- Joined
- Dec 21, 2015
Every reader of history knows of rosy, illusory claims made by boastful
leaders as soldiers gathered to march off to one of the many wars that have
occurred in the last 2,000 years. "Our side will win quickly and the boys
will be home by Christmas."
https://www.army.mil/article/179223/christmas_in_the_army_american_civil_war_style
One still hears this claim made today, usually spoken by someone far from
the battlefield who knows little about combat (though he or she thinks he
does.)
During the American Civil War, politicians from both the North and South
made this confident statement as armies mobilized and men readied to fight.
What people on both sides initially thought would be a disagreement to be
settled within a few months, however, turned into a bitter war lasting four
years and causing hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Over by Christmas? No way.
Life for the common soldier during the Civil War, particularly when viewed
from the perspective of today, was an unpleasant one. Sanitation was bad,
rations were poor, medical care was primitive, and leadership was often
wanting.
But the complaint that appeared most often in letters and diaries of
soldiers had to do with the quality of their food. Though the North supplied
its armies better than those of the South, both sides suffered from a
monotonous, unhealthy diet. Salted pork or beef, frequently rancid, and corn
meal or hardtack, often infested with worms, were common ration items.
Homesickness was a perennial problem for troops in the field, especially
around holidays such as Christmas. The arrival of something special to eat
in a parcel from home became all the more welcome during these times.
Because army provost marshals inspected each parcel before delivery and the
boxes piled up on railroad depot platforms, thievery became a big problem.
Boxes were often delayed for weeks, frequently being left open and exposed
to rain. https://www.army.mil/article/179223/christmas_in_the_army_american_civil_war_style
leaders as soldiers gathered to march off to one of the many wars that have
occurred in the last 2,000 years. "Our side will win quickly and the boys
will be home by Christmas."
https://www.army.mil/article/179223/christmas_in_the_army_american_civil_war_style
One still hears this claim made today, usually spoken by someone far from
the battlefield who knows little about combat (though he or she thinks he
does.)
During the American Civil War, politicians from both the North and South
made this confident statement as armies mobilized and men readied to fight.
What people on both sides initially thought would be a disagreement to be
settled within a few months, however, turned into a bitter war lasting four
years and causing hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Over by Christmas? No way.
Life for the common soldier during the Civil War, particularly when viewed
from the perspective of today, was an unpleasant one. Sanitation was bad,
rations were poor, medical care was primitive, and leadership was often
wanting.
But the complaint that appeared most often in letters and diaries of
soldiers had to do with the quality of their food. Though the North supplied
its armies better than those of the South, both sides suffered from a
monotonous, unhealthy diet. Salted pork or beef, frequently rancid, and corn
meal or hardtack, often infested with worms, were common ration items.
Homesickness was a perennial problem for troops in the field, especially
around holidays such as Christmas. The arrival of something special to eat
in a parcel from home became all the more welcome during these times.
Because army provost marshals inspected each parcel before delivery and the
boxes piled up on railroad depot platforms, thievery became a big problem.
Boxes were often delayed for weeks, frequently being left open and exposed
to rain. https://www.army.mil/article/179223/christmas_in_the_army_american_civil_war_style
Last edited:
Forum Host
Bringing the