Chronological History of the American Civil War

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took up the task of producing cloth for uniforms, blankets, tents, and other uses, while the state’s 125 boot and shoe manufacturers turned out their wares as quickly as possible to keep the Confederate armies marching, but as the war drug on supplies were short for soldiers and civilians alike. Civil War Valentines A few facts you might not know about the Great American Civil War. Expressing one's love to another is a celebrated custom on Valentine's Day; whereby sweethearts and family members present gifts to one another, such as cards, candy, flowers and other symbols of affection. Opinions differ as to who was the original Valentine, but the most popular theory is that he was a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancient Rome. In A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 as Valentine Day. Esther Howland, a native of Massachusetts, is given credit for selling the first mass-produced valentine cards in the 1840s. Most Valentines sent during the early 19th century would have been made by hand, but by the beginning of the Civil War, commercially-produced greeting cards were being marketed for soldiers to send to their sweethearts. As the war continued, however, the Union blockade made paper extremely scarce in the Confederate States and mail delivery dangerous and difficult. Valentines and letters became ever more precious communications. Unlike modern Valentines, Civil War Valentines often combined the sentiments of love, patriotism, duty, and loss. Troops encamped in tents made window Valentines with flaps to reveal a soldier inside waiting for his sweetheart with open arms. Another popular novelty during the Civil War was a Valentine containing a lock of hair from a girlfriend or wife far away, which the soldiers treasured. Something known as a Puzzle Purse was invented during this time as well. These were formed by folding the four corners of a square envelope inward and writing a message on the inside of each flap. Many times, the puzzle contained a piece of jewelry or a lock of a lover’s hair. Youngest Man to Command an Army during Civil War A few facts you might not know about the Great American Civil War. At age 33, Confederate General John Bell Hood was the youngest man on either side of War Between the States to be given command of an army. Although, he had received two devastating and nearly deadly wounds, he fought on gallantly for the Confederacy. At Gettysburg, he lost the use of his left arm, and at Chickamauga, doctors amputated his right leg. A prosthetic leg was paid for by members of his Texas Brigade, who had collected $3,100 in a single day for that purpose. Eventually his aides would tie him to his saddle wearing a French-made cork leg and an orderly would follow closely behind with crutches. After the war, his insurance business would be ruined by the yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans during the winter of 1878-79, and he would succumb to the disease himself, dying just days after his wife and oldest child, leaving 10 destitute orphans, who were adopted by families in Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky and New York. Custer Family's Military History A few facts you might not know about the Great American Civil War. His heroism was almost completely overshadowed by his brother’s flamboyance. Thomas Ward Custer (pictured) was born in New Rumley, Ohio, the third son of Emanuel and Maria Custer. Tom successfully enlisted in the Union Army in 1861, at age 16, after lying about his age in a previous attempt while still 15. Tom was the first man to be awarded two Medals of Honor, both for capturing Confederate regimental flags, one of just nineteen two-time winners in US history. On the second occasion, he was shot in the face, but was so determined to continue fighting that his division commander had him put under arrest just to get him to a field hospital. Ironically, his older brother, George, was the first Union soldier to capture an enemy flag in that war. Tom would continue in the Army even after the Civil War as a captain fighting Indians in the West. He along with two of his brothers, George and Boston, would die at Little Bighorn in the Montana territory at Custer’s Last Stand.