The Role Of Weather In The Civil War

Walking through mud up to your waist was a recurring experience during the American Civil War. Well-known by Americans, the Civil War was a battle fought from 1861 to 1865 by the Union and the Confederacy. Weather had numerous impacts on the Civil War. Not only did it affect the lives of the soldiers, the constant change in weather could determine the outcome of battles. The ever-changing weather made living conditions extremely difficult for soldiers of both sides. Rain, snow, and the scorching heat of summer were all factors that caused difficulties for people (Weather in the Civil War). A simple task such as marching became a complex job. Because of this, officials had to take the weather into consideration before they made any decision. However, the weather changed so quickly and often that it was almost impossible to plan for. Soldiers believed “the change of climate and water” caused others to suffer (Meier). In a way they were not wrong; the weather caused infections and diseases which in turn caused many deaths (Meier).