Introduction

In the early years of the Civil War, volunteers from both the North and South joined the armies to fight for the rights and beliefs of their territories.  Many northern soldiers were fighting to hold the Union together.  Many southern soldiers were fighting for states rights. 

While slavery was a significant sectional difference between the North and South, the issue of emancipation for the slaves became more prominent in the later years of the war.  Furthermore, the participation of the United States Colored Troops was prominent in the siege of Petersburg.  While this term is not used today, in 1864 a soldier in the United States Colored Troop (USCT) was a brave and honorable position for an African American.

With parents, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, and/or friends fighting in the Middle East, it is important to realize why soldiers feel they need to risk their lives.  What is worth fight for?