5 A soldier's life
Soldiers called these tents “dog tents” because only a dog could crawl under one and stay dry from the rain. Photograph by David Walbert. About the photograph
Military service meant months or years away from home, endless hours of drill, inadequate food or shelter, disease, and long days marching on hot, dusty roads or in driving rain — all punctuated by moments of sheer terror. In this chapter, we’ll explore the life of a Civil War soldier — camps, food, uniforms, music, and arms, as well as disease, amputation, prison, desertion, and death.
- 5.1The life of a Civil War soldier
- 5.2Small arms in the Civil War
- 5.3Civil War uniforms
- 5.4Soldiers' food
- 5.5Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate spy
- 5.6"My dear little darling"
- 5.7Life in camp
- 5.8A plea for supplies
- 5.9Civil War army hospitals
- 5.10Enduring amputation
- 5.11Salisbury prison
- 5.12Vance's proclamation against deserters
- 5.13"I am sorry to tell that some of our brave boys has got killed"
