Examining Images of the Youth of the Civil War

I believe that a small part of my paper will be dedicated to describing and explain the importance of images depicting combative youths.  The two images I have selected for this blog post are of Johnny Clem age 10 when he first tried to enlist, and Andrew and Silas Chandler, Andrew was 17 when he enlisted and 19 when he was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga. 

These two images are quite the opposite of each other in several ways.  The most noticeable at first is that Johnny Clem is poised rather regally despite his rather large uniform.  His photograph make him look almost like an officer or graduate of West Point; whereas Andrew and Silas' picture shows two young men armed to the teeth.  In Andrew's picture Andrew has two pistols, and either an Arkansas Toothpick or Bowie Knife and his slave Silas is holding what looks like a double barrel shotgun, a Bowie knife, and has a pistol stuffed into his shirt.  The next difference is the uniform.  Johnny is wearing Union blue and has a very official looking uniform.  Andrew and Silas are wearing Confederate gray, and, although a real uniform, is not displayed as neatly as young Johnny.

Of course their roles were also drastically different during the war as well.  Johnny was a well liked drummer boy from Ohio and Andrew was an infantryman given a rifle and considered just "one of the men."  In some articles on Johnny he is described as being something of a mascot.

The different depictions of youth provide a bit of insight into their role.  Johnny was a very well liked boy and thus he is represented in a flattering matter.  Andrew was just "grunt" and his image shows that clearly even if he is posing with his slave.