Greetings,
Norlands has ask for our help in making a list of civil war terms for a vocabular list. We many need more than one list as it will be for students from 5th grade thru high school. So please join in on the fun and help create this list(s).

thanks,
Craig

CIVIL WAR VOCABULARY

Here is a list of terms and definitions that will be used in the broadcast and within the individual soldier biographies that are assigned to the students. You may wish to gradually work these terms into your regular vocabulary units, or assign each student (or small groups of students) to research and define some of the words, keeping a master list or bulletin board area for class reference.

accouterments – a soldier’s equipment

Army of Northern Virginia -- the Confederate army at Gettysburg, led by Robert E. Lee

Army of the Potomac – the Union army at Gettysburg, led by George G. Meade

artillery – cannon and other large weapons

battle (engagement) – a large-scale fight between two armies

bayonet – knife-like weapon attached to the front end of a musket or rifle

bedroll – rolled blankets containing personal belongings, carried by soldiers

bombardment – mass firing of large amounts of artillery

bummer – soldier that would take needed items from farmers and townspeople

campaign – a series of army movements with a specific goal or destination

canteen – tin or wood container on a strap, used to carry liquid

cap – a small device used to cause powder to explode in a musket barrel

cap box – small leather box attached to the belt to hold caps used to fire muskets

cartridge – paper tube that held a bullet and gun powder

cartridge box – leather box used to hold cartridges

casualty – a soldier who has been killed or wounded, is missing, or was captured by the enemy

cavalry – group of men fighting, scouting, or screening army movements from horseback

comrade – a close companion or co-worker

Confederacy – the eleven states that seceded from the United States to form their own country

democracy – 1. a form of government where the people rule themselves through elected representatives. 2. equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment

drill – training by repetition; teaching something by having participants do it over and over again

enlist – to sign-up or enroll in the army

flank – the end of a line of soldiers

foraging – roving the countryside in search of food, sometimes taking from farmers

formation – the basic physical arrangement of soldiers in a unit, made up of ranks and files; a rank is the single line of men from right to left, and a file is the line of men from front to back

Gettysburg Address – speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg on November 19, 1863. Lincoln stressed the necessity of continuing the fight for a government of the people.

hardtack – flour, salt and water biscuit that was very hard and dry

haversack – small canvas bag used by soldiers to carry food and other belongings

headquarters – the building or location for the head of an army to direct movements and operations during a battle and campaign

housewife – small sewing kit used by soldiers on the march

infantry – group of men who travel and fight on foot

journal – a daily written record of one’s experiences, sometimes called a diary

kepi – cap or hat; part of the uniform of a Civil War soldier

knapsack – canvas container strapped to a soldier’s back, carrying personal belongings

liberty – a right or a freedom; the idea that every individual has a fair and equal chance for success and happiness

line of battle – territory marked by formations of soldiers, either in defense of a position, or in preparation to attack a position

muster – to assemble and be counted for military service

National Park Service –government agency created to care for and teach about the special land areas set aside for their natural or cultural importance to the history of the U.S.

rebel – common term for a Confederate soldier

reinforcements – additional troops held back from battle until they are needed to support and strengthen the units already in the battle

retreat – to withdraw troops under attack; to move away from the enemy and the battle grounds

ridge – a long, narrow and raised strip of land

rifled-musket – muzzle loading gun, fired with cartridge and cap

sacrifice – to give up one thing for the sake of another

slavery – a human being who is owned by another human being against his/her will

Union – the United States of America

yankee – common term for a Union soldier