Demographic historian J. David Hacker of Binghamton University talks with Robert Seigel of NPR’s All Things Considered about how he arrived at his new estimate of Civil War casualties.
Demographic historian J. David Hacker of Binghamton University talks with Robert Seigel of NPR’s All Things Considered about how he arrived at his new estimate of Civil War casualties.
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Hello,
I really appreciate the effort it took to acquire this new information about the death toll during the Civil War.
I had two 2nd great grandfathers who fought on either side, both ending up living their lives in Texas and connecting through their childrens marriage. Both were born in 1843 and both joined the Civil War struggle in 1862, one on the Union side (John Hall- a private in company c, 8th regiment of the New York Volunteer Cavalry) and the other on the Confederate side (Samuel Washington Harris- a private in company K of the 17th Texas Infantry, Allen’s regiment). They both lived a long life, Samuel dieing in San Antonio, TX 1912 (age 69) and John in Corpus Christi, TX hurricane of 1919 (age 76). John Hall named his first son John Buford Hall after Gen. John Buford (his Grettysburg Calvary General), and his daughter named her son (my Grandfather) John Buford Harris. John Hall survived many a battle including being the first to capture the high land at Gettysburg. Then being captured and surviving 6 months in Andersonville, GA prison.
I researched both my families civil war experience, on my mothers isde last summer and found that I have a great interest and delight in the research process. How do I get started, in a career of historical and/or geneological research at my age, 54? Please advise…