Generals with dyspepsia

[PWright]

Hi all,

Over the course of reading about the Civil War, I have quite a few times run across descriptions of generals who were said to be dyspeptic - Early, Ewell, and Bragg, to name a few. This seems to have been a common condition, particularly among southern generals. I don't recall reading about a union general who had that condition, or at least not often enough to remember. Can someone correct me if I'm wrong about this? If this is a pattern among southerners, could the be a consequence of the average southern diet? Any input on this would be appreciated.

Paul

 

[Hawkeye Brehm]

Dyspepsia seems to be often associated with more eccentric generals; Jackson and Ewell, for instance. It could be that it was a common ailment, but only the more eccentric individuals made it a big deal.

But I'm probably wrong. The amount of biographies focusing on Confederate generals seems proportionally greater than those for Federal generals, so the one-sidedness could simply be due to a lack of secondary or tertiary resources.

Again, most likely I'm wrong. But I figured I'd take a shot in the dark.

 

[mofederal]

Some studies in later wars say stress was a major cause of abdominal disorders in war, the study says stomach disorders were common during the war. It was a British study, which relates mostly to the British soldier. The study also states Civil War soldiers also suffered from cardiac problems during the war, called "soldier's heart." Some believe from studies in later wars, the problems were mostly psychological.

 

[Hawkeye Brehm]

Some studies in later wars say stress was a major cause of abdominal disorders in war, the study says stomach disorders were common during the war. It was a British study, which relates mostly to the British soldier. The study also states Civil War soldiers also suffered from cardiac problems during the war, called "soldier's heart."

The interesting thing about some of the aforementioned generals is that their claims of dyspepsia pre-date the war by a number of years.

 

[mofederal]

https://erenow.com/ww/secret-lives-of-the-civil-war-what-your-teachers-never-told-you/21.html

This link is about Richard Ewell, it is fairly interesting and does discuss his stomach problems.

 

[diane]

Meade had belly aches! He had stomach problems very badly, but I do have to say it does indeed seem the Confederates had more of it. Their food was different from the Union, which may have had something to do with it. In Jackson's case, and maybe some other Virginians from near his neck of the woods, it may have been the water they grew up on. Jackson's death may well have been brought on not only by pneumonia (which was bad enough!) but gut bacteria exploding in his system - bugs everybody in his area of West Virginia carried from childhood due to water contamination.

 

[PWright]

Dyspepsia seems to be often associated with more eccentric generals; Jackson and Ewell, for instance. It could be that it was a common ailment, but only the more eccentric individuals made it a big deal.

But I'm probably wrong. The amount of biographies focusing on Confederate generals seems proportionally greater than those for Federal generals, so the one-sidedness could simply be due to a lack of secondary or tertiary resources.

Again, most likely I'm wrong. But I figured I'd take a shot in the dark.

That's true...you do often hear it tied to "eccentric" generals.

 

[PWright]

Meade had belly aches! He had stomach problems very badly, but I do have to say it does indeed seem the Confederates had more of it. Their food was different from the Union, which may have had something to do with it. In Jackson's case, and maybe some other Virginians from near his neck of the woods, it may have been the water they grew up on. Jackson's death may well have been brought on not only by pneumonia (which was bad enough!) but gut bacteria exploding in his system - bugs everybody in his area of West Virginia carried from childhood due to water contamination.

That's interesting about Meade. I figured that there would have to be someone on the union side with similar ailments. You just often hear it associate it with the southerners. I just wonder if it's associated with all the pickled and salter foods consumed at the time.

 

[PWright]

I remember reading an article years ago about a family, who had moved into a house previously owned by Early (I think) and discovering a medicine bottle under the floorboards. Upon analysis, it was found to be some substance to help dyspepsia.