A Tale of Two Armies: The Confederate Army of Northern

Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac and Their Culture

Joseph T. GlatthaarStephenson Distinguished Professor

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sample of Army of Northern

Virginia• 600 Soldiers Chosen Randomly

– 300 Infantrymen

– 150 Cavalrymen

– 150 Artillerymen

– 44 Officers and 556 Enlisted Men

• 51 Areas of Information

19 Prewar Categories

26 Wartime Categories

Sample of Army of the Potomac

• 800 Soldiers Chosen Randomly

– 400 Infantrymen

– 200 Cavalrymen

– 200 Artillerymen

– 37 Officers and 763 Enlisted Men

• 61 Areas of Information

29 Prewar Categories

32 Wartime Categories

6.310

83.7

6.911.3

81.8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Artillery Cavalry Infantry

Branches in Armies (%)

Union

Confederate

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

<1821 1821-30 1831-35 1836-40 1840-45 >1845

Year of Birth

Union

Confederate

34.6

65.4

21

37.5

62.5

31.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Married Single Father

Marriage and Fatherhood (%)

Union

Confederate

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Personal and Family Wealth (%)

Union

Confederate

64

23.2

12.8

61.4

24.7

14

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Lower Middle Upper

Economic Class, Union States and Army of the Potomac (%)

Union States AP

48.4

26.9 24.7

41.7

22.8

35.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Lower Middle Upper

Economic Class, Southern States and Army of Northern Virginia (%)

So. States

ANV

4.9

19.924.9

13

37.2

44.4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Personal Personal andFamily

Household

Slaveholding by Percent

SlaveStates

Army

61.4

24.7

14

41.7

22.8

35.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Lower Middle Upper

Economic Class, Army of the Potomac and Army of Northern Virginia (%)

Union

Confederacy

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Occupation (%)

Union

Confederate

20.6

13.1

1.2

24.726.8

15

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Died WIA POW

Officers Dead, Wounded, and Captured (%)

Union

Confederates

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Occupation (%)

Union

Confederate

20.6

13.1

1.2

24.726.8

15

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Died WIA POW

Officers Dead, Wounded, and Captured (%)

Union

Confederates

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Jul-Sep61

Oct-Dec61

Jan-Mar62

Apr-Jun62

Jul-Sep62

Oct-Dec62

Jan-Mar63

Apr-Jun63

Jul-Sep63

Oct-Dec63

Jan-Mar64

Apr-Jun64

Jul-Sep64

Oct-Dec64

Jan-Apr65*

Quarterly Desertion

AP

ANV

10.3

20

0

5

10

15

20

25

Union Confederate

Fatherhood and Desertion

Union

Confederate

35.4

10.8

37.5

19

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Married Married Who Deserted

Marriage and Desertion (%)

Union

Confederate