“Touched with Fire”: Uncommon Soldiers of the Civil War.

The article explores the roles and experiences of common soldiers during the U.S. Civil War. Particular focus is given to the motivations of volunteer soldiers in both the U.S. military and that of the Confederate States of America (C.S.A.) According to the author, Confederate soldiers were largely driven by a desire to defend the institution of slavery and Southern conceptions of honor and civil rights, while Union soldiers saw themselves as defending the U.S. as an idea and as a unified political and economic entity. Details on the challenges of military life, including illness, boredom, and material deprivation, are presented. Changes in public opinion regarding the war are also discussed.