Journal Entry

1. Journal Entry
   Assume the role of chief adviser to the president (United States: Abraham Lincoln or
   Confederate States: Jefferson Davis). It is April 15, three days following the bombardment and
   capture of Fort Sumter by Southern P.G.T. General Beauregard. Your president is unsure
   whether to raise armies and pursue war or open negotiations with the other side and find a
   path to a peaceful solution to the military crisis (up to this point, secession has been a political
   issue).
   What advice and counsel will you give him? What position do you advocate for (war or peace)?
   Why? Write this journal as an official statement from the chief adviser (you) to the president.
   Your journal entry must be at least 1 page/275 words in length. No references or citations are
   necessary.
2. Essay - Reflections of the Civil War at this point (1861-1862)
   You are a soldier or officer during the Civil War. You have come from a military family that has
   fought in all major wars since the American Revolution. You are descended from the
   Revolutionary War soldier you wrote about in Unit II (SEE ATTACHED). It is Christmas Eve 1862,
   10 days following the Battle of Fredericksburg. After, you take a pencil and paper and write
   your reflections of the last two years and the effect this has had on your country and you. Like
   your ancestors, you want to document the moment and your knowledge of the war for
   historical purposes.
   Begin with where, why, and how you believe this entire war started, and touch on many of the
   main issues (leaders, challenges, turning points, major battles, weapons, or tactical innovations,
   etc.), and end with your hopes for the future of your nation (Confederate or Union). Keep the
   following points in mind as you write your essay:
   ▪ Are you hoping to see a peace emerge soon and reconciliation with the enemy?
   ▪ Do you believe that the war will continue on, and why?
   ▪ How do you believe this will all turn out for your nation and your family?
   You are encouraged to be creative with the assignment, but make sure you are using facts from
   what you have read and learned to guide you. Ensure that you address the following.
   ▪ Identify notable innovations and tactics used by your army.
   ▪ List major figures or groups associated with the Union and Confederate military
   operations in the war.
   ▪ Explain what challenges your military has faced.
   ▪ Relate what you believe a soldier (Confederate or Union) would have experienced.
   Your essay must include an introduction. An introduction example could be, “I am writing this
   diary to give my personal insight of being in the” (select either a Confederate or Union) “camp
   on Christmas Eve, 1862.”
   Your essay must be at least 2 pages/550 words in length, double-spaced, and written in Times
   New Roman, 12-point font. APA Style will not be required for this assignment.
   You obviously will not have cited or sourced material in a document you wrote in an army camp
   in 1862. However, be careful not to copy material from any sources. Use your sources for
   historical facts but write in your own words and your own organization of the material. Write in
   first-person narrative (I, me, us, we, them, etc.).
   The perspective of this assignment is not only to look for historical context and content but use
   creativity and your ability to role-play as someone who was a soldier during the first two years
   of the Civil War. Remember to stay in character, and do not write about events after December
   24, 1862.

Unit V Assignment

1. Journal Entry
   You are a soldier/officer in General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Army of Tennessee. It is late
   November 1864, and you are halfway through a one-month march from Atlanta, Georgia to
   Savannah, Georgia that is being called “Sherman’s March to the Sea.”
   Explain your experiences on this march and why this is different from other campaigns you
   have been part of. Are you supportive of Sherman’s tactics, and how does making war in this
   manner make you feel as an American?
   Your journal entry must be at least 1 page/275 words in length. No references or citations are
   necessary.
2. Journal Entry
   You are a soldier or officer (Union or Confederate) during the Civil War. You have come from a
   military family that has fought in all major wars since the Revolution (you are descended from
   the Revolutionary War soldier you wrote about in Unit II – SEE ATTACHMENT). It is
   Independence Day, July 4, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Two large armies face each other,
   and the hills and valleys are littered with dead and wounded men. The fighting has been vicious
   and deadly over the last three days. As your comrades and enemies are combing the area for
   wounded and burying those who have died, you take pencil and paper and write a short
   description of your experiences over the last three days, including what led up to this battle,
   who the primary leaders were on each side, important engagements and strategies that
   seemed to be turning points in the battle, and your reflections on the possible ramifications of
   this battle for your side.
   Your response must be at least 1 page/275 words in length.