Included here are primary source documents that tell the story of Civil War soldiers in their own words. These historic documents tell why men and boys joined so enthusiastically, and what trials and suffering were endured.

The place to go for information on the soldiers and sailors who served during the Civil War in both the Confederate and Union military. Use the searchable database to locate basic information about the 6.3 million men who served on both...

Discover an abundance of facts about the Civil War from topics such as Fort Sumter, the secession crisis, how the war was won, Bull Run, and Civil War soldiers.

An overview of African American's contributions during the Civil War. Presents the history, contributions, and information on the Underground Railroad.

This resource provides an overview of the African American soldiers who fought during the Civil War.

These primary sources offer a glimpse into the mentality of those living in the South during the Civil War. Included are pictures, letters from soldiers, letters from women on the homefront, and reactions to the Confederate surrender and...

What a find! Watch videos, read essays, and find first-person accounts of the Civil War in relation to Illinois. Although no battles were fought there, the state contributed many regiments.

This site is provided by the Library of Congress. Through this collection of primary documents telling of the Civil War experience of Captain Tilton C. Reynolds, a member of the 105th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, you can find out...

Get some first-hand information about a soldier's life during the Civil War from this large collection of letters, most of which were written by Confederate Soldiers. There is also a diary written by a member of the 20th Indiana Regiment...

Students read letters from an Iowa Soldier in the Civil War.

This site is produced by the National Portrait Gallery and is dedicated to examining the Civil War through the Smithsonian extensive collections. Contains many primary source exhibits such as diaries and portraits, focusing mostly on the...

While the American Civil War officially ended at the Battle of Appomattox, Confederate sensibilities ran deep and it was not until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s that blacks were able to fully assert their equality....

Included are histories of the various Connecticut regiments that served in the Civil War. From the 1898 book, " Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1865."

This site from the Library of Congress provides overviews of the South and North during the Civil War include soldiers' stories from both sides. There are primary documents on these topics as well as Freedmen and the Reconstruction.

A Library of Congress collection of digitized photos of African Americans during the Civil War, including photos of soldiers and freedmen. From the Library of Congress.

This site is dedicated to Vermont, and its involvement in the Civil War. Use the topics on the left to navigate the site to find information about the Vermont units involved, battles fought, a timeline, and personal accounts of Vermont...

Here is a summary of the factors that led to the Civil War. You can also link to pages with photos on battles, forts, communication, hospitals, and more.

A page with links to several articles from various sources dealing with many aspects of medicine during the Civil War.

Use this site to find out the roles women had during the Civil War. Also read some remarkable stories of women who were actually on the battlefield.

A text based article focusing on Florida and the Civil War including soldier participation, important events and battles, defeats, and finally the growth of anti-war feelings as the war neared an end.

A text based article focusing on Florida and the Civil War including soldier participation, important events and battles, defeats, and finally the growth of anti-war feelings as the war neared an end.

Read in-depth accounts of the lives of the soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg. Each story looks at the soldier's community and home life at the beginning of the war, his wartime experiences, and the impact his death had on...

A first-hand chronology of James H. Wood's experiences in the Civil War. Included are campaigns of Stonewall Jackson in which Wood participated.

Covers many aspects of the Civil War, without too much text for Grade 5 students. Includes links to additional information and a few learning activities. (Note: Some links may no longer be working.)