The structure of the opposing armies was quite similar. The Union army had a slightly higher percentage of infantrymen, who were the workhorses of combat, while the Confederacy had a higher percentage of cavalrymen. Cavalry were more mobile and could better counteract Union manpower superiority. As the war dragged on, however, Confederate logistics broke down, and the army’s ability to feed its horses (supply, cavalry, and artillery) reached a critical stage, compelling Gen. Robert E. Lee to reduce the numbers. (Guy)

Nearly all the men on the two sides enlisted in the army. Although records are incomplete, perhaps 8% of total men in the Army of Northern Virginia were drafted or served as substitutes for draftees or volunteers. In the Army of the Potomac, approximately 3% were drafted and 6% entered as substitutes. (Guy)

Soldiers in the Army of Northern Virginia were married at a slightly higher rate than their Union adversaries, most likely a reflection of age and background. There was a considerable difference in parenthood, though. Only one in every five Union men was a father, whereas almost one in three Confederates had children at home, suggesting how deeply recruitment cut into the Confederate population. (Guy)

Behaviors and expectations of men in the antebellum South contributed to a military force that was, at times, more disobedient and wasteful than it needed to be. Also, the war increasingly pointed out the differences in Northern and Southern supply abilities, in all senses. As the war approached its end, Confederate men and horses were extremely malnourished, receiving on average a quarter of the food needed. To make matters worse, the Confederate troop base constantly grew older, as the Union was getting younger and more able to withstand harsh conditions. (Sarah M)

Southerner soldiers had far more wealth per family than their northern opposites did. This was likely due to the fact that wealthier families also tended to be larger, meaning that they had more young men to send to fight, as well as the fact that these wealthy families tended to be slaveowners who had more of a stake in the battle. (Ezra C.)

Glatthar highlights the fact that Lee credited his army’s initial victories to the common culture his soldiers established among themselves. Early on, the culture within the Army of Northern Virginia help Lee's men stay motivated and encouraged participation in the use of aggressive tactics; However, many of Lee’s officers also subscribed to the culture popular among the rank and file they commanded. As a result, 7,600 officers in Lee’s Army became casualties during the first two years of the war. (Ian Tiblin) 

The economic differences in the two armies was something I found particularly striking. The family structures were different, therefore leading to a wealth disparity that made for interesting graphics. The union soldier had less money, but largely lived independently. The Confederate soldier had more money, but was largely dependent on the family for income. Both serve as interesting insights as to how the cultural dynamic of the armies were structured. (Caty)

I found it interesting that people within the Union found owning a farm immensely important as they saw that it promoted, “values that were key to honesty, industry, self-improvement, and effective citizenship.” Due to this ideology, Glatthaar explained, that Democrats saw that slave owners had an “unfair advantage” as well as, “demeaned labor in general.” (Lauren V.) 

I found the high number of foreign-born soldiers in the Union to be very interesting. Glatthaar explained that many individuals came from western and central Europe to escape their political status in hopes to better their lives in America. The Union was the perfect spot for this as they offered these immigrants the right to vote, which was very important to them. (Lauren V.) 

Due to the opportunities that the Union gave many foreign-born individuals, many of them were dedicated to fighting for the Union. These individuals, as Glatthaar explained, were dedicated to fighting for the Union, “because liberty and success...were predicated on it.” (Lauren V.) 

Both armies consisted of enlisted men and drafted men. Confederate conscription, drafting, had a wider range than Union conscription. The Confederate draft included men from ages 18 to 35 but eventually was changed to men ages 17 to 50. In the Union, the draft only included men from 20 to 45. The reason Confederate conscription was much wider is most likely due to the lesser population in the Confederate South. (Hank L)

One main difference between Confederate soldiers and Union soldiers was their wealth. In the Confederate Army, over 1 in 3 soldiers was worth over $4,000; however, in the North, 5 in every 9 Union soldiers were worth less than $400. This could be explained by ownership of assets in the South (land and slaves) compared to the North. (Hank L)

The people who fought in the Union Army were often of low economic status (even in comparison to their Southern counterparts). A lot of this can be attributed to the industrial city style of the North and its high population to why people of the North tended to be less wealthy than those in the South. This would, in part, contribute to why the Union drafted more soldiers into battle. Many people of the North could not afford to pay the amount that was asked of them, and so had to serve in the army instead. (Tanner Gillikin). 

In the South, much of the reason why Southern men enlisted in the Confederate army was because of their desire to protect their lands from what they saw as “invaders”. The North from their perspective was a tyrannical force that was going to ruin their way of life. They might harken back to the founding fathers who revolted against the British. They left the issue of slavery into the hands of the states, and Lincoln was attempting to take away the right of their state. (Tanner Gillikin)

There was a noticeable difference in army culture depending on the area that the armies formed in. For the Confederacy there was a difference in how many acted in Northern Virginia compared to other areas of the South. A lot of this difference can be attributed to the class dynamics in the areas of the south. (Tanner Gillikin)

On the surface, soldiers were typically poor men, only having personal wealth of about $400 (average). In actuality, most of the soldiers were between 18-25, which meant that many still lived at home. To understand the real wealth of the army, it is important to look at their family wealth, which on average is much higher (in the thousands) than $400.- Sophia Prewitt

Many confederate soldiers were fighting out of a sense of masculine honor. They were being invaded by the union, and had to take up arms to protect their homes (and property). Another major reason to join up was money. Although the confederate army was more wealthy than previously assumed, many were still very poor. They saw joining the war as an opportunity to get paid. Their service would also connect them with wealthier men which could be helpful post-war. Sophia Prewitt