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The US Civil War was a devastating and violent conflict. Soldiers turned their weapons on fellow countrymen, causing immense bloodshed in one of the deadliest and most tragic wars in American history. By its conclusion, 625,000 lives had been lost—more American casualties than both World War I and World War II combined.
No one could have predicted the sheer destruction that unfolded. At the onset, many believed the war would be brief, some even viewing it as little more than a game or a form of entertainment. However, lesser-known stories reveal the shift in public perception, as the brutal reality of the war set in.
10. The US Congress Engaged in a Rowdy, Drunken Brawl
In 1858, the US Capitol gave a grim preview of the conflict that would soon engulf the nation. Congress was locked in debate over Kansas’ statehood. The proposed constitution allowed slavery and banned free blacks from residing in the state.
Northern Republicans were enraged by the proposal. The debates dragged on for days, extending well into the night. As exhaustion set in, many members turned to alcohol to stave off sleep.
At 1:30 AM, a drunken Laurence Keitt, a Democrat, stood up and, with a slur, pointed a finger at Republican Galusha Grow’s face, calling him a “black Republican puppy!” Grow quickly retorted, “No Negro driver shall crack his whip over me!” Keitt, enraged, lunged at Grow, shouting threats to choke him, sparking a wild and violent brawl throughout the chamber.
Efforts were made to deescalate the situation. The Speaker of the House attempted to quiet the chaos by banging the house mace, but this only made matters worse. One congressman, misinterpreting the Speaker’s actions, thought it signaled that weapons were allowed. He then grabbed a metal spittoon and swung it at someone’s head.
The brawl didn’t end until someone caught William Barksdale in a headlock and began punching him in the skull. Barksdale managed to break free, but his wig stayed behind. Ashamed, he retrieved it from the floor and placed it back on his head, but it was on backwards.
This caused a burst of laughter among the politicians, and the atmosphere finally lightened. The fighting ceased, and they managed to reach an agreement, all thanks to a man’s wig.
9. A Crowd Gathered to Witness One of the First Battles
On July 2, 1861, 30,000 Union soldiers marched to Centreville, Virginia, gearing up for the First Battle of Bull Run, known to the Confederates as the Battle of First Manassas, marking the start of the war.
The battle was just a few miles from Washington, DC, and many locals saw it as a thrilling spectacle. At this early stage of the war, they were convinced that the Union would easily win with minimal bloodshed. A number of civilians thought they could safely watch the battle from a distance.
As the sun rose, a procession of carriages and wagons made its way to the battlefield. Spectators set up on a ridge, eager to watch. One woman even brought opera glasses to get a closer look. As the battle unfolded, she gleefully exclaimed, 'That is splendid!' and 'Oh my! Is that not first-rate?'
The presence of onlookers stirred up excitement. Some soldiers approached the spectators, offering commentary on the battle. Meanwhile, a few civilians, caught up in the intensity of the moment, attempted to sneak onto the battlefield itself.
It soon became apparent that the Confederates were gaining the upper hand. A cavalry charge overwhelmed some civilians who had ventured too close. Some were taken prisoner, while others tragically didn't survive. As panic spread, the spectators rushed to flee, scrambling to return to the safety of the capital.
8. The King of Siam Proposed Sending War Elephants to Lincoln
Prior to the war, King Rama IV of Siam discovered that the United States did not have elephants. He considered this a tragic oversight and believed it should be corrected as soon as possible.
When the Civil War broke out, Rama IV seized the opportunity. He wrote to President Abraham Lincoln, offering to send as many war elephants as needed. King Rama IV explained that these elephants would not only assist in defeating the Confederates, but could also be employed on construction projects or left to roam freely in the forests.
Lincoln responded as diplomatically as possible. 'I appreciate most highly Your Majesty’s tender of good offices,' he wrote. 'However, our political jurisdiction does not extend to a latitude low enough to support the multiplication of the elephant.'
It’s easy to picture Lincoln, years into the war, possibly regretting his decision not to have a few war elephants stationed at the front lines.
7. The Union Had an Unwavering Love for Coffee
For the Union, coffee was of great significance. In fact, the word 'coffee' appeared more frequently in Union soldiers' letters and diaries than terms like 'war,' 'bullet,' 'Lincoln,' or even 'mother.'
Coffee played a more prominent role in the lives of soldiers than actual combat. Each soldier received a yearly ration of 16 kilograms (36 lbs) of coffee, consumed every morning. One rifle company even crafted a rifle with a coffee grinder integrated into the stock. Since most soldiers only fought for about two weeks each year, the coffee grinder ended up being used more than the rifle's ammunition.
In contrast, the Confederates had very limited access to coffee. Union blockades prevented them from securing their daily caffeine supply. Some Confederate soldiers, desperate for their caffeine fix, resorted to brewing potatoes and rye until they became blackened, creating a bitter, caffeine-free concoction they pretended was coffee.
Caffeine even had a strategic impact on the war. One Union general would time his attacks according to when his troops were most energized from coffee, believing the added boost gave them an advantage in battle.
6. One of the Leading Causes of Death Was Diarrhea
While the soldiers spent much of their time waiting rather than fighting, they were far from safe. The greatest threat during the Civil War wasn’t the enemy—it was disease. The filthy, unsanitary conditions of war allowed illnesses to spread rapidly. By the end, sickness claimed almost twice as many lives as combat did.
The deadliest of these diseases was diarrhea, particularly dysentery. The number of soldiers who died from diarrhea was nearly as high as those killed in battle. The situation was so severe that a rule was established: any soldier 'attending to the imperative calls of nature' was exempt from being shot at.
The phrase 'You have to have good guts to be a soldier' still survives today. When Civil War soldiers first used it, they weren't referring to courage. Back then, the real test for soldiers was being able to endure diarrhea, as those who couldn't would meet an early end.
5. A Battle Was Interrupted to Watch a Fistfight
At Saunders Field, during a battle, both Union and Confederate forces ceased firing to watch two soldiers engage in a fistfight.
The Union forces began firing on the Confederates, and in the chaos, one soldier jumped into a gully for cover. However, upon landing, he realized he wasn’t alone. A Union soldier had already taken refuge there, and now two men from opposing sides were huddled together in the same hole.
The two soldiers started arguing. Each was certain they had captured the other, but neither could agree on who had the upper hand. So they decided to resolve it in the traditional way: they would have, in their own words, 'a regular fist and skull fight.'
The sight of two soldiers emerging from the gully and pounding each other senseless was so bewildering that both armies ceased fire. For a brief moment, both sides paused, simply watching the men as they battered each other.
The Confederate soldier knocked the Union soldier to the ground. Afterward, he yielded, and the two men, now agreeing on the victor, returned to their hiding place. As soon as they did, the battle resumed. The two soldiers stayed in the gully until the fighting ended. True to his word, the Union soldier then surrendered as a prisoner.
4. People Paid for Tickets to Witness Prisoners of War
Elmira Prison was one of the harshest prison camps during the war. Originally built to house 5,000 Confederate soldiers, it soon became overcrowded as the war progressed. Before long, nearly 10,000 men were packed within its walls.
Curiosity from the local civilians quickly grew, and before long, someone saw an opportunity to profit. A tower was constructed across the street, and for just 15 cents, people could climb to the top, settle in with some peanuts and lemonade, and observe the prisoners.
The prisoners eventually realized they were being watched and, bored out of their minds, began to entertain the crowd. Some of them would juggle or perform acrobatics to keep the audience amused from above.
The guards quickly stopped their performances, leaving the prisoners with nothing but time to wither away. Disease spread so rapidly in Elmira that a quarter of the men died. Despite the grim fate of the inmates, the crowds continued to arrive, paying a small fee to watch the men slowly perish.
3. A Whole University Enlisted and Never Returned
At the start of the Civil War, the University of Mississippi had 139 students. Of those, 135 enlisted to fight for the Confederate Army. The university became a makeshift hospital, and nearly the entire student body, except for four members, formed Company A of the 11th Mississippi.
The entire company, known as the 'University Greys,' never returned home unscathed. They suffered a tragic 100 percent casualty rate, with every member either returning injured or failing to make it back alive.
The Greys were initially scheduled to participate in the First Battle of Bull Run, but a delay in their train caused most of them to miss the battle. However, their journey was not without incident, as Colonel Moore became one of their first casualties by accidentally shooting himself in the foot.
The group continued to fight and almost made it to the end. On the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Greys joined a reckless, desperate charge against Union forces. Half of the Confederate soldiers involved perished, and not a single man from the University of Mississippi survived.
2. Southern Children Were Told That A Yankee Had Shot Santa Claus
By 1863, the South was suffering under the weight of Union blockades, with prices soaring and food becoming increasingly scarce. As Christmas approached, many families realized that they would not be able to provide presents for their children, a bitter reality they had to face.
In an effort to explain the absence of gifts, some parents resorted to grim stories. Some claimed that Santa Claus couldn't make it because he had been shot by Yankee soldiers.
Other parents, in contrast, offered gentler explanations, saying that Santa was unable to get through the Union blockade. This had a profound effect on the children. One woman, reflecting on her childhood during the Civil War, recalled how she would spend hours studying maps, hoping to find a route that Santa could use to break through.
1. Thousands of Soldiers Engaged in Monumental Snowball Fights
In the winter of 1864, the Confederate Army awoke to find 13 centimeters (5 inches) of snow on the ground. Eager to enjoy the snow, the soldiers rushed outside and engaged in what could be one of the largest snowball battles ever fought.
As many as 20,000 soldiers participated in the fight. The troops from Tennessee and Georgia split into two groups, gathering large amounts of snow to hurl at each other. On Tennessee’s side, Colonel Gordon even mounted his horse, waving a dirty handkerchief as a flag while bombarding his own men with snowballs.
Snowball skirmishes also erupted among the Confederate forces. Soldiers, relying on their military training, lined up and launched snowballs at the opposing side. Those who strayed too close to the front lines were grabbed and had their shirts filled with snow.
The boys, still so young—some barely 17 years old—stood ready for what came next. As the snow settled, they gathered their weapons once more and advanced toward the next battle, where far more than a mere shirt full of snow awaited them.
