Reflections of the Civil War at this point (1861-1862)

You are a soldier or officer during the Civil War. You have come from a military family that has fought in all major wars since the American Revolution. You are descended from the Revolutionary War soldier you wrote about in Unit II. It is Christmas Eve 1862, 10 days following the Battle of Fredericksburg. After, you take a pencil and paper and write your reflections of the last two years and the effect this has had on your country and you. Like your ancestors, you want to document the moment and your knowledge of the war for historical purposes.

Begin with where, why, and how you believe this entire war started, and touch on many of the main issues (leaders, challenges, turning points, major battles, weapons, or tactical innovations, etc.), and end with your hopes for the future of your nation (Confederate or Union). Keep the following points in mind as you write your essay:

• Are you hoping to see a peace emerge soon and reconciliation with the enemy?
• Do you believe that the war will continue on, and why?
• How do you believe this will all turn out for your nation and your family?

You are encouraged to be creative with the assignment, but make sure you are using facts from what you have read and learned to guide you. Ensure that you address the following.

• Identify notable innovations and tactics used by your army.
• List major figures or groups associated with the Union and Confederate military operations in the war.
• Explain what challenges your military has faced.
• Relate what you believe a soldier (Confederate or Union) would have experienced.

Your essay must include an introduction. An introduction example could be, “I am writing this diary to give my personal insight of being in the” (select either a Confederate or Union) “camp on Christmas Eve, 1862.”

Your essay must be at least two pages in length, double-spaced, and written in Times New Roman, 12-point font. APA Style will not be required for this assignment.

You obviously will not have cited or sourced material in a document you wrote in an army camp in 1862. However, be careful not to copy material from any sources. Use your sources for historical facts, but write in your own words and your own organization of the material. Write in first-person narrative (I, me, us, we, them, etc.).

The perspective of this assignment is not only to look for historical context and content but use creativity and your ability to role-play as someone who was a soldier during the first two years of the Civil War. Remember to stay in character, and do not write about events after December 24, 1862.