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Children in the American Civil War

The number of men killed in the American Civil War totals nearly 500,000, but the effect children is too great to number. Children made up one-third of the population during the war, and fought the war every day of their lives (Widowski, 36). Many tales are told of children during the war, which lasted four years, between 1861 and 1865. Many children were orphaned, involved or affected tremendously by the Civil War.

Children were orphaned by the Civil War, as fathers were killed constantly. In fact, the Kentucky Brigade was named the Orphan Brigade, as so many fathers were killed (Herold, 36). The thirteen Confederate States had little infrastructure to help the widowed and orphaned. For example, many women and children starved to death in rural areas. Little was available to help Southerners whose lives were wrecked by America's costliest war. No pension plan for veterans, widows and orphans was even established until 1890. Orphans of the Southern states suffered greater losses, as more Federal resources were made available to Union Veterans and their families (Heidler, 442).

Children were either a material aid to the Civil War, or helped to make ammunition. Because children's fingers were so tiny, many worked with their mothers in munition plants. Younger girls stayed at home and knitted clothes, canned food, made bandages and fed the troops. Many children served as spies, drummers or buglers for both the Confederate and Union armies. Many children fought in the Confederate and Union armies. One such hero, Private Edwin Francis Jemison, served in the 2nd Louisiana Regiment, at age sixteen (Widowski, 36). Children from the North and South were closely involved in the Civil War.

In conclusion, children were affected tremendously by the Civil War. Social upheaval and economic devastation made life difficult for all children. Let us learn from America's costliest war, in order to protect children from senseless violence.
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WORKS CITED:

Heidler, David and Jeanne. Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social and Military History. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2000.

Herold, Victoria. "The Orphan Brigade". United Daughters of the Confederacy Magazine LLX.6 (2007): 36.

Widowski, Victoria. "Children During the War". United Daughters of the Confederacy Magazine LXX.4 (2007): 36.

Posted by: Helen P. Nash

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