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Why Soldiers Enlisted in the Civil War
When soldiers enlisted to fight during the Civil War in 1861, amazingly, they had more than one reason for joining. For love of their country was only a minor reason the soldiers had for enlisting. Honor, duty, life, liberty, slavery, and defense of one’s home and hearth against an invading enemy were the multiple reasons both the Northern and Southern soldiers had for enlisting. In addition, some men enlisted to defend the following statement: “It is government against anarchy, law against disorder.”
Southerners mainly focused on honor, making sure they were spoken highly of and maintained a good public reputation. However, honor wasn’t the only reason Southerners had for joining. A Tennessee farmer was noted for saying, “Life liberty and property are at stake”. Men felt as if they had to protect their life, liberty, and property, for it could take only a few short minutes for all of that to be destroyed by the North. In addition, the South was known for enlisting due to Union invasions and Confederate defeats in 1862. Since slavery was one of the many things the two sides were disputing upon, some soldiers used that as a reason for joining. A 19-year old boy from Indiana said his reason was “to aid my country in her desperate struggle against oppression and slavery, against Rebels and Traitors.” Lastly, a very straightforward explanation of why Southerners enlisted, was simply because they wanted to defend their home and hearth against an invading enemy. A lawyer from Alabama had stated, “When a Southerner’s home is threatened, the spirit of resistance is irrepressible.” The previous quote shows the pride they take in their homeland, and the determination Southerners have to keep it from getting harmed.
Soldiers from the North weren’t as concerned with honor and loyalty to their country. Duty to their country was their most important reason for enlisting in the war. Northerners felt as if they had to serve their country to be accepted by their peers. One man was noted for saying, “It is every one’s duty to enlist, he possibly can, and why is it not mine as much as other people’s?” The second and last major reason Union soldiers had for joining, was to prove one’s self a man. Northerners believed if they could fight in the Civil War, they were true men and could overcome any obstacle.
When comparing the Union and the Confederacy, soldiers from both sides enlisted to experience new adventures, to win the battle, and to “return home as heroes to an adoring crowd”. The majority of the soldiers wanted to be victorious and gain glory. Also, both the Union and Confederacy enlisted to fight for their homeland and property. Finally, for love of their country was a small, but still an understandable reason both sides [next page]