We are in the midst of commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. As the months go by, we recall the historic battles, such as Shiloh and Antietam, during which the fate of our nation hung in the balance. It is also important to remember that at the root of this conflict was the issue of slavery, in which the color of one's skin determined who was slave and who was master. There were many abuses inherent in slavery, and this article discusses one of them: branding.