Slightly slower than normal speed. Thank you!
Although soldiers were officially supposed to be at least 18 years old, both the North and the South needed soldiers during the Civil War, and they often looked the other way when it came to age. As a result thousands of young boys between the ages of 13 and 17 fought in the Civil War. The Civil War is sometimes called "The Boys' War" because so many young men fought as soldiers. Some historians estimate that as many as 20% of the soldiers who fought in the Civil War were under the age of 18.
The youngest of the boy soldiers (some were only 10 years old) usually served as drummers or messengers. Drummers were used for communication on the battlefield. Different drum rolls signalled different commands like "retreat" or "attack." Other boys were used as messengers. They were usually fast runners who bravely ran important battle messages from one commander to another.
Other children served in the army camps by washing dishes, fixing meals, and setting up the camp when it moved.
Children on the home front worked hard, taking on the jobs of the adults who had left to fight the war.
