The American Civil War was no doubt the bloodiest, gruesome, sequence of battles ever fought on United State's territory. The men, and in some rare instances, women, were called to meet their fate when most did not recognize the cause, or the reasoning behind such madness. The chaos would inevitably loom in a soldier's mind after a victor was declared, but that was all a part of a soldier's daily grind in the Civil War.
Background of the Union Soldiers
There was a comical name given to the average Union soldier, and that is, “Billy Yank,” and likewise the Confederate title was, “Johnny Reb,” but the many nicknames given to assorted battles and leaders didn't do justice to the races and nationalities present in the Civil War.
On average about seventy-five percent of Union soldiers were full-blooded American and most of the foreigners migrated from Germany and Ireland. These groups were not the only ones to travel to America to serve in the Union army. The Canadian, as well as the French, Italian, and Hungarian countries provided troop support where needed.
With the many different cultures came prejudice towards foreigners in which numerous languages were spoken, or African American soldiers, which came to a count of 172,000 within the Civil War years. The black soldiers' duty was mainly building defenses, cleaning the filth in camps, and also garrison duty, but that was nothing compared to the criticism they took.
White Union soldiers would taunt and terrorize their black comrades even though the outlaws of the division could fight as well as any general. In fact, the African American soldiers could never rise above the rank of a common soldier and were formed in separate regiments, completely away from white regiments. It wasn't until the end of the Civil War that black soldiers gained equal citizenship and the respect they deserved.
Shelter
Shelter for Union soldiers was far less than convenient and comfortable. At the beginning of the war, soldiers were blessed with spacious barracks in such cities in New York; but once things turned south the soldiers were forced to live in the typical refuge at that time; the tent. Throughout their time spent in a federal uniform, the soldiers were sheltered in either one of a few types of tents.
The first kind was designed by Henry Sibley. He transformed his idea into a contraption related to the Indian teepee, and fittingly named it the Sibley tent. Sibley made sure the design could adequately house at least ten soldiers and could thus shield rain if necessary. The next type was commonly staged for a hospital in which the injured federals would go to receive treatment. The size varied and often times two or more tents would be combined for more room for the injured or sick. Rarely were these tents used for average soldiers' accommodations.
Necessary Items
Being a soldier in the Union army, or any army, is hard work and extremely tiring. Along with their uniform, the federals had to carry the weapon of choice, which were usually a musket and also a bayonet. The bayonet was highly useful and accurate, for it was a long blade that attached to the barrel of the musket and with one quick jab it could end an enemy's life. If you have the weapons, you have to have the bullets. On the soldier's hip would be a pouch containing a forty-round cartridge box, any mementoes, and could also store their hats. This was not all the items needed to be carried by far.
There was a canteen to quench frequent thirst, a haversack as well as a knapsack, plus a blanket, and of course to hold everything up with, a belt. If that's not enough, they also had to carry a winter coat, plates and a tin cup, and leggings to finish. What a load!
Tasty Nutrition
The federal soldiers were pretty thankful for any source of food they were handed. If these foods were plentiful, they would eat salt pork, maybe beef or ham and sometimes bacon. The bread was usually hardtack, which was a kind of thin biscuit, along with potatoes, rice and beans. For drink they would slurp coffee and tea. The sweets would be sugar and molasses.
During the spring and summer months of battle, these foods may be in surplus. This is the time when the soldiers would be most healthy because dread usually followed in the winter months. The foods would be rationed in cold weather, and on certain occasions, the soldiers would just go hungry. The soldiers would then experience the wrath of diseases in camp and be on the verge of starvation, if they weren't dying of a wound.
The medicine certainly was not like it is today back then. The doctors did not know about germs and infection, and would not know to sterilize the instruments used to work on the poor soldiers. The amputation rate was magnificent and you'd find piles of limbs stacked up in corners that would make your stomach literally turn upside down. Diseases and sicknesses ended up killing more soldiers from either side then actually fighting would. That tells you just how awful the conditions were.
Throughout the Day
The soldiers got quite an experience in camp every day. They would rise at six A.M. for roll call followed by a drill of some kind. After that a much needed breakfast would be present, and next the sick call. Lasting until noon would be more drilling. The soldiers may practice formations or marching or marksmanship. After lunch the soldiers received free time to do whatever, but usually the soldiers would nap or write letters, then more drilling.
The grueling drills in the hot sun would be rewarded in no time, for they were presented with an evening all to themselves, although, most of the soldiers spent the sunsets together, gambling, or just talking about the battle to come. Poker, cribbage, and euchre were the common gambling games of choice, and you could guess how some soldiers fared. They'd become rich one day and poor the next, all in the name of fun.
