“Old Bald Head”; the first defense of temporary insanity; a nervous breakdown; and even our country’s worst president—while many of these descriptions sound like they might be out of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest , they’re actually referring to some of the most bizarre individuals to come out of America’s Civil War. A century-and-a-half has passed since the conflict began, when Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, South Carolina on April 12, 1861. Below is a gallery featuring some of the more unusual people involved in the war, their eccentricities at least as odd now as they were fifteen decades ago. Please use a JavaScript-enabled device to view this slideshow See more photos of the Civil War’s African-American fighters , the portraits of photographer Mathew Brady , and at LIFE.com .

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The Civil War’s Strangest Personalities: LIFE Photos

The commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the US Civil War is triggering many re-enactments across America’s Southern states.

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VIDEO: Civil War re-enacted in US states

The key to understanding the Civil War, which began 150 years ago this week, is to realize that it’s still being fought. Indeed, it’s being fought now more intensely than at any time since the 1960s.

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150 years later, we’re still fighting the Civil War

US still divided, 150 years since Civil War began

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Painful history

US still divided, 150 years since Civil War began

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Painful history

Trying to bring a Civil War history lesson to life, teacher Jessica Boyle turned her fourth grade Norfolk classroom into a slave auction: She ordered black and mixed race students to one side of the classroom. Then, the white students took turns buying them.

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Va. teacher holds mock slave auction

In the hours before a budget deal, hundreds of bewildered Civil War buffs worried about what was shaping up as a historically inaccurate reenactment of the bombardment of Fort Sumter.

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All of a War’s Trappings, With Accuracy at Stake

As the U.S. federal government hovers on the edge of a shutdown this Friday, don’t forget one major casualty: America’s parks and attendant services. The possible shutdown comes near the 150th anniversary of the Civil War’s start, the Associated Press reports , which happened at South Carolina’s Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. If the U.S. national parks close, then planned reenactments and celebrations at the fort will be impossible: “I’m shocked. This is a pivotal event in the nation’s history,” said Jeff Antley, who is coordinating arrangements for an estimated 1,000 re-enactors coming to the city. “You can’t say we’re going to reschedule for May. The money has been spent. The uniforms have been bought. The travel arrangements have been made.” If the federal government shuts down, then all 394 National Park Service sites would be closed and about 20,000 park service employees would be idled, said David Barna, agency spokesman in Washington. Fifteen-thousand concession employees who run hotels, restaurants and gift shops would likely be idled as well. In April, about 800,000 people visit national park sites each day and those visitors spend $32 million a day, giving a boost to local economies, he said. Read the full story at the Associated Press .

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The Government Shutdown’s Other Victims: Civil-War Reenactors

As the civil war raged in Libya on Friday, it has come down to momentum.

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Gadhafi forces pound key oil port

An increase in the number of middle managers means the civil service is facing a growing pay bill, the National Audit Office has warned.

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Warning over Whitehall pay bill

Egypt re-opens many of its museums and historical sites, which had been closed since the civil uprising started in January.

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Egypt re-opens museums and sites

Confederate Civil War pageant sparks debate over heritage

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Celebrating slavery?

IN COBAN, GUATEMALA The once-fearsome Guatemalan army has returned to the jungles where it battled Marxist guerrillas a generation ago, this time to hunt shadowy Mexican drug traffickers fighting for control of strategic smuggling routes to the United States.

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Mexican drug cartels draw Guatemalan army to jungles where it fought civil war

If guilting their kids into visiting more often doesn’t work, parents in China may soon have legal recourse. As the new lunar year approaches, China’s Civil Affairs Ministry is proposing new legislation that would require children to visit their…

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China to Mandate Closer Families?

Judge Philip S. Straniere of Staten Island Civil Court has built a following for entertaining judicial writing that tends to take some twists and turns.

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One Judge’s Biggest Decision: Which Movie to Quote