Olivia



Name: Russell Johnson Birthday: February 27, 1840 Hometown: Philadelphia Gender: Male Political Views: Union Religious Views: Christian Hobbies: Reading, Writing Letters to family Drawing Likes: Drawing, Eating, Sleeping, and Family Dislikes: Being away from family
 * BIOGRAPHY:**

Status ONE: “Today was a good day. I’m in leave and just got back from a long walk. I was drawing for hours and hours. Spending time with family is the best thing ever.” -June 21, 1861
 * STATUS UPDATES:**

Status TWO: “Well leaves over. I miss family. I go to battle tomorrow, getting kind of scared but I know that I’m doing a great thing for my family.” -September 23, 1861

Status THREE: “Gun shot to the leg today. I’m out for a few weeks. I’ll be up and running for my country in no time J ” -September 25, 1861

Status FOUR: “For the past couple weeks, I’ve been fighting my hardest for this country. I have a crazy feeling in my gut that were going to win this thing. I’m excited to see the outcome.” -January 12, 1862 Status FIVE: “I’ve been away from my family for about seven months. I miss them TONS. If I could change anything about this whole war situation, it would be to live at home. I would get to see them at the end of the day and that’s all that I would look forward to. L ” -January 21, 1862

Status SIX: “I just ate lunch and I think the food is getting slimmer and slimmer each day. I feel like there are more people eating lunch each day… or we’re slowly reducing in food each day.” -February 17, 1862

Status SEVEN: “I just found out that I’m not going on another leave for a month. I miss family. L ” -March 28, 1862

Status EIGHT: “On leave and for a WHOLE MONTH! I’m going to start to miss the guys. I know they’ll do awesome out there. Long walk tomorrow! I got a call today that Kenneth is sick. Hope he’s okay.” -April 7, 1862 Status NINE: “On the battle field yesterday and for the rest of the week. Keeping the guys safe is getting harder and harder. I had a blast back home! Can’t wait to go back! Kenneth is still pretty sick. Really not doing to well down there.” -July 25, 1862

Status TEN: “Everyone is getting hurt out there. Its hard to see someone, your so close to your practically family, get hurt the way they are. I miss the family. Kenneth died yesterday. Going to be hard without him.” -November 12, 1862

In 1865, America was having ups and downs. At this time, the war was over and everything was getting better in some ways, and bad in others. There were many ways that America was getting better. One of the ways that America was getting better was that all the slaves were free. There was many of Africans that were so happy when they heard the news of them being able to do whatever they want. They were jumping with joy when they heard the news. An example of a down is that when all the slaves got out of enslavement they were out of work. They had nothing to go to because they had nothing in the beginning. They had no home, work, money, or food. They had nothing to live for or go to. It was a sad time for America. Some were bitter about having no slaves, but others where trying to help the slaves. It was rough for all of us. The next example of an up is that we won the war. I was truly happy about this. I know that we all went through everything and everything that could have gone wrong, did. I watch many of my buddies die. We would have given an arm and a leg to get that win. But we didn’t have to. We fought our best and I think that we all truly proved ourselves to our sergeants and even each other. I think that we were all fighting our hearts out for the people we cared the most about.
 * NOTES ONE:**

I think that slavery is cruel and mean. I never liked the idea of it and never had any slaves in my childhood. My family was very much against it. I always thought that it shouldn’t be; the whole “owning people”. It was just never all right in my eyes. I’m friends with some of the free black men in the town. Some worked in the stores that I went to and I became friends with a lot of them. I think that whites have this idea that blacks are these people set on earth to do work for whites but that’s not true. They are the same as whites. We should all be treated the same. I don’t understand. I think that whites have created this slavery because they are lazy. They cant just do their own work and they will keep doing it until someone fights it off. That’s the reason I went into this war. I think that no one should be treated the way that the whites treat the blacks. I wish that I could do more for them. I love the feeling that I am helping people and I’m people that really need a second chance. Especially the kids; I have a weak spot for kids. They are so sweet and innocent like I don’t understand how anyone could hurt those kids. I hate the things that they do to them. I don’t understand. I wish I could do more for them. I don’t think that I would be able to do anything else besides what I do for a living. I love that I save people and I love that I can keep people safe.
 * NOTE TWO:**

In my years in the civil war, I have heard many African Americans speeches. Well, 1700 African Americans served in the war. That’s 10% of all soldiers. I thought that they were very insightful. I think that they had a different perspective on life then white people. Because of everything they had to deal with, they got a different out look on life and what it’s meaning was. For instance, Fredrick Douglas. Everyone heard him. He had a way with words and everyone was interested in what he had to say. I thought that he was an amazing man. I love his quote “** I urge you to fly to arms and smite to death the power that would bury the Government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave.” I think he was one of the ones who would wake up in the morning and think that today was going to be another battle that I have the opportunity to win. I liked that about him. That’s what I would wake up thinking. Not many thought the way he did. ** Another example of an African American speech is a man named, Gorge Jones. He was a very insightful man. I was able to talk to him after his speech. He was a very nice, sweet man. He would talk as though nothing in the world could bring him down. Nothing could ever tear him down from where he stood in the world. I like that he was like that. He went through so much in his life and he wasn’t going to give up all the work he put into getting where he is. As I stood there listening to his work I realized something. I realized that if more people would be like him, thought like him and acted the way he did, we would all be in a much better world. We wouldn’t let a small thing ruin our whole day. I thought that I should start being like this. Ever since the day that I heard him speak, I have been a happier person. There were many speeches in the Civil War. Many insightful and I'm glad that I got to witness them.
 * NOTE THREE:**

-My Squad. Kenneth is the second in form the right. -This is the flag outside out hospital site. -I helped put it up! -Hospital. Usually crowded. -Hospital. Usually crowded. -Everyday work equipment.
 * PHOTO GALLERY**:

-We'll miss you ken.

-My drawing of the dog back home Max. -HOME! -This is my favorite trail to walk on when I’m on leave. -This is my moms horse. She has a real talent with horses. They love her! -This is some of my family. Unfortunately I’m the photographer so I’m not in this one. -This is one of the cakes that my mom would make me when I was on leave so I could have something special for the next couple days. Its soft and lemony and delish!