Written by Raiya L. & Kali S.                                                    

 Attention! Load up your rifles, pick up your packs! It’s time to journey into the life of a Union soldier.

While they marched, they carried a pack. Now let’s journey into one of the Union soldier’s packs. After each battle they camped out. They didn’t camp for fun, they camped because they had to. Back then there was no Wi-Fi so for fun they had, a deck of cards with no numbers because back then no one really knew how to read, a book if they did know how to read, and a sewing kit just in case they needed to mend their clothes. Other items their packs would have are, a blanket because at that time there were no sleeping bags, a block of soap which was rarely used because they did not know about germs or hygiene, a lice comb since they knew nothing about germs or hygiene they were always infested with lice, and of course their necessities, food, clothes, and water which we will get more into.

Next, as we said we are going to talk about their food, clothes, and water. For their water, they carried a canteen, which was made of steel, and for food they had a lunch pouch with very hard bread, and they had a piece of pork which was mainly fat and salt. Also. For their clothes, they wore and under shirt and their original Union uniforms. On their uniforms they had a large plate that represented the first U.S. army sergeant.

A big turning point in the Civil War was The Battle of Gettysburg. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. After the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. The Gettysburg Address was a very famous speech. The Gettysburg Address was a very short, and inspiring speech. If Abraham Lincoln had never given the Gettysburg adders, the war may have lasted longer. If President Lincoln did not give the Gettysburg address, he may not have gotten   re-elected for president.

-Thank you, Jake, from the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, for teaching us all about a Union soldier.