Serving in the military meant time away from home, from loved ones, and familiar surroundings. In the 1860s it included inadequate food or shelter, disease, and many hours of drilling and marching. Read more to learn about the hardships and few joys that Civil War soldiers experienced between 1861 to 1865.
A Look in a Soldier's Backpack
Union Soldiers
Union soldiers wore wool uniforms that were well made and plentiful because of the mills and manufacturers in the North. Over the jacket was a belt that held:
- Cartridge box
- Cap box
- Bayonet
- Scabbard (a sheath to hold the bayonet)
- Haversack (a bag for rations and extra clothing)
- Canteen
- Blanket roll
- Rubber blanket or poncho
- Socks
- Paper to write on, stamps, envelopes, ink, and pen
- Half a tent
- Among other items
Tents consisted of one canvas piece buttoned to another to form a small, two-man dog tent. The term "dog tent" came about because the men joked that the shelter was only big enough for a dog to sleep in.
Confederate Soldiers
Soldiers in the South traveled lighter, basically because many of the things the northern soldiers carried were not available to them. They wore short jackets with vests, along with trousers made of denim. Confederates (often called “butternuts” by the North because of the tan-brown color of their uniforms) also wore shirts and undergarments of cotton. Shoes were very poorly made and hard to come by.
Life Between Battles
When not fighting, soldiers spent their time trying to overcome boredom. Many long hours were spent training since most of the men had been farmers all of their lives. They needed to learn fight tactics and how to obey orders.
Men also passed the time making meals, doing laundry, cutting firewood and writing home. Games such as dominoes and cards were favorites. Free time meant a game of baseball (rapidly gaining in popularity), horseshoes or other team sports could usually be found. The men also sang songs and told stories. Music could be heard from guitars, banjos, flutes and harmonicas. Some soldiers even made instruments out of wooden cigar boxes. Popular songs included "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "My Old Kentucky Home."
The Joy of Mail
Communication was slow and limited. Long periods of time were spent waiting to receive orders. Men would send letters and money home to loved-ones, and mail from home was a cause for celebration. Soldiers would receive letters they would read and re-read often. Packages often included items such as:
- Baked goods
- Socks
- Shirts
- Underwear
- Combs
- Toothbrushes
- Soap
- Towels
Creature Comforts
Union soldiers could shop at the sutler's store where they would buy canned fruit, toiletries, or pocketknives. A sutler was a person who followed an army or set up a store on post to sell things to the soldiers, often at greedy, high prices. Confederates didn’t have sutlers. They depended more on the generosity of farmers near camp.
Although soldiers were ordered not to, many kept pets including:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Squirrels
- Raccoons
Stories are even told of pet eagles and chickens. Dogs were favorite companions, and many were later recognized for their bravery and loyalty alongside their masters.
Food for Soldiers
Union Soldier Rations
The main staples for Union soldiers were meat and bread. Meat was often salted (rarely fresh) and eaten boiled or fried over open campfires. Army bread was actually a biscuit called hardtack, kind of like a very hard cracker. Other food items in the pantry included:
- Rice
- Peas
- Beans
- Dried fruit
- Potatoes
- Among other food items
The favorite of all rations was coffee. Soldiers received the coffee beans green. They had to roast, grind and boil them. A common meal was salt pork sliced over hardtack and coffee.
Confederate Soldier Rations
Confederate rations were a bit different than that of the Union soldiers. This is mainly because of what they had access to. Food items consisted more of:
- Bacon
- Cornmeal
- Tobacco
- Vegetables
- Rice
- Coffee substitute
They would often trade for coffee with tobacco, newspapers, buttons, or sewing needles.
Dealing with Discipline
Discipline in the army was strict, with most offenses punished by assigning extra duties. A crime such as thievery often resulted in the guilty man wearing a sign around his neck with large letters announcing his crime. Spying, desertion, or threats on an officer's life were punishable by death.
Medical Care During the Civil War
Doctors were often poorly trained, but managed to treat nearly 10 million casualties. Even when a doctor did treat wounds and perform amputations successfully, the risk of infection was great, and this is what led to many soldier deaths. It was hard for doctors to work under sanitary conditions, and often went days before washing hands between patients.
Disease and sickness ran rampant. The most common ailments included bowel disorders and typhoid fever. The culprit was food contaminated with bacteria. Malaria caused by mosquito bites was also a major problem for soldiers.
Life as a Civil War soldier was not an easy road to travel, but many men were proud to fight for their cause, even to death. The war is still considered the most bloody battle ever fought in U.S. history. Perhaps this is why the Civil War is still such a hot topic today.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
