Lice in camp

[NH Civil War Gal]

A Soldier's Curse

In November 1863, the 10th​ Vermont was on the march in Virginia. Herbert wrote home about life as a Civil War soldier. It was lousy – literally.

Writing from camp near Culpeper, Va., Herbert George wrote:

Dear folks at home
… While we are in camp I feel just as well contented as I ever did at home but when we are on the march and I get awful tired and can't stop to rest I feel a little ugly. Some times we are not allowed to get anything to eat in all day and then have to get up at 4 o'clock in the morning and get our breakfast in the dark. Then is the time when a soldier will curse the rebellion.

…If I should be lucky enough to get a furlough next winter should want to go home with decent clothes on, don't want to wear any home out of the field for they will be lousey. The ground here is covered with old clothes & lice & no man can keep them off only by picking them off when they bite. If we take off any of our clothing nights we have to hitch them to a steak or they will crawl off where we can't find them. We can drive a pair of pants or a shirt any where with a little patience.

Herbert George in the fall of 1863 was eager to leave behind his uniform as a soldier in the 10th Vermont regiment and get into lice-free civilian clothes