The events of the Civil War created heroes and villains while elevating some to legendary status. For every Grant and Lee, however, there were thousands of men whose names have been forgotten. It was these common soldiers who fought the battles of America’s deadliest war.

The common Civil War soldiers shared many similarities, whether they fought for the Union or the Confederacy.

The pre-war army of the United States was only a few thousand strong, so the new recruits of the Union and Confederate armies had little concept of military discipline. Their lack of experience was evident in early battles when both armies were disorganized and inefficient.

The first waves of soldiers were volunteers who answered the call for patriotism sweeping through the North and the South. There were other reasons to join the war as well.

Northerners fought to preserve the Union while Southerners fought to defend their homes and way of life. Men from all regions felt an obligation to their country and feared shame if they stayed home. Some came for the pay, which averaged $11 to $16 a month. Abolitionists fought to end slavery.

Even with all of these reasons to fight, the number of volunteers was inadequate, and both armies began to practice conscription – forced service. The draft laws of the Union and the Confederacy favored the rich. Several classes of Southerners, including those who owned more than 20 slaves, were exempt, and Northerners could hire a substitute for $300.

Most soldiers served in the infantry, the foot soldiers of the army. They were divided into regiments of about 1,000 men named for their home state, and further divided into companies of about 100 men.

A company tended to include men from the same location who knew each other. The common bonds of war strengthened their relationships.

Many men who had tired of the war refused to desert simply because they felt a strong obligation to the men with whom they served.

Both sides used similar equipment. Soldiers wore wool uniforms, blue for the North and gray for the South. The long weeks on the march didn’t allow much time for cleanliness, and soap was in short supply. Therefore, uniforms quickly became caked with dirt and sweat.

The men also had to carry large amounts of equipment. Haversacks were used for rations such as meat, coffee, bread and hardtack. Canteens, blankets and tents added to the load.

Each soldier had to carry and care for his rifled musket, which weighed 8 to 9 pounds – more when the bayonet was attached. Knapsacks were used for personal items and ammunition, with Bibles, pens, paper, ink and photos commonly carried.

Camp life was hard for Civil War troops. Besides the boredom between battles, disease was a constant threat.

Medical care was primitive by today’s standards. If a soldier was wounded in battle, amputation was common. Those who rejected it were more likely to die of infection; in fact, more troops died of disease than from battle wounds during the war.

An estimated 3 million soldiers served in the Civil War. More than 620,000 died. The experiences of these soldiers reveal a great contradiction. In a war fought for differences, the lives of these soldiers demonstrate how much they had in common.