Civil War Soldiers Were Solid Citizens

[Championhilz]

It was written in the Southern Bivouac, it must be true:

"Miss B.B., city, asks, 'Is it true that many of our solid citizens, while soldiers, regarded card playing and petty pilfering as among the accomplishments of camp life?

Answer: A base libel, madam, a calumny. True, they never left a friendless chicken to nod on its uncomfortable roost; never suffered an overburdened apple tree to break down from its load of fruit; never removed a bee-gum until the shades of night made the removal more to the comfort of the bees; never permitted the lacteal fluid to sour in badly-ventilated milk-houses; and never, no never left a wounded shoat to bleed its young life away by the roadside; and as for cards, we give you our word that just before the battle of Seven Pines, of Perryville, of Murfreesboro, we saw cards strewn all along the road - so great was the soldiers' disgust for card-playing.
- Southern Bivouac, Volume 1, #2, (October 1882)

 

[JOHN42768]

Salt of the earth for sure

 

[Burning Billy]

It's a shame the poem Tommy had not been composed yet. If it had been, and the writer a bit more inclined toward honesty, one verse would make the perfect reply to that silly little fool who was distressed over the troops gambling.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints

Rudyard Kipling - Tommy

 

[Freddy]

My great grandfather, Sergeant Henry W. Tisdale, mentions cards and checker boards.

"August 14th. (1864 Andersonville Prison, GA)

The number of sick is increasing. Have had heavy rains, which with the scorching sun brings increasing suffering. None have been taken to the hospital for a week or more. No medicines given out. Even so simple an article as vinegar is very helpful for scurvy, which has ceased to be dispensed. The ravages of this disease are terrible. Many going about the camp with bleeding mouth and teeth actually dropping out, legs swollen and turning black and blue. One remedy of some help is to sit with legs burried in the ground. The death rate has increased form fifty to seventy five per day. Five out of the ninety the past week making thirteen in our nine-week stay. Have been busy near all the time. Feel I cannot be too thankful for having so much to occupy my time and thoughts. Notice that those who keep busy stand it the best. Many are the devices to keep from idleness, such as tearing down and rebuilding their mud huts, digging for roots for fuel, (every piece of which if no bigger than a pipe stem is split and piled in the sun to dry.) tunneling, well digging, carving knickknacks out of stray bones that come with our meat rations, and patching clothing. Cards have been made and also checker boards. These are freely lent and from dawn to dark, groups can be seen about the camp, and the merry laugh shows that all is not dark and dreary. Many a well worn bible and testament can be seen in constant use going from one to another. Nearly an hour is required every day in skirmishing for greybacks, and woe be to the comrade who neglects this task. As no hot water is a hand wherewith to scald our clothing, and as cold water will not drown them destruction by fingernails is our only remedy. Occasionally a copy of some rebel newspaper is thrown in by the guard which is read until worn to shreds. Was both glad and sorry to come across my old friend and christian brother, Daniel F. Nichols, from Dedham. He enlisted in '61 and has been here nearly a year, and though somewhat weak is battling bravely for life. He has been a help to many in plying his trade as a shoemaker, and has kindly repaired my nearly worn-out shoes. Was surprised one morning to find Pratt, absent from his place; this was explained by his soon putting in an appearance covered from head to foot with red clay which plainly said "tunneling." He with others, has started a tunnel from the inside of a nearby hut. They have obtained some boards with which they bridge over the opening during the day covering them with earth and pine bought, so that the tunnel-hunting rebels, will see nothing suspicious should they poke their heads into the place."