"War is sorrowful, but there is one thing infinitely more horrible than the worst horrors of war, and that is the feeling that nothing is worth fighting for" said my father, John Palmer. It was a cold winter day on December 31st 1864.The Civil War was a way to settle state rights, taxes, and slavery. I was only 5 when the Civil War struck our nation. Hundreds of men, women, and children toiled around me hoping that the next day would improve. Everyone would work together to get their jobs accomplished.

In this picture I was holding my younger sister, Ruth, while my brother, Zach, watched over his six month old Labrador retriever. Surrounding us were large white canvases and hundreds of camp fires. My dad was cutting down logs to make our hut that we would share with several other people. My mom, Rosemary Palmer, was holding a basket filled with rubber blankets and clothing soon to be washed.

My brother would act as a burglar or spy for the Union soldiers, helping them keep a look out. Boys a little older then him would act as drummer boys, having to stand in front of both armies before a battle and be the main target declaring the war to begin. Luckily he wasn’t old enough for this dangerous mission. They would also sort mail, dig trenches, and shine shoes. I enjoyed playing hiding-seek with my younger siblings and some other kids around. These were the few days of smiling faces.

In my days women were not aloud to travel with the men so they would stay behind and help prepare meals for when the soldiers came back. The food they prepared would usually last for up to three days. That included meats and breads that were boiled over the campfires. They would call the hard tack food "tooth dullers." I hated eating those they would feel like rocks in my mouth. My favorite dish would be rice, beans, and potatoes. The women would also sometimes train with weapons and heal the wounded. As for my mom she would clean dishes and clothes.

After this traumatic life of war and hard work, I can finally see the war fading. The dead bodies are being vanished from the battle fields. The new nation is stronger, people have more rights, and slaves are now free. The Industrial Revolution has allowed more jobs to be offered. Moreover, I see the country has begun to rejuvenate. The desire for freedom traveled deeper than the color of skin and farther than the borders of any state. “God bless America!”

Sources:

http://www.civilwar.com/

http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/

Yesterday on the morning of September 17, 1862, federal and confederate units began to gather the dead and the wounde3d from the battlefield in Sharpsburg, Antietam. This battle is know as the bloodiest battle in Civil War history, never before had so many soldiers fallen in combat in a single day.

On September 17, 1862, at first light General Joseph Hooker fired on the left side of the confederate army in Antietam. Meanwhile, General McClellan fought General Lee on a road that was separating the Roulette and Piper farms. This road is known as Bloody Lane because many more soldiers died at Bloody Lane than on the battlefield.

What is the reason for so many deaths? Well the battle started because Robert E. Lee wanted to keep going into the North. He felt confident when he won at the battle of “Bull Run”, but the number one cause of the battle in Sharpsburg, Antietam was because the South wanted recognition from Europe. And, when the North won this battle it caused Britain to think twice before joining the Confederacy.

This photograph was taken thirty minuets after the battle of Sharpsburg, Antietam. As you can see, in the picture many good men were killed fighting in the battle in Sharpsburg. 2,108 were killed, 9,549 were wounded, and 1,018 people were missing, but the missing was later found dead and many of the wounded would later die from their injuries.

The bloody battle lasted only one day, but in the end the battle of Sharpsburg left lots of soldiers dead. It left the union army victorious, only because General Lee and his army started to retreat back to the Potomac River. When the battle ended, it forever changed the course of The Civil War.

Sources:

http://americancivilwar.com/antiet.html

http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/md/md003.html

Two days ago on the day of July 22, the Battle of Atlanta took place where the Army of Tennessee and the Military Division of Mississippi fought for the land of Atlanta. Hood was the leader of the Military Division of Mississippi and was determined to attack the Army of Tennessee, who was lead by James B. McPherson. The Army of Tennessee was well defended with all their weapons ready to go, waiting for the attack.

Ships coming into the harbor unloaded weapons and military supplies for the Military Division of Mississippi. The ship, Atlanta made two huge efforts to stop this process. They did this so the Military Division of Mississippi didn’t have all the supplies they needed and would be short handed. However, the attack wasn’t strong enough and their attempt failed.

Hood then sent William J. Hardee with his troops on a fifteen-mile march to attack the area east of the city where the Army of Tennessee’s camp was located. All of the soldiers gathered their supplies and gun, the single-shot, for the long march and attack on the Army of Tennessee. With all the trouble they faced throughout the trip, they finally reached their desired place. Each of the soldiers loaded their guns and fired at the other army with some bullets barely missing their bodies. Throughout that attack hundreds of people were killed or injured and had to be cared for immediately at the field hospital.

The picture to the left is when the Military Division of Mississippi first attacked the Army of Tennessee’s camp. The attack destroyed many tents that were homes to the other soldiers. The ships that were coming in were when the Military Division of Mississippi received more supplies and weapons to make their attack stronger and unbeatable.

The Military division of Mississippi went back to their camp after they performed the attack preparing their weapons and finding better shelter to protect them. They did this because General John A. Logan was planning to lead a counterattack. They fought hard and tried their best, but the attack was too weak to gain the victory from the Military Division of Mississippi. The battle ended and the Military Division of Mississippi gained the land over the Army of Tennessee.

Sources:

www.civilwar.com

www.itd.hps.gov/cwss/

“The day had been a long one, but the evening seemed longer: the sun seemed to almost go backwards, and it appeared as if night would never come” said Confederate solider, James A. Graham, on September 17, 1862, right after the Burnside Bridge in Maryland was bombed.

As Lee moved across the Potomac River, he led an army of troops of about fifty thousand, and then he sent the majority of his army under General Stonewall Jackson, to Harper’s Ferry. They were to seize the area and open up supply roads to the Shenandoah Valley. Lee then stationed the rest of his army at Sharpsburg, Maryland near Antietam Creek.

The bombing of the Burnside Bridge was a major event of the Antietam Battle. The Confederate army had bombed the Burnside Bridge taking around eight lives, and leaving seven people critically injured from the debris of the bridge. A service will be held for those who lost loved ones, on September 25, at The Sharpsburg Courtyard.

The picture shown here was taken by Bill Brandt, a famous British photographer. Parts of the bridge remain, but much of the debris lay on the land and water, making it difficult for residents and workers to commute from one side of Antietam Creek to the other. In result, this inconvenience forces you take an alternative route, which is a ten to fifteen mile detour out of the way.

Without the bridge it isn’t just tough for cars to cross, it is also hard for boats and ships to come through when flotsams of the bridge are filling up and blocking the water ways. The bridge explosion is also affecting marine life leaving them with polluted and crowded waters, this is causing fisherman to not have a good supply of fish to sell in the local markets. “Looks like were having meat loaf tonight!” the Mayor of Sharpsburg quoted.

Both the Confederate and the Union withdrew from the battle, but Antietam was a major success for the Union, because Lee lost almost twenty-five percent of his men and gave up his plan to invade the North. The Battle of Antietam might just be one of the most important and bloodiest battles fought in the civil war.

With all lost Maryland has already begun their plans to rebuild the Burnside Bridge by mid March. As for now try to avoid any places around the Burnside Bridge until the area has been cleaned up.

Sources:

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575605/Battle_of_Antietam.html

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/civil/battle_1

Yesterday, April 7, 1862, the battle of Shiloh had finally ended. Confederates struck with the intentions of driving the Union defenders away from the Tennessee River, and into the swamps of Owl Creek to the west of the hunters nest, hoping to overthrow Grant’s army of Tennessee before it could link up with Major Don Carlos Buell’s army of Ohio.

Confederates were forced to retreat from the bloodiest battle yet of the United States ending their hopes that they could block the Union’s invasion of Northern Mississippi.

A great deal of fighting happened at the Peach Orchard, just yards away from the hunters nest. Bodies were left bloody and untouched all over the battle field. The swarm of flies inhaling the decomposing scent of death all around the bodies buzzed throughout the field.

Federal forces number about 40,000, out numbering Beauregard’s army of 30,000. Forcing Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston, the commander in the area, to fall back, giving up Kentucky, much of the West, and middle Tennessee. So while the sun was setting, the Union men cheered as they declared their victory.

In the end, 23,746 bodies lay on the blood soaked earth. The guns that were used in the battle were found broken and buried. Trees had fallen and grass was no where to be seen. Just yards away the creek was stained red from all of the soldiers washing off and some had even lost their lives. This battle was the bloodiest battle yet to come.

Sources:

www.Civilwar.com

Homepages.dsu.edu/jankej/civilwar/civilwar.html

Cold Harbor war ended today June 12, 1864. It was a long stretch seeing as how the war started May 31, of the same year with 16,000 men Confederate and Union gone into war, 15,500 where killed from both sides but unfortunately there is still worse to come.

The picture represents a grave yard with about 15,500 people who died for a war that only lasted two weeks. This is only a small percentage of what this war has in store for us.

The Confederate state came on strong with an estimated total of about 2,500 men dead while the Union lost an estimated 13,000 men totaling to about 15,000 men dead during this small battle.

Cold Harbor’s war was fought by Confederate and Union solders both fighting for many different reasons that they believe is right. The Confederate states, the southern part of the U.S, mostly want its own country where they can have slaves to help them with their agricultural products. We will have to wait and see how this horrid tragedy will end.

Sources:

http://www.civilwar.com/

http://homepages.dsu.edu/jankej/civilwar/civilwar.htm

Here come the Confederates charging down Herr Ridge at the North(Union). This battle took place in Gettysburg on July of 1863. The soldiers and armies that took part in this war are Archer’s Brigade, Davis’ Brigade, Heth, Buford, Reynolds, Devin’s Brigade, Meredith’s Brigade, Cutler’s Brigade, and Gamble’s Brigade. . . The North and South were at war because the South seceded from the North and they wanted to make them become part of the North again. The general for the Union is General Reynolds, the red is the Confederates and the blue is the Union. Devin’s and Gamble’s Brigade were both deployed east of Willoughby Run.

Yesterday, Archer’s Brigade had continued to attack down Herr Ridge. Then Wisconsin 6th surrounded half of Davis’ Brigade and the rest of them retreated back to Herr Ridge. For most of the war the North and South are fighting around Willoughby Run, Herr Ridge, McPherson’s Ridge, and also Seminary Ridge. Wisconsin 6th surrounded half of Davis’ Brigade and the rest of them retreated back to Herr Ridge.

About 7 of the states had wanted to secede from the North and become the South. The North didn’t want that to happen, so they decided to go to war with them but the south didn’t want to.

Both sides had thought that the war was going to be short, but the war wasn’t. The North and South also needed a little more training, and they knew that. The first battle the Confederates won, but the next battle the Union had won and they had also won the war.

Sources:

http://homepages.dsu.edu/jankej/civilwar/civilwar.htm

Type source 2 in correct format

An anonymous reporter has informed us that hospital on both sides of the battle fields are filling and that soon, they will have to make room. You can see in this picture how big the hospitals are, but they can’t hold all the patients. Nurses are having to house more and more patients. But as more and more soldiers are entering hospitals, more and more diseases will follow. .

Some of the diseases that are haunting American hospitals are: smallpox, anthrax, mono, and other deadly and infectious diseases. In many cases the disease will be more gruesome than the wound it infects. And when the two cross it can be sickening.

A disease can infect the human body when an open wound goes untreated for a certain amount of time. Also the disease can infect your body if the wound is not washed properly; flies will even try to lay maggots in your flesh.

This is a picture of a medical tent near the first battle of Manassas/Bull run. Before the battle there was a mere one medical tent. As you can see they were forced to set up more, which obviously costs money. Nobody thought that there would be this many deaths. And the doctors were surprised that few of them died from gunshot wounds

Of course, all this information is just coming to us and we will have more information in our next issue. But we have gathered that for every one soldier that dies of a gunshot wound, an estimated three die from diseases.

Sources:

www.civil-war.net

www.civil-war.ws/facts/

Yesterday(July 25,1863)I was walking around in the middle of nowhere in Kidder County, North Dakota. Then I saw something that just caught my eye right away. There was an anonymous guy that just shot two soldiers. Now they are left, dead, lying on the ground. One of the two soldiers was Confederate and the other soldier was Union. They got shot in the brutal Battle of Big Mound.

In the Battle of Big Mound, the campaign was the operations against the Sioux in North Dakota(1863). The principal commanders were Brig. Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley [US] and Chief Inkpaduta [I]. The forces engaged were the District of Minnesota [US] and the Santee and Teton Sioux. The estimated casualties for the US were unknown and the estimated casualties for I were 13.

As you can see, there is a horse in the background carrying a wagon. From what I saw, there was a man on the wagon. He is the one who shot and killed the two soldiers. The strange man was a Sioux.

What led to this very depressing event was that General Henry Hastings Sibley led his troops from Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, into the Dakotas. They were pursuing the Santee Sioux. And the Santee joined forces with the Teton Sioux.

Also, Josiah S. Weiser joined the assembly, but a Sioux shot and killed him. So, the scouts tried to kill the attacker as a way to get revenge but he escaped.

Sibley, and some men, reached the “Big Mound” on the opposite side of the ravine. He tried to dislodge the Sioux people who were on the upper part of the large ravine firing at the infantry and cavalry with impunity. The mounted troops, with some of the infantry and artillery following, set out in pursuit.

Sources:

http://www.civilwar.com/content/view/135708/39/

http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/battles_trans.htm

August 22, 1862. Here in this picture, taken by Philippe D. Lucifer, lies the corpse of Captain John S. Marsh, leader of the soldiers at war against the enraged Sioux Indian tribe located in Nicollet County, Minnesota, with his gun still in his hands… A deserted battle field full of bodies, gun powder and ash scattered about the ground… This is all that remains of the battle of Fort Ridgeley.

Captain John Marsh, born in Danders New England, once called New Salem was a country boy who always wanted to explore the other side of the Rocky Mountains. He spent much of his time outdoors and in the woods and often liked to go fishing with his father.

Besides his love of nature, Marsh also had a rather dark past. Ever since he was a child, Marsh has had to deal with severe anger management issues. In fact, when he was in college at Harvard, he got expelled for throwing canon balls on the roof of one of his classrooms because he got so enraged with one of his teachers. Not only was he cursed with a temper, he also suffered severe headaches which continued throughout his adult life.

In 1861, Marsh became a captain. A year later (August 20, 1862) the Santé Sioux Indian tribe, lead by Chief Little Crow, became enraged with the government’s lack to provide proper annuities. Therefore, they decided to attack the troop’s fort- Fort Ridgeley. The first attack the Indians gave killed about 800 settlers and soldiers; so Marsh commanded 46 soldiers to lead the innocent German settlers to safety. The others were headed for disaster…

After Marsh ordered the soldiers to help the settlers get to safety, he ordered the rest to attack the Santé Sioux’s Agency. Unfortunately before the soldiers arrived, the Indians gave a surprise attack killing half of them including Marsh himself. Although many soldiers may have died through out the battle, they kept trying and trying no matter what.

And here we are again looking at the body of Captain John S. Marsh in an abandoned field. He was a loved man, an angered man, an earth lover, and a great leader who will be missed by many…

Sources:

CivilWar.com - the home of the Civil War

The American Civil War (History.com)

After 12 hours of continuous battle on September 17, 1862 the president of the union, Abraham Lincoln stands upon what has happened.Allan Pinkerton Major General, and John A McClernand, are sterned face about the bloodiest battle of the civil war, The Battle of Antietam. The Main Eastern Theater near a small town in Sharpsburg, Maryland held the events of this war. Why were the leading men of our nation so upset to these events? Perhaps because 23,000 of their men were dead.

The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virgina’s first invasion into the North. Although it, was only a one battle.23,000 were killed wounded,or missing.

This Invasion led Lincoln’s issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. A proclamation that slowly freed slaves throughout the whole country. During the moments after battle Alexander Gardner one of the famous photographer of this time allowed us to see exactly the feeling of war.

The 15th Massachusetts Infantry started with 606 soldiers.The Union General Joseph Hooker opened fire on these troops.318 killed or wounded.Over 500 canons shot towards Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and his men.These Confederates caused the highest number for any Union casualties in the battle. General Robert E. Lee ordered his battered army of Northern Virginia to withdraw across the Potomac into the Shenandoah Valley, giving the Union a victory.

The battle of Antietam shows the great strength that our fighters can continue, can keep going after even the toughest of times. This photograph illustrates our president will not be defeated and will not allow anything less than victory.

Sources:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

http://homepages.dsu.edu/jankej/civilwar/civilwar.htm

Yesterday, the battle of Shiloh occurred. The fight between Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. Don Carlos (US) vs. Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston and Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard (CS) took place for two days. The Confederates struck with the intentions of pushing the union defenders away form Tennessee River and into the swamps of Owl Creek to the West

Confederates were hoping to defeat Grant’s army of Tennessee before it could link up with Buell’s army of Ohio. Federal forces numbered about 40,000, out numbering Beauregard’s army by 10,000.

Most of the fight occurred in Peach Orchard, just yards away from the Hornet’s Nest. The largest number of cannons were used that day. Throughout the battle, all you could hear were loud pops, and ear shattering screams of horror. Bullets flew in all directions, never knowing where the next one would land. Men fell to the earth, one after another, like dominos.

The confederates had no choice. They were forced to retreat from the blood-stained ruins of the battle field. Thus, ending their hopes that they could block the Union’s invasion of northern Mississippi. With an estimate of 23,746 casualties this was a dramatic number of losses, giving the Union yet another victory.

Since it rained early this morning and late into the evening the blood has been washed away. Now you see a friendlier side of the field, but the lives lost here will never be forgotten. Buell had cleared out his men’s’ bodies last night, leaving the field barren, with only foot prints in the wet dirt, and remnant of empty weapons scattered on the torn ground.

Sources:

www.civilwar.com

homepages.dsu.edu/jankej/civilwar/civilwar.html

This is Philippe Danon reporting from Antietam were the Potomac army and the Virginia army clashed in an unforgettable battle. It is now said that the battle for Antietam is one of the bloodiest days in the U.S. history. General George McClellan was in charge of the 75,000 strong Potomac army were Robert Lee’s army was a measly 26,000.It is a horrible site seeing all the innocent people lying lifeless there face pale with wondering if I should have really been here. It is something that no one should have to go through. I feel as if I’m in a dream excuse me a nightmare. I feel like I’m walking in the underworld with thousands of people lying around me. The stench of death is something never to be experienced.

This picture was taken by my colleague Daniel J. Stokes, ‘’staring at the dead soldier and taking that picture is something that will haunt me for days to come’’ says Daniel. This picture shows why all the people who past away should be honored for being brave enough to even think about going into battle.

The battle started when General Robert Lee took his troops into Maryland hoping to recruit confederate soldiers. On June 15 Robert Lee took over Harper’s Ferry. That same day his troops retreated to Antietam Creek. Then Lee decided he would stand and fight General McClellans army. The battle lasted 12 hours and 23,000 were killed. Six brigadier generals were killed during the battle of Antietam, and amazingly six generals were killed from each army. The battle of Antietam ended in a truce.

All this for nothing, the killing of all these people and it ended in a truces. Do you believe this battle was worth the lives of 23,000 men?

Sources:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cphtm/cwphome.html

http://homepages.dsu.edu/jankej/civilwar/civilwar.html

Is it really worth it? Is it really worth risking 132,000 peoples’ lives to win one battle? Yesterday September 17, 1862 the most horrific and bloodiest battle occurred in Antietam between the Union and the Confederates and has been the worst so far. 3,654 soldiers lay dead, as their lifeless bodies are waiting to be taken away, off this devastating battle field.

19,346 soldiers were either wounded or missing in this twelve hour battle.

Commander George B. McClellan and Commander Robert E. Lee met up at Antietam to fight for what they thought was right. 2,108 union soldiers and 1,546 Confederate soldiers all died in this battle. Looks like Commander Lee came out on top in this fight.

Well, actually not. This battle ended in a draw. Both sides were too tired to fight until the other side was finished off..

In this picture to the left, taken by Herald M. Nelson, shows a dead Union soldier. This was taken in a forest right near the city of Antietam. In the forest were this picture was taken, six generals all died before this battle came to an end.

President Lincoln was very disappointed that the Battle of Antietam ended in a truce. He believed that McClellan could have performed better and could have even won too.

So now you choose. Would you risk the lives of thousands?

Sources:

Http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/d?cwar:./temp~ammem.mp39:

Americanmemory,civilwarphotographs.com

Look at that tent filled with steaming potatoes and sparkling water. Men are in the tent drinking the water and eating the steaming delicious mouth watering apple pie. They are having a good time in tent. It is called the sutlers tent. You can go there to buy a lot of delicious food and drinks.

You can see there are two white tents right next to each other surrounded by eight barrels and 13 people with a tall tree next to them. In the back there is well with water in it. There are two dirt trails leading to the tents.

Wow look, it’s a pretty gloomy day and the grass is all roughed up and the men look like they are hungry, everyone is resting having a good time. Look there are some men talking about the war and some of the battles they have been in.

Did you know that the men built the tent? Then they got the food and the supplies they need for the tent. They opened up and the soldiers came and went and bought items. Each regiment had its own sutler they are called merchants, they would sell tobacco liquor reading materials and luxuries like watches.

The sutlers tent sold guns and supplies for men in the war. Sutlers were also called merchants. Sutlers were strictly forbidden to sell alcohol to soldiers. They would sell hard tack. There was a lot of profit to be made during war and host of men both civilian and military who aimed to share in that profit.

Sources:

Type source 2 in correct format