1. Lives of Civil War Participants
INTRODUCTION
We begin our study of the Civil War in the cemetery because hundreds of thousands would lose
their lives fighting for constitutional principle, sectional differences, economic self-interest, and
moral righteousness. As a defining moment in United States history, our Civil War has no equal,
which is why it remains such a fascinating subject even today.
TASK
Your task is to wear the boots of an American citizen between 1861 and 1865. Today they are
found in cemeteries, in books, on film and on the World Wide Web. You will choose a role from
the list below and visit related Web sites to learn details of their lives. You will write a seven day
first-person diary from the frame of reference of the role you choose.
ROLES
African American Slave
African American Freeman
Army Chaplain
Army Doctor
Army Nurse
Confederate General
Confederate Infantry Soldier
Prisoner of War
Union General
Union Infantry Soldier
War correspondent/photographer
PROCESS
1. Select your role. No more than three people in the class may share the same role.
2. Visit Web resources listed below to find information about your character.
3. Research the role you have chosen including the following focus questions:
What is your name? Your family background?
What city and state are you from? Are you for the North or South?
What work are you doing in the Civil War? What tools do you use?
Why do you think this work is important?
What beliefs form your support of your side of the war?

2. Look for details that differentiate your “life” in the 1860s from similar roles today. Find
photographs that illustrate the clothing , weapons, and housing of the times. Feel free to copy and
paste these images into your final document.
4. Write a 7-day diary of your life. These days do not need to be consecutive, but they do need to
match up with specific days and events during the Civil War. List all resources you use during
your research — web sites, books, encyclopedias, videos, etc. Use Today in Civil War History
to match up your person to actual battles and incidents. Each of your seven days must correlate
to an event listed on that web site. Go to the site, pick a date and event, act like your character
was there.
*If you are a slave, you are somewhat exempt from the “Today in Civil War History”
part, but you must describe daily life before being free, when the troops come, and afterwards.
* If you are a free black (I assume North but it does not have to be) you can report on
how you feel about the Union winning or losing battles as if you heard them from the newspaper
or others. Explain your life as well.
*If you are a prisoner of war, do not get captured right away. Try to go to at least a few
battles before you get caught and then describe prison life. You may include being liberated as
well.
5. Add images to your diary to help explain some point being made.
6. Please list the sources you used in compiling this diary. Copy and paste web addresses where
appropriate, and include them in your final project.
RESOURCES
Each of these will have information about your role. Do not stop with just one. Look at three,
minimum. Make notes so you can tell where you found your information.
Home Page: American Memory from the Library of Congress
The American Civil War Homepage
Civil War Electronic Text Center
Camp Life: The Daily Routine of Soldiers
Civil War Potpourri: Great information about the Civil War that fits no particular category.
The Civil War Home Page
U.S. Civil War Center