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he Civil War was for many soldiers the grand event of their lives. Of the four million men who enlisted, more than 620,000 would die from combat, sickness, and disease. Yet from among those who survived came a plethora of published memoirs and regimental histories, chronicling every facet of a soldier’s life. Over the years, the Smithsonian has acquired hundreds of artifacts to help tell and preserve this story, which is both personal and national in dimension.

This section about the life and trappings of soldiers is compiled almost entirely from the collections of the National Museum of American History. Included are examples of flags, uniforms, provisions, personal effects, medical and musical instruments, and prison art. These objects are representative and, as in the case of uniforms and insignia, offer only a peripheral view of a much larger collection.

 




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