Soldiers Motivations For The Civil War

Perhaps no one were expecting the secession of eleven states and creation of Confederate States of America in 1861 would be the beginning of a civil war that lasts four years and takes so many lives. Although the election of President Lincoln and slavery could have been the causes of the Civil War, the soldiers’ motivation in enlisting themselves for this war; depending on the geographic location and the time of the enlistment, could vary and partially or even totally be something different. Considering soldiers’ motivations variety and changes based on location and time factors during the four year civil war, this paper by looking for clues in soldiers’ letters as a precious and reliable source, claims the “community pressure” as the dominant

Hubbs, G. Ward by reviewing Aaron Sheehan-Dean’s book “Why Confederates Fought: Family and Nation in Civil War Virginia" explains: “The soldiers had once enlisted to protect slavery, but their motives were now more complex and more personal.” It is quite understandable that a West or Southwest Virginian soldier’s motivation whose economy was not much dependant on slavery varied with a Tidewater area soldier who was living in a farm. Furthermore, it is predictable that a soldier’s primary main motivation from Southern cause, patriotism, honor, or masculinity at the time of enlistment could have been aggravated and replaced later with “revenge” by losing his brother or father during the battle for instance or even decreased and replaced later with a “Sustaining motivation” just enough to keep him in the army as a result of exhaustion and disgust of this “brother against brother” War of attrition. “I can 't say I am surprised to hear that you are inclined to become a soldier, but I shall be very sorry to hear that you have done so. I am heartily sick, disgusted and worn out with the Army and shall look upon the day I receive my discharge as one of the happiest in my life, but I am willing to remain till the war is over and do what little I can to aid in putting

Isaac White, an assistant surgeon in the 29th and 31st Virginia Infantries writes to his wife: “My Dear Jinnie …Charlie Westonlake was wounded very seriously a few days ago. I hope he may recover. Poor George Kittlie was killed (son of Mrs Kittlie) poor old lady this makes the second son she has lost in the last two weeks. The 62nd has but very few men left I have many things to tell you that I havent had time to write. I suppose you have ere this heard of the death of dear Alfred poor dear fellow he was my true friend + much do I grieve for