Civil War Journals
Due Date:
Civil War Journal Entry 1
Imagine that you are a young farmer at the start of the Civil War. You have made the decision to volunteer to fight. Write
a journal entry to discuss your decision. Remember the fighting hasn’t started yet! Be sure to include all the following in
your entry:
1. Are you a Yankee or a Rebel?
2. What are the goals for your side of the war?
3. Name one strategy your side will use to win.
4. Discuss two advantages for your side.
5. Name one disadvantage for the other side.
Begin your journal entry with the following:
April 1861
Dear Journal, I have made the decision to volunteer for the army.
Civil War Journal Entry 2
Imagine that you are a young soldier and you have just experienced your first real fight at the First Battle of Bull Run.
What was the fighting like? Is being a soldier what you thought it would be? What do you remember? Be sure to mention
all of the following in your entry:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Irvin McDowell
P.G.T Beauregard
Richmond, VA
Stonewall Jackson
Citizens of Washington
Begin your journal entry with the following:
July 1861
Dear Journal, The first real battle of the war has finally taken place!
Civil War Journal Entry 3
Imagine that you are a young soldier during the Civil War. You have just survived the Battle of Antietam.
Describe what the battle was like. Be sure to include the following in your entry:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Robert E. Lee
George McClellan
Casualties
Ambrose Burnside
Abraham Lincoln
Begin your journal entry with the following:
September 1862
Dear Journal, Lee’s army has marched into Maryland!
Civil War Journal Entry 4
Imagine that you are a young soldier during the Civil War. You have just received the news that President
Lincoln has signed the Emancipation Proclamation. How do you feel about the news? Be sure to include the
following in your entry:
1. Early Union goals
2. Confederate States
3. England and France
4. Harriet Tubman
5. 54th Massachusetts
Begin your journal entry with the following:
January 1863
Dear Journal, President Lincoln has signed the Emancipation Proclamation!
Civil War Journal Entry 5
Imagine that you are a young Civil War soldier and you have just survived the Battle of Gettysburg. Describe
the battle. Be sure to mention the following in your entry:
1. George Meade
2. General Lee
3. Gettysburg
4. Pickett’s Charge
5. Result
Begin your journal entry with the following:
July 1863
Dear Journal, The tide of the war has finally turned in favor of the Union.
Civil War Journal Entry 6
Imagine that you are a young soldier during the Civil War. The South has just surrendered to end the war.
Describe how you feel. Be sure to include the following in your entry:
1. Ulysses S. Grant
2. Sherman’s March to the Sea
3. Total War
4. Appomattox Courthouse
5. One result
Begin your journal entry with the following:
April 1865
Dear Journal, The Confederacy has surrendered!
Scoring Rubric
1.
2.
3.
4.
Begin paragraph with the above statement
(1 point per entry) ______
Includes relevant information, reasons or ideas and includes photos
(0-6 points per entry) ______
Readability- clear, understandable, legible, correct conventions.
A reader who did not know the topic would still understand the answer (0-3 points per entry) ______
Total: Six journals with 10 points possible for each entry.
Total _______/60