Skip to main content

How many soldiers died from disease in the Civil War?

It is very difficult to determine with any precision the number of deaths from disease in the American Civil War. Casualty figures for the Confederate Army in particular are very incomplete and are based almost entirely on estimates, both contemporary and modern. In addition, historians are beginning to revise the long accepted death toll of around 625,000. Some recent demographic studies have argued that the death toll from the war was much higher, closer to...

It is very difficult to determine with any precision the number of deaths from disease in the American Civil War. Casualty figures for the Confederate Army in particular are very incomplete and are based almost entirely on estimates, both contemporary and modern. In addition, historians are beginning to revise the long accepted death toll of around 625,000. Some recent demographic studies have argued that the death toll from the war was much higher, closer to 750,000. It is universally agreed, however, that a much greater number of Civil War deaths were attributable to disease than battle wounds. For every two soldiers who perished on the battlefield (or of wounds suffered in battle), three died of diseases like typhoid fever, dysentery, typhus, measles, and cholera. So if we use the "traditional" figure of around 620,000 deaths in the Civil War, we can estimate over 400,000 of these deaths were due to disease. If we accept the higher figure of 750,000 (and some argue that the total was even higher than this), we reach a number of almost 500,000. The point is that the death toll was horrific; primitive and unsanitary conditions in camps killed more soldiers than combat. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more