American Heritage Center, Military History Subject Guide: Civil War

Time Period: 1861-1865

Union President: Abraham Lincoln

Confederate President: Jefferson Davis

Union States: Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, California, Nevada, and Oregon

Confederate States: Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia

Border States: Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri

Populations:

Union: 18.5 million people

Confederacy: 5.5 million free and 3.5 million enslaved

Border States: 2.5 million free and 500,000 enslaved

Enlistment Strength:

Union: 2,489,836 white soldiers, 178,975 African American soldiers, and 3,530 Native American soldiers

Confederacy: Ranges from 750,000 to 1,227,890 soldiers

Casualties:

Union: 642, 427

Confederacy: 483,026

Bloodiest Battles:

Gettysburg: 51,116 casualties

Seven Days: 36,463 casualties

Chickamauga: 34, 624 casualties

Chancellorsville: 29,609 casualties

Antietam: 22,726 casualties

Note: Antietam had the greatest number of casualties of any single-day battle.

Image: Civil War Letters, 1861-1862, Coll. 3, Mark A. Chapman Collection, AHC. 

Facts from the National Park Service.

Thaddeus H. Capron Papers, 1864-1966

Acc. #1694

Thaddeus Capron served in the Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteers during the Civil War and rose through the ranks from private to major. In 1867, he commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army and served until he retired in 1887.

The collection contains letters between Capron and his officers and family as well as newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and a diary from 1868. 

Mendal C. Churchill Papers, 1860-1893

Acc. #7490

Mendal C. Churchill served as a Union Officer in the 27th Ohio Infantry. During the Civil War, his unit took part in the Atlantic Campaign of 1964.

The collection contains 163 Civil War era letters between Churchill and his wife Mary, as well as a diary and photographs of his travels after the war. 

Nelson Cole Papers, 1861-1899

Acc. #11456

Nelson Cole volunteered for the Civil War and served in the Missouri Artillery. After the Civil War, he became part of the Powder River Expedition sent to deal with Native American aggressions on the Great Plains.

The collection includes military correspondence from the Powder River Expedition. The correspondence includes official orders, supply reports, telegraphs, and other materials from the expedition. 

Finfrock Family Papers, 1862-1940

Acc. #7

John H. Finfrock served as a doctor in the Union Army in 1862 and eventually became the First Assistant Surgeon for the 11th Ohio Volunteers which were stationed at Fort Halleck, Wyoming.

The collections contains diaries documenting Dr. Finfrock's life during his service during the Civil War as well as his time at Fort Halleck. 

Henry Blanchard Freeman Papers, 1863-1915

Acc. #153

During the Civil War, Henry Blanchard Freeman served in the Union Army and was captured and held at Libby prison near Richmond, Virginia, in 1863. During his tenure at Libby prison, Freeman, along with other prisoners, escaped twice and rejoined the Union Army in early 1865. He was later stationed at Forts Phil Kearny and Fetterman in Wyoming and served during the Sioux War of 1876 and the Spanish-American War.

The collection contains correspondence from Freeman's time in Libby prison, a letter during the Sioux War, and letters from the Spanish-American War as well as military orders and Freeman's service record. 

Gerhard Luke Luhn Papers, 1863-1918

Acc. #3954

Gerhard Luke Luhn was a German immigrant who served in the Army's 6th Infantry in 1853. Before the Civil War, he saw service on the northern plains and in 1863, he commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Infantry. Luhn was present at the Battle of Gettysburg and served in numerous campaigns during the Indian Wars.

The collection contains letters and diaries discussing his daily life during the Civil War and his service after the war. It also includes four autobiographical accounts spanning from 1831-1918, written by Luhn.