When the American Civil War began in April 1861, the U.S. Army included ten regiments of infantry, four of artillery, two of See more

Anti-slavery sentiment
In his 1997 book examining the motivations of the American Civil War's soldiers, For Cause and Comrades, historian James M. McPherson states that Union soldiers fought to preserve the United States, as … See more

The tactics of the Union Army, as with their Confederate opponents, was derived from traditions developed in Europe around the use of smoothbore muskets: soldiers marching … See more

Leadership
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln exercised supreme command and control over the Army in his capacity as See more

Regulars vs. volunteers
During the course of the Civil War, the vast majority of soldiers fighting to preserve the Union were in the See more

Adjutant General's Department
The responsibilities and functions of the Adjutant General's Department (AGD) were many and … See more

Desertion was a major problem for both sides. The daily hardships of war, forced marches, thirst, suffocating heat, disease, delay in pay, solicitude for family, impatience at the monotony and futility of inactive service, panic on the eve of battle, the sense of See more