CIVIL WAR

INTERPRETING STATISTICS: CASUALTIES AND COSTS OF THE CIVIL WAR

Troops Available for Duty (January 1)

Union Confederacy

1862 527,204 209,852

1863 698,808 253,208

1864 611,250 233,586

1865 620,924 154,910

Questions to think about:

1. Why did troop strength peak in 1863?

2. Do you think that the differences in troop strength were responsible for the war’s outcome?

Deaths During the Civil War

Union Confederacy

Total forces 1,556,678 1,082,119

Deaths from Wounds 110,070 94,000

Deaths from Disease 249,458 164,000

Death Rate 23 percent 24 percent

Wounded 275,175 100,000

Deaths in American Wars

Civil War 618,000

World War II 405,000

World War I 112,000

Vietnam War 58,000

Korean War 54,000

Mexican War 13,000

Revolution 4,000

Spanish-American War 2,000

War of 1812 2,000

Civil War Troops

Union Confederacy

1862 527,204 209,852

1863 698,808 253,208

1864 611,250 233,586

1865 620.924 154,910

Total 1,556.678 1,082,119

Forces

Civil War Casualties

Union Confederacy

Death from wounds 110,070 94,000

Death from disease 249,458 164,000

Total death rate 23 percent 24 percent

Wounded 275,175 100,000 (approx.)

Cost of U.S. Wars

Wartime Costs Veterans' Interest

(in millions) Benefits Payments

American Revolution $100-140 $28 $20

War of 1812 87 20 14

Mexican War 82 26 10

Civil War 2,300 3,289 1,200

(Union only)

Spanish- 270 2,111 60

American

World War I 23,700 13,856 11,100

World War II 260,000 65,231 200,000

Korea 50,000 11,391

Vietnam 140,600 13,173

Question to think about:

1. How does the cost of the Civil War--in casualties and expense--compare to the cost of other American wars?

2. Why do you think that the Civil War was so lethal?