The Civil War touched the lives of children in both similar and vastly different ways. The Civil War molded children’s lives as adults and shaped their attitudes, opinions, and prejudices that would pass from generation to generation.
The children of the Civil War shared enthusiasm for the war, were burdened with greater responsibilities, and endured physical and emotional hardships. The end of the war for a Northern child meant victory, excitement, and success. The end of the war for a Southern child meant defeat, disappointment, and a transformed way of living.
For enslaved African American children, the end of the Civil War meant freedom and hope, which did not come without years of tremendous sacrifices, challenges, changes, and hardships.
Here below is a set of amazing photos from The Library of Congress that shows portraits of African American children during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.
Nathan Jones, Camp Metcalf, Virginia, circa 1861Two unidentified escaped slaves wearing ragged clothes, circa 1861A Virginia slave child, 1863Charley Taylor, formerly enslaved child from New Orleans, seated with book in front of painted backdrop showing seascape, 1863Fannie Virginia Casseopia Lawrence, a redeemed slave child, 5 years of age. Redeemed in Virginia, by Catherine S. Lawrence, baptized in Brooklyn, at Plymouth Church, by Henry Ward Beecher, May 1863Isaac and Rosa, slave children from New Orleans, 1863Rebecca, a slave girl from New Orleans, 1863Rebecca, Charley, and Rosa, slave children from New Orleans, 1863Rebecca, the slave girl, circa 1863White and black slaves from New Orleans, 1863Charley, a slave boy from New Orleans, 1864Our protection, 1864Taylor, young drummer boy for 78th Colored Troops Infantry, in rags, circa 1864Taylor, young drummer boy for 78th Colored Troops Infantry, in uniform with drum, circa 1864Wilson, Charley, Rebecca & Rosa, slaves from New Orleans, circa 1864
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