Trivia 10-16-17 Greybacks

[connecticut yankee]

"Greybacks was Civil War slang for body lice---

"There were two things that stuck closer than a brother; that was the itch and body lice or greyback as they were politely called…I had a bad case of the itch… it became very bad; so much that my hands were swollen and my fingers stood apart. Sores and yellow blisters came between them and they ran corruption. I could scarcely touch anything, my hands were so sore."-Pvt. Milton Asbury Ryan, Co. B, 14th Mississippi, CSA

 

[Zack]

Lice

For more information:
http://www.montana.edu/historybug/civilwar2/lousy.html

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Lice

Soldiers in the Civil War gave the body louse numerous names: bluebellies, rebels, tigers, Bragg's body-guard, zouaves, graybacks, and vermin. ... Different techniques were employed for delousing, or "skirmishing,"as the soldiers called it.
Historical Natural History: Insects and the civil War - Montana State ...
www.montana.edu/historybug/civilwar2/lousy.html

Edit - Correct, NH Civil War Gal. Welcome to the trivia game.

Hope you'll come back and play again.

hoosier

 

[James N.]

What I've also seen called the little bug with the big name (which I'll leave out as I don't remember it) but is more often called simply body lice.

 

[MaryDee]

Lice!

 

[sarladaise]

body lice

 

[ErnieMac]

Body lice.

 

[chellers]

Body lice

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/8-30-16-gross.126887/page-3

 

[hoosier]

Lice.

 

[JOHN42768]

"Graybacks": A slang term for lice
xource: https://www.civilwar.org/glossary-civil-war-terms#G

 

[lelliott19]

Both Union and Confederate soldiers used the term "graybacks" to describe lice.

 

[mofederal]

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_does_...ed_by_troops_from_both_sides_in_the_civil_war

Body lice or louse, which affected all soldiers.

 

[Jackson'sArm]

Yippeee, finally one I don't have to look up!! Lice

 

[Nathanb1]

Lice. Louses. Cooties.

 

[kholland]

Body lice

 

[Schwallanscher]

lice - source

 

[Mike Serpa]

A Confederate soldier

 

[MC44]

body lice

 

[JohnW.]

Credit for question

 

[amweiner]

Lice.
http://thecivilwarparlor.tumblr.com/post/67665977228/civil-war-slang-graybacks-a-slang-term-for