JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
Recruiting poster from 1861. By the time conscription appeared they had to spell out what it took to be this guy. We know those physicals weren't always very thorough- it wouldn't have taken much examining to ascertain a recruit was female for instance. That was thought to be a physical limitation when it came to soldiering- if they missed that......... .
You know Winslow Homer's iconic ACW soldier image? It was pretty typical by other artists too- the Dirk Granitejaw guy. You know. Tall, barrel chested, manly gaze? We know from countless era images ACW soldiers were pretty much the same assortment of sizes and shapes around in 2019 although anyone who'd once been on the huskier side of things left that by the side of the road over long marches ( an awful food ). Dirk would be the only guy left standing after a long list of physical disqualifiers and he didn't really exist.
Ran into the official disqualifiers for conscription- it's pretty comprehensive. Yes, the whole thing about requiring a full set of teeth is included plus they say why. How anyone got drafted at all is a mystery. Who has a perfect set of toes?
" Manifest imbecility ", " Purulent ottorrhea ", ' solitary vice ' and there's that scrofula again.
Currier and Ives loved Dirk- he was everywhere.
I'm scared to ask what qualified as an artificial anus. AND external haemorroids ( their spelling ) just means don't join the cavalry because you don't get a pass unless your toes are also superpositioned.
Dirk in a Zouave regiment.
Love #86 ( which bafflingly follows #51 ). You don't have scrofulus unless the army says you have scrofulus.
Harper's rendering of a draft office in NYC, men explaining why they would or would not fit the required categories. Note an apparent scuffle at the door. And there's Dirk, top right!
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