Coping with Adversity and Trauma in War: The Perseverance of Alabamian Confederate Soldiers in the American Civil War

“Coping with Adversity and Trauma in War: The Perseverance of Alabamian Confederate Soldiers in the American Civil War” examines how Alabamians fighting for the South persevered from 1861 to 1865 as they faced wartime conditions. Confederates from Alabama—like other Confederate and Union soldiers—suffered much during the American Civil War: long marches, inclement weather, sleep deprivation, lack of clothing and food, harsh living conditions, sickness, separation from family and friends, unpredictable conditions, and most of all, traumatic experiences. As early as 1861, Alabamian soldiers fighting for the South experienced extraordinary hardship. In the face of such adversity, Alabamians persevered and did not give up the will to fight. In short, by relying on family, faith, and hope for the future throughout the American Civil War, Alabamian soldiers persevered through adversity and trauma to contribute significantly to the firm stand of the Confederacy.