Marching

[Gettmore]

 

[unionblue]

I recall reading a Civil War cadence in one of my old American Herittage history books.

Hay foot!
Straw foot!
Belly full of bean soup!
March old soldier, march!

I read in the same book, that because all the new recruits were so green and fresh off the farm, a lot of them didn't even know their left foot from their right foot, but they did know the difference between hay and straw. So Sergeants teaching drill in desperation tied a whisp of hay on the left foot and another whisp of straw on the right foot. Thus, when yelling the above cadence, all the boys would be in step with one another.

Of course, the other story I've heard that helped the boys march would be to carry something in their hands and keep in step went something like, "Brick! Rock! Brick! Rock!"

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing these awesome photos! Especially like the black and white ones.

 

[byron ed]

Talk about yer catch all ...on this vehicle I'm seeing a Union Engineer wagon canvas, a Field Ambulance wagon box, an Artillery Battery wagon front board and two C.S. drivers. Which is it then?