Civil War Soldiers

Diet – Shelter – Personal Hygiene – Illness – Religion – Relaxing - Music

SoldiersMen in the trenches before Petersburg, Virginia. Most soldiers were 21 years of age or younger. 10-20% of soldiers were under 18 years of age.

Camp cook The men could always identify the company’s kitchen or the cooks’ tents.

FoodThe daily allowance of food issued to soldiers was called rations.

Meats were salted or smoked while other items such as fruits and vegetables were dried or canned. A soldiers diet consisted mainly of hardtack (a dried biscuit) in the north or corn bread (“jonnie cake”) in the south, coffee, dried beef, rice, jam, water, nuts, dried fruit. Union soldiers ate much better than Confederate soldiers.

If a march was imminent, the men would cook everything at once and store it in their haversack, a canvas bag made with a sling to hang over the shoulder. Haversacks had a inner cloth bag that could be removed and washed, though it did not prevent the bag from becoming a greasy, foul-smelling container after several weeks of use.

Officers quarters

Officer’s quarters were usually more spacious than those of their men. Officer’s sometimes had the luxury of furniture. Unlike infantrymen, who slept and sat on whatever nature provided,

CampDuring the war, soldiers lived in tents while civilians in

the South often lived in damaged buildings.Enlisted men, unlike their officers, had to carry all

their belongings on their back. On long marches, men were unwilling to carry more than the absolute

essentials. Even so, soldiers ended up carrying about 30 to 40 pounds. Each soldier was issued half of a

tent. It was designed to join with another soldier's half to make a full size tent. The odd man lost out. The shelter halves were so useful that they were used after the war. As a result, very few remain today.

When suitable wooden poles were not available for tent supports, soldiers would sometimes use their

weapons

Camp with a view Camp sites, like the one guarding a trestle bridge at Whiteside, Virginia, were sometimes picturesque.

Camp with corduroy road During bad weather, efforts were made to build winter quarters with "corduroy" roads.

Winter camps Many soldiers, had to live in tents during the winter months.

Washing clothes Without their wives around to help, soldiers had to wash and dry their own clothes

Personal Hygiene

A variety of personal items were used by Civil War soldiers. These personal effects grew in number during long encampments and

were reduced to a minimum during long marches and battles.

Hospital Wounded soldiers in the hospital.

Amputation Amputations in the field were more common than most people realize.

Mass

Religious activity centered on the Army chaplain. Worship at camp was much like worship at home. Initially in the war, each regiment had a chaplain. Regiments started sharing a chaplain as the war progressed. Although most soldiers were Protestant, regiments with a Catholic majority had a priest. The 82nd Illinois, with a large number of Jews, had a rabbi.

Chaplain conducting mass for the 69th New York State Militia encamped at Fort Corcoran, DC

Peachtree St. Peachtree Street with wagon traffic, Atlanta, Ga., 1864

Battling the Boredom

• The most common pastime in camp was sitting around and talking..    reminiscing of home, or grumbling about circumstances. There were other diversions that helped soldiers battle the boredom.

Mail Call

The arrival of mail played a large part in the soldier's life. Letters from home were critical to boost soldier morale, although there never seemed to be enough news from home or about the war. Mail was uncensored, and contained not only military information but many personal feelings and words from the heart.

Soldiers Resting after Drill Reading Letters, Papers and Playing Cards - Petersburg, VA

Playing Cards & Games

Like soldiers of all wars, games of chance and the exchange of money were popular on both sides. Soldier’s played cards and games to help them battle the boredom. A good gambler could send money home to help in the hard times shared by many.

Officers of the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry Playing Cards in Front of Tents - Petersburg, VA, August 1864

Dominoes Union Soldier’s playing Dominoes.

MusicMusic and singing were common in the soldier's life. There were inspirational marching songs written to boost the morale of soldiers. There were songs the soldiers sang when they were sad and thinking of home and then there were songs the families sang when they thought of loved ones away at war.

On the field, people called fifers (a flute like instrument) played shrill tunes accompanied by drummers beating different beats.

Drumbeats served two purposes; to tell soldiers what to do, and keep them in step. Drum calls command soldiers, while other drumbeats with the fife accompaniments helped them march. The drummer boy played during battle to keep soldiers spirits up, the louder he played the more awake and alert the soldiers were, the softer he played the less awake the soldiers were.

Buglers were crucial in the war because they to were responsible for sounding out commands. These included reveille in the morning, as well as field commands such as advance and retreat.

"I don't think we could have an army without music" -Robert E. Lee