1. Typical Civil War soldiers were farmers in their late teens to early 30s, around 5'8" tall and 143 lbs. African Americans initially could not serve but the Union later allowed it. Many men volunteered for adventure, escape from boredom, or because friends had enlisted. 2. Soldiers received basic training in drills and weapons handling before being sent to camps. They passed time through activities like gambling, games resembling baseball, and writing letters. Punishments for infractions included extra duties, flogging, and execution. 3. Prisons on both sides had horrid conditions due to overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of supplies, leading to high death tolls like the over 13,