Barefoot Union Troops

[Brendan]

No matter the era or conflict soldiers find solutions. The Legion veterans who served in WW I and the RIF Wars taught me how to really care for my feet.

From "A Manual for Military Surgery, " by Julian J. Chisolm M.D., Surgeon CS Army, 3rd Edition, Columbia 1864

During the mid-day rest, if any opportunity exists, the shoes and stockings should be removed and the feet bathed, which, by removing dirt and acid secretions, will prevent excoriations. It may also be advantageous, at such times, to change the socks from one foot to the other, so the seams may come at different portions of the foot, which will prebvent continued and injurious pressure. Soaping the sock will also prevent excoriations, and add much to the comfort of a soldier while on the march.

I found no mention of the topic in the first edition of Chisolm which was published in 1861.

Here's Robert Carter (22nd MA) writing home in May 1863. Seems the soap trick got around:

"A soldier knows how to take care of his feet if he has time. * * * I knew, before, the recipe for keeping the feet in good order by rubbing the stockings with bar soap; have tried it a great many times; it is a great thing."

https://archive.org/details/cu31924032780623

 

[James N.]

How many miles did you march/walk James N.?

Edited: What and how would a CW soldier actually have taken care of their feet if they blistered? Did such a thing as moleskin exist and if it did, would they have had access to it?

The distance from Martinsburg to Gettysburg was reportedly about 70 miles, but I gave out at the end of the first day and didn't resume until the middle of the third day; I figure my total was more like 40-45 miles. For a fuller description of the experience: https://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/roads-to-gettysburg-summer-1981.101846/

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

That was a fantastic read! I read the whole march and the Gettysburg 1981 experience. I must say your feet and legs sounded beyond sore and it all sounded exhausting. But the scenes with people serving you food sounded fantastic AND lovely and I bet you guys appreciated it A LOT after all that walking! Imagine how any soldier felt after anything strenous being treated nicely by anyone - it would seem exquisite.

 

[James N.]

That was a fantastic read! I read the whole march and the Gettysburg 1981 experience. I must say your feet and legs sounded beyond sore and it all sounded exhausting. But the scenes with people serving you food sounded fantastic AND lovely and I bet you guys appreciated it A LOT after all that walking! Imagine how any soldier felt after anything strenous being treated nicely by anyone - it would seem exquisite.

My other fond memory was the camp beside the creek at Mount Alto - there was NO electricity apert from in people's houses across the creek, making it even LOOK period-authentic. The meal we spread out on the log for the company (I was on mess detail that night) looked like a photo out of a gourmet magazine!