The American Civil War's Unknown Soldiers:
04/20/2012
2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
Photos in the Library of Congress, Donated by Tom Liljenquist. The Library of Congress is displaying several hundred of the photos.
Liljenquist wanted the public to have access to the photos, so the unsung heroes of the American Civil War would not be forgotten.
At least 618,000 Americans died in the Civil War, and some experts say the toll reached 700,000. The number that is most often quoted is 620,000. At any rate, these casualties exceed the nation's loss in all its other wars, from the Revolution through Vietnam.
The Union armies had from 2,500,000 to 2,750,000 men. Their losses, by the best estimates:
Battle deaths: 110,070
Disease, etc.: 250,152
Total 360,222
The Confederate strength, known less accurately because of missing records, was from 750,000 to 1,250,000. Its estimated losses:
Battle deaths: 94,000
Disease, etc.: 164,000
Total 258,000
Continue reading "The American Civil War's Unknown Soldiers:" »
