Insects provided foe in Civil War's epic struggle, scientist finds.

Publication: Capital News Service

Bookmark this article Print this article Link to this article Email this article Digg It! Add to del.icio.us RSS

COPYRIGHT 2006 Capital News Service

Byline: Tom Howell Jr.

WASHINGTON _ Twice as many Civil War soldiers died from insect-related disease than direct combat _ an obscure fact Gary Miller has discovered in his unique, decades-long hobby.

Since the 1970s, Miller, 48, of Laurel, Md., has pored over books, soldiers' letters and regimental histories for insect references. He found that mosquitoes, body lice and flies were a constant nuisance to Union and Confederate soldiers. Roughly 60,000 soldiers died from malaria on the Union side alone, he said.

"I think the beauty of looking at the insects is it's a topic that we all can...

Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.