How did the Civil War divide families?

In hundreds of border state households, brothers–and sisters–really did fight one another, while fathers and sons argued over secession and husbands and wives struggled with opposing national loyalties. Even enslaved men and women found themselves divided over how to respond to the war.

How did the Civil War affect families on both sides?

Many families wandered from area to area in search of food and shelter. Families on both sides shared a common trait: the pain of personal loss. Husbands and fathers died by the hundreds of thousands. Almost one in five men who fought for the Confederacy died, with many returning wounded and maimed.

Did kids fight in civil war?

Between 250,000 and 420,000 males under 18 were involved in the American Civil War, for the Union and the Confederacy combined. It is estimated that 100,000 Union soldiers were 15 years or younger.

Did brothers fight brothers in the Civil War?

As cited in the book, “A Century of Wayne County, Kentucky”, brothers Anthony and William McBeath fought on opposite sides of the Civil War, Anthony for the Confederate Army, and William for the Union Army.

Who fought against each other in the Civil War?

Fact #1: The Civil War was fought between the Northern and the Southern states from 1861-1865. The American Civil War was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, a collection of eleven southern states that left the Union in 1860 and 1861.

What happened to friends and families during the Civil War?

Family life in Virginia and across the South suffered devastating effects during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Many families were uprooted as they witnessed the destruction of their homes and landholdings. Most profoundly, all families dealt with the ordeal of separation.

Why would two brothers fight on different sides of the Civil War?

Exploring why two brothers would fight on opposite sides of the Civil War is no easy task: It’s difficult not to overestimate their motives. This is especially true when the division of a family seems to reflect the divisions of an entire country, as the Crittendens appear to.

What was the division of families during the Civil War?

The Division of Families. During the Civil War, sometimes referred to as the “Brothers’ War,” the entire country was split into the Union and the Confederacy. Kentucky was arguably the state most divided, and Senator John Crittenden struggled to keep both the state and his family in unity. Crittenden’s oldest son served on the Confederate side,…

Why do siblings fight on opposite sides?

Particularly unfortunate, however, is when it destroys families. Sometimes, for reasons of ideology, politics, honor, emotion, or simple geography, siblings can find themselves on opposing sides of a war, or even facing each other over the same battlefield.

What side were the Crittenden brothers on in the Civil War?

The senator’s sons, George Bibb Crittenden and Thomas Leonidas Crittenden, both served as generals in the Civil War. However, each fought for a different side. While George, the eldest, served the Confederacy, Thomas commanded Union troops. Read about the Crittenden brothers on the next page.