiment likes Johnnie because he is a good little boy, is always pleasant and polite and not saucy…. His mother sent him a suit of clothes made exactly like officer’s clothes...”. This shows that the younger generation was being put in positions that were designed for grown adults that were experienced and have lived their life already. Although both sides faced their own difficulties, the homefront and frontline faced equally difficult and dangerous situations throughout the Civil War.]]> 2018-04-26 04:51:31 UTC https://padlet.com/tconnor/cf5jjyiq2mh8/wish/255508941