There was much a man needed to know in order to be a valuable
and effective soldier in the Civil War. Many of the qualities he needed didn't
come but with experience. Experience that turned green recruits into strong,
weatherbeaten soldiers who were able to march all night and fight all day with
hardly a bite to eat. The Union didn't begin Training
its soldiers in any serious way until after the shocking
defeat at Bull Run. Many of these volunteers didn't survive long enough to make
the needed changes. Getting use to all the army rules, regulations and
dicipline
proved to be rather difficult for many of the new soldiers. Being unaccustom to
the idea of taking orders and showing respect to higher ranking soldiers meant
that many men would have to go through some major changes from the ways in
which
they had been familiar.
Equiptment
Making sure a soldier had the
Food and Equipment
he needed took time and was difficult to organize for Civil War
armies. (for a true idea of the enormous
undertaking it is to supply an army of the mid-19th century, or any army
for that matter, take a look at the photo I call
"Perspective"
Among the men in the forefront of this image,
on horseback, is none other than General George Armstrong Custer. Though he
believed himself invinceable against the native American's, it was a few short
years after this photo was taken that they proved him wrong at Little Big
Horn.)
Men had to learn how to cook the rations they were
given. A soldier also needed to learn the importance of good sanitation because
thousands of men died from poor sanitation related illnesses. And just as
important was how to find extra food they would need ie. foraging for barries
and other fruit etc. Although most commanding officers disaproved (except when
supply lines were impossible to maintain), troops were known, upon setting camp
for the night, to scour the surrounding neighborhood for eggs, poultry, pigs
and
anything else that might comfort a tired, hungry and home-sick man. There are
stories of occasional shots being fired into herds of grazing cattle and the
pleasing smell of steaks coming from camp fires soon after.
Shoes
There are some amazing stories of Confederate foot soldiers
going without
Shoes, even in winter. Apparently the ranks of the shoeless,
and those
stuck with shoes that didn't fit, was high enough to organize them into
regiments, usually taking up the rear and therefore able to walk in the beaten
path created by the men ahead of them. When marching in the road way became
tough going they were allowed to march along the side of the road where could
often be found soft grasses to cushion their feet. With the Union making
good
use of the newly invented sewing machine and superior strength of its
manufacturing abilities the "Yanks" never experienced shortages in the extreme
sense that the "Rebs" did. Lacking some essential manufacturing capabilities
along with corruption in the commissaries helped create the diar situation in
which the Confederates found themselves, especially in the latter half of the
war.
Bullet Proof
Vests
When
the fighting started in 1861, many North and South inventors began
making metal
shields, helmets, and vests promoting them as being
Bulletproof. .
Forage
Cap
Hats
gave the Civil War soldier warmth in the winter and shade in the summer.
The hat
liked most by men on both sides was the havelock or, Forage Cap.
They gave a little protection from rain,
and served
as handy bags for carrying foraged eggs and blackberries, among other
things.
See my CivilWarStory Video Minute below to learn what "A Soldiers Life" was really like in places such as the notorious Andersonville Civil War era Prison in Georgia. Also known as hell here on earth.
Please take a moment to check it out. Running time is just about 10 minutes
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Training
its soldiers in any serious way until after the shocking
defeat at Bull Run. Many of these volunteers didn't survive long enough to make
the needed changes. Getting use to all the army rules, regulations and
dicipline
proved to be rather difficult for many of the new soldiers. Being unaccustom to
the idea of taking orders and showing respect to higher ranking soldiers meant
that many men would have to go through some major changes from the ways in
which
they had been familiar.
