Designed for use in a one-semester course in U.S. history or literature at the intermediate or secondary level, this collection of the Civil War letters of Lewis Bissell, a Union soldier, is divided into two major parts. Part I (chapters 1 though 5) covers the period of time Bissell spent guarding Washington, District of Columbia. Each chapter corresponds to a change in locale. Part 2 (chapters 6 through 9) covers the time Bissell was involved in combat and is divided by specific campaigns. The firsthand accounts of the war provided in these letters offer students an insider's view of the Civil War as well as insights into human nature, the experience of war, and Northern society. Where relevant, chapters are introduced by historical background information, overviews of the major themes in the letters, items for identification, materials for supplemental study, and background information for using the letters in the literature course. Additional notes to the teacher outline possible texts to use in conjunction with the letters and recommendations for course planning. Appendices contain "An Appeal to the Men of Connecticut," army command structure, a diagram of the armies of the United States, and a "rebel letter." Although designed as a one-semester course, excerpts from this collection can be integrated into intermediate and secondary social studies or humanities units on the Civil War. (LP)