War Between The States

[Rastus]

Does anyone (I bet Tom knows) what the US population was before the War Between the States and how many died in the conflict?

[Solus]

Recent estimates place it between 650,000 to 850,000...average  750,000, 20% higher than earlier estimates of 620,000..but all estimates.

http://www.history.com/news/civil-war-deadlier-than-previously-thought

Civil War Population:   31,443,321  ~2.4% of the population  -   7,681,736 of our current population

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_United_States_Census

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/robert-schlesinger/articles/2016-01-05/us-population-in-2016-according-to-census-estimates-322-762-018

[vincewarde]

Very interesting - especially what the history channel article had to say about Confederate casualties.  The problem with the Confederates is that a great many people fought without being formally enlisted.  One example would be the African American slaves - and perhaps even some freedmen - who went to war as "bodyguards" for wealthy whites.  These man were clearly trusted by those the protected, because they were armed and usually wore Confederate uniforms.  Clearly these men would have fought as much as any white Confederate - but they would not have appeared on any muster roll.......

Recent estimates place it between 650,000 to 850,000...average  750,000, 20% higher than earlier estimates of 620,000..but all estimates.

http://www.history.com/news/civil-war-deadlier-than-previously-thought

Civil War Population:   31,443,321  ~2.4% of the population  -   7,681,736 of our current population

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_United_States_Census

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/robert-schlesinger/articles/2016-01-05/us-population-in-2016-according-to-census-estimates-322-762-018

[tombogan03884]

There were also issues like "Bounty jumpers" who enlisted then deserted to enlist some where else.
States were paying $300  per enlistment so it was pretty profitable.
Also, record keeping wasn't all it could have been either. I'm currently reading a history of the 6th Michigan Calvary (one of Custer's regiments) written by it's commander and he claims that none of his after action reports for the 1864 campaign made it into the official record.
As for black in Confederate service a professor in Ga was tracing them and had compiled a list of 8000+ free black volunteers  by name and regiment. No matter what Congress said, the issue was states rights with slavery just being one of several issues we are STILL dealing with.
Solus has found out my secret. Wiki is your friend ! I have occasionally found it a little shallow, but I've never found an entry that was wrong.