Daniel and Philip Berrigan

Holden Robichaux
Coach Masson
English III
12 November 2007
Literature of the Civil War
The Civil War was a time of tragedy and despair for all throughout the vast land of the United States of America.   The civil war was a time in American history from 1861-1865 when the northern and southern parts of the United States engaged in battle.   They fought to settle many issues concerning slavery and the re-uniting of the United States following the succession the eleven states known as the Confederate States of American.   Throughout the war, many casualties were suffered on both sides making the Civil War one of the most catastrophic wars fought on American soil.   The harshness, cruelty, and gruesomeness of the battles fought during the Civil War greatly affected the letters and diaries written because it significantly affected the tone of the authors at the time (Paddock 45).
A civil war is a state of hostility or conflict between elements within an organization or a war between factions or regions within the same country.   In the war, over 600,000 men gave their lives either to free slaves in the southern part of the United States or to aid in the re-uniting of the Confederate States of America. Following their secession due to the election of Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860 (Paddock 45 and Gabler 236).   In this one war, more lives were taken than in previous wars and conflicts combined.
For both sides during the war, fighting and health conditions were horrific.   The soldiers had to try and survive on very slim rations provided by their supporting governments.   Soldiers had to go so far as taking shoes off of their dead enemies just to have decent shoes in order to keep on fighting.   The terrain was very rough and rugged.   The territory of Virginia, where most of the battles during the war were fought, was very hilly and mountainous.   Soldiers of both sides were forced to walk miles upon miles each day and the weather conditions were...