What was the average age of Civil War soldier?

What was the average soldier's age? The average Union soldier was 25.8 years old; there is no definite information on the average age of Confederate soldiers, but by the end of the war old men and young boys, who otherwise would have stayed home, were being pressed into service.

How old were most Civil War soldiers?

Although soldiers generally ranged in age from 18 to 45, boys as young as 12 often served as cavalry buglers or drummer boys, and some men in their fifties and sixties enlisted as privates. Most of the Union soldiers were under 30.

What was the average age of a Confederate soldier in the Civil War?

The typical Civil War soldier was five feet, seven inches tall. He was a white, native-born farmer, Protestant, single, and in the 18 to 29 age bracket.

What was the average height of Civil War soldiers?

The average height of a soldier in the Civil War was five feet, eight inches; when Thomas Marshal Jones enlisted, he was seven feet, six inches tall. He was born in Tuscarawas County on September 16, 1838.

How old was the youngest soldier in the Civil War?

The youngest soldier to fight in the Civil War was a boy named Edward Black. Edward was born on May 30 in 1853, making him just 8 years old when he joined the Union army on July 24, 1861, as a drummer boy for the 21st Indiana volunteers.

What Was It Like To Be A Civil War Soldier?

Do they still find bodies from Civil War?

Together, the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution recovered two complete sets of remains, 11 partial limbs and several artifacts from the site.

Did 12 year olds fight in the Civil War?

Child Soldiers

Unlike later wars in American history, young people were involved in all aspects of the Civil War, including fighting on the battlefield. William Black, the youngest wounded soldier, was twelve when his left hand and arm were shattered by an exploding shell.

What was the average weight of a man in the Civil War?

During the Civil War, the average soldier stood around 5'7” or 5'8” and weighed 143 pounds.

Who was the tallest Confederate general?

Henry Clay Thruston was a Confederate soldier who fought at the Battle of Pea Ridge and in the Camden Expedition, as well as in General Sterling Price's Missouri Raid of 1864. Thruston is perhaps best known for reportedly being the tallest Confederate soldier of the Civil War at over seven and a half feet tall.

What was the average weight of a Civil War soldier?

The Average Soldier

According to historian Bell I. Wiley, who pioneered the study of the Civil War common soldier, the average Yank or Reb was a 'white, native-born, farmer, protestant, single, between 18 and 29. ' He stood about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 143 pounds.

Who was the oldest Civil War veteran?

Albert Henry Woolson (February 11, 1850 – August 2, 1956) was the last known surviving member of the Union Army who served in the American Civil War; he was also the last surviving Civil War veteran on either side whose status is undisputed.

How old was the average Union soldier?

The average Union soldier was 25.8 years old; there is no definite information on the average age of Confederate soldiers, but by the end of the war old men and young boys, who otherwise would have stayed home, were being pressed into service.

Who was the youngest Civil War veteran?

According to most historical consensus, the youngest child to serve as a Union soldier was Edward Black (born May 30, 1853), who joined the 21st Indiana Volunteers on July 24, 1861—at 8 years old.

What time did Civil War soldiers wake up?

Soldiers were woken at dawn to begin their day. They had drills in the morning and afternoon where they practiced for battle. Each soldier had to know his place in the unit so the army would fight as a group.

How old was too old to fight in the Civil War?

American Civil War Research Database - Union and Confederate Regimental Demonstration. During the war you had to be at least 18 years old to join the military. Men 18-20 years old needed parental permission while those over 45 were considered too old to serve.

What did Civil War soldiers eat?

Union soldiers were fed pork or beef, usually salted and boiled to extend the shelf life, coffee, sugar, salt, vinegar, and sometimes dried fruits and vegetables if they were in season. Hard tack, a type of biscuit made from unleavened flour and water, was commonly used to stave off hunger on both sides.

Who was the biggest hero in the Civil War?

In 1865, as commanding general, Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Armies to victory over the Confederacy in the American Civil War. As an American hero, Grant was later elected the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877), working to implement Congressional Reconstruction and to remove the vestiges of slavery.

Who was the youngest Confederate general?

Confederate General John Bell Hood was the youngest officer on either side of the Civil War to independently lead an army, having been promoted to command of the Army of Tennessee at the age of just 33.

What is the ideal height for soldiers?

Army Height Requirement For Men

The ideal height requirement for men in the military is between 60-80 inches / 152-203 cm. Anyone above or below this requirement is likely to get rejected.

How many miles did a Civil War soldier walk in a day?

Marching. The average for a march was between 8 and 13 miles per day, with 20 or more miles being more exhausting and less frequent. Also, the armies usually walked less after a battle, unless in retreat or in pursuit.

How tall was the average man in 1865?

More than 500 thousand Civil War soldiers were measured in 1863-1864. They were largely from "old'' Ameri- can families—at least two generations in the United States—and averaged 67.7 inches in height.

What age was too old to fight in ww1?

In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed. This imposed conscription on all single men aged between 18 and 41, but exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker.

What was the minimum age to join the Civil War?

As many as 20% of Civil War soldiers were younger than 18. That was the minimum recruiting age for Union soldiers, but many people willingly overlooked the law. The Confederacy set no minimum age. Many young soldiers enlisted as musicians -- drummers, fifers, or buglers.