““You Would You Would NotNot Want Want to Be a Kid in the to Be a Kid in the

Civil War”Civil War”

Wizards of Words 2013Wizards of Words 2013Lauren TarshisLauren Tarshis

Trinka Hakes NobleTrinka Hakes Noble

Can think of a place somewhere in Can think of a place somewhere in the world where a civil war is the world where a civil war is

taking place right now?taking place right now? During the Civil War (1861-1865) During the Civil War (1861-1865)

children in both the North and South children in both the North and South had to come to terms with life in a had to come to terms with life in a war-torn country; they war-torn country; they hadhad to grow to grow up quickly. up quickly.

Children in the Civil WarChildren in the Civil War

They served as soldiers, spies, and They served as soldiers, spies, and musicians. They volunteered as musicians. They volunteered as nurses or took over the operation of nurses or took over the operation of the family farm or business. With the family farm or business. With fathers and older brothers gone, fathers and older brothers gone, they were left to protect and defend they were left to protect and defend families, farms, and homes.families, farms, and homes.

It was called the “States’ War” and It was called the “States’ War” and most American thought it would all end most American thought it would all end

in a few months…in a few months… During the War, boys were not During the War, boys were not

supposed to enlist without their supposed to enlist without their parents’ permission if they were parents’ permission if they were under eighteen years old. Some under eighteen years old. Some would lie about their age – boys as would lie about their age – boys as young as ten or eleven would be young as ten or eleven would be accepted as drummers or buglers; accepted as drummers or buglers; most knew NOTHING about music!most knew NOTHING about music!

-- yet – the drummer’s and -- yet – the drummer’s and bugler’s job was incredibly bugler’s job was incredibly

important…important… All parts of an army’s routine had All parts of an army’s routine had

it’s musical call or cadence – from it’s musical call or cadence – from “assembly”/”extinguish lights” – to “assembly”/”extinguish lights” – to “charge” and “retreat” – the entire “charge” and “retreat” – the entire movement of a huge army was the movement of a huge army was the duty of the drummers and buglers. duty of the drummers and buglers.

During the War, children had During the War, children had many responsibilities - many responsibilities -

Children had to take responsibilities of Children had to take responsibilities of maintaining farms and property while maintaining farms and property while fathers and brothers were away. Children fathers and brothers were away. Children also were enlisted to work in field also were enlisted to work in field hospitals – to care for the wounded and hospitals – to care for the wounded and sick soldiers. Like today, children far sick soldiers. Like today, children far away from the battlefields, supported away from the battlefields, supported soldiers through fundraising and the soldiers through fundraising and the making of “care packages”…making of “care packages”…

OrphansOrphans Even before the Civil War ended, Even before the Civil War ended,

Americans realized that something Americans realized that something had to be done for the many children had to be done for the many children of killed or crippled soldiers. of killed or crippled soldiers. Religious groups in major cities Religious groups in major cities began building orphanages and began building orphanages and schools to house the thousands of schools to house the thousands of children who became orphans children who became orphans during the War. These also included during the War. These also included the children of freed or runaway the children of freed or runaway slaves.slaves.

Humiston Children and GettysburgHumiston Children and Gettysburg

The most famous story about the need to The most famous story about the need to care for orphans grew out of a national care for orphans grew out of a national search for the children of a dead soldier search for the children of a dead soldier killed on the battlefield at Gettysburg – killed on the battlefield at Gettysburg – the unidentified soldier was found the unidentified soldier was found clutching this picture. Nobody knew who clutching this picture. Nobody knew who he was, or who the children were.he was, or who the children were.

Lauren Tarshis and TrinkaLauren Tarshis and Trinka Hakes Noble have Hakes Noble have written books about Gettysburg…written books about Gettysburg…

The Last BrotherThe Last Brother is the story of a is the story of a young bugler in the Union Army who young bugler in the Union Army who needs to make a difficult decision at needs to make a difficult decision at the Battle of Gettysburg during the Battle of Gettysburg during ‘Pickett’s Charge’.‘Pickett’s Charge’.

I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg focuses on a young runaway slave focuses on a young runaway slave caught in the middle of the intense caught in the middle of the intense fighting that took place between July fighting that took place between July 11stst and 3 and 3rdrd, 1863., 1863.