 One academic estimate was that at least 8,000 Jewish soldiers fought for the Union and Confederate during the Civil War.Donald Altschiller estimates that at least 10,000 Jews served, about 7,000 for the Union and 3,000 for the Confederacy, with some 600 Jewish soldiers killed in battle.Jews also played leadership roles on both sides, with nine Jewish generals and 21 Jewish colonels participating in the war.