38,000 Reasons to Fight

38,000 Reasons to Fight. Arkansas Post National Monument. , Half the Yankees in the West [were coming]. , Confederate scout, I expected Mary would be a widow before I got 10 rods [55 yards]. , John Matson, corporal, 120th Ohio Infantry, Every soldier had his own reason to be here. Many Confederates here were outraged that Federal soldiers had invaded Southern states. None wanted distant Washington politicians to change Southern customs, laws, or property rights-including slave property. For others, gaining independence from the United States was worth risking their lives., Disease and bad food killed more than bullets. Soldiers lacked enough guns and tools. One officer mourned, "My poor men, many of them are barefooted...many with no coats." Despite overwhelming odds, a Union soldier observed, "These men were overpowered, not conquered.", Many Union soldiers fought to keep the states united. Some wanted to end slavery. Others signed up for the cash recruitment bonus. Some Federal soldiers saw this as their patriotic duty. , Their mission here was brutal. Both the raw recruits and General Sherman's seasoned soldiers "marched all that night through woods and swamps." One Iowan noted, "At every halt, they would drop down on the cold, wet ground and almost instantly were asleep." Though better equipped, Union troops suffered many more casualties at Arkansas Post than the Confederate defenders.