During the Civil War, was the murder, rape or harrassment of civilians common?

Answer 1

The answerer who says he reads needs to read the "Uncivil War" with the except of Gettysburg there was no real incursions into yankee territory. Southerns were forbidden to enter private home and had to pay for anything they took, now a field of corn or an apple tree might be freed from oppression but on the whole Southerners were a different breed. Yankees on the other hand stole, killed, raped and the like throughout the South. Where I live Gloucester, Virginia had Yankees facing them from across a river they would sneak across kidnap children, burn farms, churches even hanging our preacher. They were famous for hanging kids and slaves. The book is original US Army reports and tells what we faced. Sherman fired on civilians in Atlanta,
Look at Johnson s Island (northern Ohio); Camp Douglas (Chicago); and Elmira (New York) Americas' holocaust.

God Bless You and The Southern People (We deserve and need it).

Answer 2

I have read a great deal about the Civil War, and have found very little ever mentioned about rape or harrassment, so I have to say that I don't believe there was much of it.

Answer 3

Though i have not read any papers to support the question, i do see this as being true in the present military population and even on the home front a spread of this violent taking of so named spoils or victories of wars is catastrophic and to deny that it is a result of any war without peace would be denying a global truth, in my opinion.

Answer 4

It was not really a civil war, just a southern insurgency.

Answer 5

yes all those things happened as far as Im concerned,troops came in and raped and stole things from others as well and overtaking their property to use as they thought fit for a hospital or generals quarters etc. I would say all three things happened who would stop them???