"Battle of the Month" Club

[Dred]

Since the arrival and return of a certain board members, anything other than secession and politics has become kind of scarce to talk about... which is what I personally like to talk about! It takes a much smarter man (and older I suppose) to understand some of the politics of the war... But I sure have a good idea of the rest of what was going on.. you know.. the battles, the men dying, the bloody fields of valor? So I figured, in order to spur some discussion we could take a battle every week, or month, or however long it takes to dissect it and run with it here. It could be decided by what time of the year it is, or just whatever anyone feels like talking about.

Since its my idea I'll pick something first

How about somethings about winter camps? I never read too much on what the armies did during the cold months, and since most of the country is frozen over right now, I figure why not!? How did the men manage to keep warm in Virginia in February? Through all the snow and ice, and sickness I'm sure was rampant. Colds, flues, who knows what else! I remember reading that some of the officers actually built log cabins and had their wives and families, but was this common? and what about enlisted men?

So how about the Battle of the Cold?

[M E Wolf]

Dear Dred;

Here is an interesting site:
http://oha.alexandriava.gov/archaeology/quakerlane.pdf

In this web site, it is discussed how the "Crimean Oven" was used to heat the tents during winter time. I had it titled for an original topic not too long ago. Other heating devices were used, to include pot belly stoves and the like. I have used the long practice of heating bricks or quartz stone as to keep my feet warm when driving my buggy, carriage or cart and or wagon (horse drawn).

Hopefully, more will respond on this topic. I'd like to know how the troops on the move stayed warm.

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf

[ole]

Interesting topic, Dred. I have absolutely no idea how the soldier coped with the cold. He certainly didn't go inside and kick up the thremostat. And there was a difference between the guy in camp and the guy in campaign.

The American soldier has always been resourceful, but don't ask me how he managed to sleep through a night with temperatures approaching zero. I need more than two blankets to get through a night at 65 degrees.

M. E. has interesting insight with the Crimean Stove, but I don't think they were available when, for example, Hood was invading Tennessee.

I'd like to hear more about the subject because I simply have no idea how they did it.

ole

[bankerpapaw]

Apparently Union soldiers had better winter clothing and
winter quarters (Petersburg) than the southern boys did. I've read that some of the Rebs had no shoes, thread-bare clothes and sometimes not even any blankets. I served in Vietnam and I could take the heat
but I know for a fact that I couldn't handle the brutal
cold like the rebs, the G.I. during the Battle of the Bulge, the Korean vets did.
You can make yourself somewhat comfortable in the heat, but once you get cold, especially in a battle situation, you can't just go inside and warm up.
Ole, you have came through once again. I like the idea of discussing a battle or in this case, the cold.

[bankerpapaw]

Originally Posted by Dred

Since the arrival and return of a certain board members, anything other than secession and politics has become kind of scarce to talk about... which is what I personally like to talk about! It takes a much smarter man (and older I suppose) to understand some of the politics of the war... But I sure have a good idea of the rest of what was going on.. you know.. the battles, the men dying, the bloody fields of valor? So I figured, in order to spur some discussion we could take a battle every week, or month, or however long it takes to dissect it and run with it here. It could be decided by what time of the year it is, or just whatever anyone feels like talking about.

Since its my idea I'll pick something first

How about somethings about winter camps? I never read too much on what the armies did during the cold months, and since most of the country is frozen over right now, I figure why not!? How did the men manage to keep warm in Virginia in February? Through all the snow and ice, and sickness I'm sure was rampant. Colds, flues, who knows what else! I remember reading that some of the officers actually built log cabins and had their wives and families, but was this common? and what about enlisted men?

So how about the Battle of the Cold?

OOPS!! Sorry Dred. In my response, I gave Ole the credit for coming up with your idea. Sorry. Great idea, by the way.

[J_Man0507]

From all of the accounts that I have read, winter camp was just a really dull time for the most part. The armies didn't tend to move because the roads became churned up mud holes and made movement difficult, so winter camp was a time to rest and recuperate. The men tended to build, from what I have seen, huts out of whatever lumber was available and all manner of devices were used to heat up the interior, from the aforementioned Crimean oven to even building a fireplace in some instances. I think the greatest winter camp story that I have read is that of two units in the AoNV (brigades I believe, but I am not positive) that had a massive snowball fight and they lined up in battle formations. So from what I have heard and read, seems like just a time to rest, recuperate and refit.

[Dred]

M.E. Wolf,

I did see your topic on the Crimean Stove, about 30 seconds after I posted this! Very interesting stuff in that. When I have more time I'll have to check out that link.


Something else, however, piqued my curiosity about the cold. Sure, in a camp setting staying warm might have been easier, but I have seen many pictures painted by Kunsler, who usually has a specific event in place for his painting, in which soldiers are on campaign march through the snows of Virginia! I wonder if there is any way to find out how many men ended up being amputated or something because of frost bite? Anybody who reenacts knows that those shoes are not very good protection against any element! Especially cold! As unbearable as this seems, this is the reason I have always referred to the men on both sides as real supermen. Thanks for jumping in guys! Hopefully we can get some good input on this

[M E Wolf]

Dear Dred,

I would think their clothing and shoes were much hardier than our clothing--so many synthetics you know. I do know my father's WWII uniform for the regular US NAVY was pure wool. The flare in the legs of the trousers acted as a pocket of air if tied and act as float. Being pure wool, even wet they would float with air pockets. I think layering would also work as well as home made thick socks. Boots were also thicker leather and I'm sure they used paper inside to layer also.

I am wondering if you have looked into Medical Archives for the Civil War?
National Archives might have a search engine available.

I would also keep in mind, that I'd think a lot of records were missing as to numbers due to the quantity of people, especially after a battle.

I did read, that those in the music field had to double-duty as medical corps members, helping surgeons and such.

I do agree, that those Civil War participants on the field/in the field were 'super men/women' (There were cases of women fighting as male soldiers and only discovered when wounded).

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf

[Jamieva]

Part of being able to handle cold temps also is dependent on diet. So the Feds being better fed and more amply fed leads them to be able to bare the cold better (plus being from colder climates) then Johnny Reb who is not eating as well, and doesn't have the same blanket and other warmer items such as a proper coat etc.

The snowball fight referenced above I believe was in the ANV in winter camp at Fredericksburg around the start of 1863. I remember seeing paintings of it.

[mt155]

I know the the Army of Tenn had a snowball fight while in camp around Chattanooga. It turned out to be some TN regiments against some Georgia boys. Some brigadiers even joined in, though I forget which ones. Also around Fredricksburg some AOP regiments built log huts to sleep 4 men each. They had fire places etc. Some left for the infamous "Mud March" only to return to find that other companies had moved in and were enjoying the fruits of their labor. As can be expected a "battle" ensued to reclaim their winter homes.