The American Civil War Collection, 1860-1922, contains many items published for children during the war as well as many items pertaining to the role of children in the war. Here are five examples from the May release of this new resource, created from the American Antiquarian Society's comprehensive holdings of Civil War materials. 

Charlie the Drummer-Boy (1861)
By Sarah Schoonmaker Baker

This 16-page pamphlet presents a remarkably light-hearted narrative poem about the courage and faith of a drummer boy who, although badly injured, provided comfort to a wounded soldier. The following is one of its dozens of stanzas:

While Charlie was speaking, he took out some meat;
The soldier with eagerness hastened to eat.
No thanks did he offer to God or to man,
But like a wild creature his meal he began.
His savage, coarse manners but pity inspired:
“Say, have you a mother?” the drummer inquired.
The kind little fellow in honesty thought
That only an orphan could be so untaught.

Uncle Buddy's Gift Book, for the Holidays (1863)
By Uncle Buddy

Published in Augusta, Georgia, in 1863, Uncle Buddy’s Gift Book was written to fill the void of children’s literature created by the Union blockade. Among its works of poetry, sketches, games, and stories is a section titled, “Items of Southern History.” The chronology of events begins by characterizing the election of Lincoln and Hamlin “as an assurance that [Southerners’] political rights in the Union were no longer to be respected.” The other “scraps of history” include the date of secession of each Confederate state and a list of the major battles.

 

The Orphan's Home Mittens; and George's Account of the Battle of Roanoke Island (1863)
By Aunt Fanny 

Aunt Fanny’s son, George, was part of an advance team during the invasion of Roanoke Island. Capturing the island was key to controlling the sounds between North Carolina and the Outer Banks and completing the blockade of Norfolk. In his account of the battle George describes the actions of Benjamin Porter, a young midshipman in command of six launches with boat howitzers.

There was one young fellow… who deserved to be made a general. Oh, mother! He was only seventeen years old… He was ordered to plant a battery of six twelve-pounder boat howitzers from the vessels in the advance of the centre. He dragged these through the swamp and placed them in position. They soon began to thunder and flash into the enemy, who returned the fire with such fury and desperation that every man, one after the other, was shot down, and he was left alone. The chaplain of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts… then rushed up and worked at one of the howitzers till his ammunition gave out, and he had to retire. Still this undaunted boy kept on loading and discharging his gun, now entirely alone, and a mark for the most terrible galling fire; and he did this until the enemy had surrendered.

The Sailor Boy (1864)
 
This shaped, or movable, children’s book consists of one circle-shaped leaf folded into eight wedge-shaped leaves to form sixteen pages. The outer eight pages, pictured here, contain color wood engravings. The inner eight pages contain the text in verse, including this poetic description of the Powder Boy:

The great Rear Admiral heard
the words so boldly spoken,
Said he, “A spirit so brave and true,
Can never in fight be broken.
And we shall see, The Powder boy,
Soon to rise to be, Our pride and joy.

The Union A B C (1865)

This illustrated alphabet book supports the Union from A ...

... to Z.

For more information about The American Civil War Collection, 1860-1922, or to request a trial for your institution, please contact readexmarketing@readex.com.