The Civil War lent excitement to the lives of Northern children, imposed hardships and limitations on Southern white children, and changed the lives of African-American children forever. Although there were, of course, numerous large and small exceptions to such vast generalizations, these broad outlines accurately capture the experiences of children and youth on the Civil War home front.

Although the differences in the experiences of Northern white, Southern white, and Southern black children are most notable, there were, of course, similarities. Children of both races and in both sections eagerly gathered to watch newly formed local companies drill on village and town squares and to watch regiments march off to the front. Many formed their own "boys' companies." Newspapers and parents' letters commented on youngsters' martial enthusiasm, and children's magazines like The Student and Schoolmate encouraged it. Few memoirs by...