The Civil War lasted four long years, from 1861 to 1865. Soldiers in the North wore blue uniforms. Soldiers in the South wore gray. Sometimes brothers and friends ended up on different sides.
Life was hard for everyone. Soldiers marched for miles, slept in tents, and missed their families. They wrote letters home and waited eagerly for mail. Some drummer boys not much older than you marched with the army, beating drums to send signals.
Back home, women ran the farms and shops. Many became nurses who cared for hurt soldiers. One famous nurse, Clara Barton, was so brave and kind that she was called the Angel of the Battlefield.
1. How many years did the Civil War last?
2. What colors did the North and South wear?
3. What did women do while soldiers were away?
4. Who was Clara Barton?
Write what each word means in your own words.
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
Match the person to their job. Write the letter in the box.
| Job | Person: A) Soldier B) Nurse C) Drummer boy D) Family at home |
|---|---|
| Marched and fought in battles | |
| Cared for hurt soldiers | |
| Beat drums to send army signals | |
| Ran the farms and shops |
1. Why do you think letters from home were so important to soldiers?
1. The war lasted years.
2. The North wore uniforms.
3. The South wore uniforms.
4. Soldiers wrote home.
5. Many women became .
6. Barton was the Angel of the Battlefield.
Pretend you are a drummer boy or a nurse during the Civil War. Write a short letter home. Tell your family what you see, what you miss, and one hope you have.
Dear ____________________,
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Love, ____________________
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| What soldier life was like | YES / NOT YET |
| How people helped at home | YES / NOT YET |
| Who Clara Barton was | YES / NOT YET |