Showing results for "Civil War Cookin'"
Civil War Surprises: Was Pvt. John Hines A Surprisingly Uncommon Common Soldier?
In Chapter Six of former soldier John Billings’ famous Hardtack and Coffee, he identifies several types of soldiers he encountered during his service. Among them were the “Jonah,” named for the unfortunate Biblical character. A Jonah seemed to be able to make a mess of things wherever he appeared. Another class of soldiers, the “Beats,” […]
Read more...Civil War Medicine: Common Diseases of the Civil War
Disease was a critical problem among Civil War armies. Out of more than 700,000 soldiers who died during the Civil War, two-thirds of soldiers died from disease or infection rather than battle wounds themselves. Why was disease such a big issue? What diseases were the most common? Unfortunately, at the beginning of the Civil War, […]
Read more...From Chicory to Cigar Stumps: Confederate Coffee Alternatives in the Civil War
In just about any firsthand account of the Civil War, it’s striking how heavily coffee features in the day to day lives of soldiers. Like many of us today, both Union and Confederate troops found coffee to be absolutely essential as a stimulant, a source of warmth and comfort, and a ritual to congregate around. […]
Read more...The Civil War Zoom Boom, part two: The Museum of Civil War Medicine
(part two in a series) Since the pandemic triggered stay-at-home orders and lockdowns, Civil War history has been booming online—particularly interview programs that take advantage of Zoom conferencing technology. In part one of the series, we talked about the significant influence the American Battlefield Trust has had by adopting Zoom early and going all-in. Another […]
Read more...“Angry Enough to Give Them Battle”: Hungry Civilians and Soldiers Fight Over Food
ECW welcomes Katie Brown to share Part 3 of her research. (Find the previous posts here.) Hunger was an omnipresent force that haunted almost everyone in Civil War America. One of the most troubling aspects of hunger was its impact on behavior and its ability to break down social norms. Hunger among soldiers was particularly […]
Read more...“In the Small Things Forgotten we find the Everyday Experience of War”
How did a citizen become a soldier? Once in the army, how did he adapt to military life? How and where did he sleep? In what ways did the experiences of camp and campaign transform him? As a student of Civil War soldiers, I’ve been consumed by such questions since childhood. Answers can be found […]
Read more...Campfire Cooking: Campaign Diets & Not-So-Fine Dining
Emerging Civil War welcomes back Michael Aubrecht Despite being necessary for survival, food for the typical Civil War soldier was unreliable fare. Whether marching on campaign or hunkered down in winter quarters, a soldier’s dining habits were often dictated by what he could forage or steal from the surrounding area. The Southern army had a commissary […]
Read more...ECW Weekender: The White Oak Civil War Museum and Stafford Research Center
Countless museums dot the Virginia countryside. Their sizes vary from the impressive National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle to the quaint Weems-Botts Museum in Dumfires. One museum, thoug,h has always stood out to me as being the perfect mix of quaint and impressive. The White Oak Civil War Museum and Stafford Research Center is […]
Read more...Mexican-American War 170th: Fort Brown Gets Its Name
On May 17, 1846 Brig. Gen. Zachary Taylor, pausing to reflect in the wake of his army’s victories against Mexican forces, published General Orders No. 62. “In memory of the gallant commander who nobly fell in its defence, the field-work constructed by the labor of the troops opposite Matamoras will be known as ‘Fort Brown,’” […]
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