Profanity

[Carronade]

I believe much of todays profanity has a long history. Although we have no recordings and little in writing of profanity in the Civil War era, some of our older colleagues may remember the vocabulary their grandfathers, born in the early 1900s, used. From what I can tell it was virtually the same as today.
I can recall as a boy a dear family friend in his nineties, talking with his younger male friends while they were working on a car. He used a vocabulary rich in profanity, including a liberal use of the 'F-word" in every conceivable way it can be used: noun, verb, adjective....

I recall one fellow in the Navy saying "I don't give a f---ing f---"

 

[jackt62]

Maybe we're more used to hearing profanity in today's society, whereas during the CW and Victorian era there was a certain amount of shock in it. Maybe not?

 

[rpkennedy]

Maybe we're more used to hearing profanity in today's society, whereas during the CW and Victorian era there was a certain amount of shock in it. Maybe not?

In an army of guys from 18-24 years old, I doubt that there was much that could be said that would be shocking. I think a lot of why men didn't write this kind of stuff down is because mixed company may read what was written and the Victorian Era being what it was, they didn't want to shock people with the specifics of what was said. But boys don't change much and, having been one at one time, I can imagine the topics of conversation and language used.

Ryan

 

[rpkennedy]

On July 2nd at Gettysburg, Brigadier General William Harrow led two of his regiments to a forward position and spoke to them when he deployed them. He drew his pistol and said:

The first God D----d man I see running or sneaking, I blow him to H--l in an instant. This God D----d running is played out; just stand to it and give them H--l.

Another soldier remembered the speech:

He called upon all of us by all that was Good & Infernal to kill every son of a b---h that runs without a cause. Said he, if you see me running, I want you to kill me on the spot. One [man] says bully for Harrow, another says he is tight, and a third remarked that he was just the man to lead us.

The men didn't seem to mind Harrow's blue language and rather responded with a sense of "H--l yeah!"

Ryan

 

[WJC]

Many written accounts refer to descriptions of soldiers and their officers using profanity in battle situations. In the custom of the times, written accounts of the words used were often "bleeped" out by simply using dashes to substitute for the letters in the word, like d----d for "****ed," that can usually be easily deciphered by the reader. I have read about many who supposedly would let loose barrages of expletives and curses when in the heat of battle. My question is how comparable were these words to today's profanity? Were they simply using words like "hell" and "****" or something stronger. I am pretty sure that what was considered profanity in the mid-19th century might be considered elementary student language, today. Or am I wrong? How can I find out what the typical vocabulary of the actual uncensored language was in the 1860's. Is there a reference somewhere?

Longstreet relates the story that during the truce at Appomattox, General Custer rode up,

his flaxen locks flowing over his shoulders, and in brusk, excited manner, he said, -
"In the name of General Sheridan, I demand the unconditional surrender of this army."
He was reminded that I was not the commander of the army, that he was within the lines of the enemy without authority, addressing a superior officer, and in disrespect to General Grant as well as myself; that if I was the commander of the army I would not receive the message of General Sheridan.
He then became more moderate, saying it would be a pity to have more blood upon that field. Then I suggested that the truce be respected, and said-
"As you are now more reasonable, I will say that General Lee has gone to meet General Grant, and it is for them to determine the future of the armies."
He was satisfied and rode back to his command.​

<James Longstreet, From Manassas to Appomattox: Memoirs of the Civil War in American. (Philadelphia, PA: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1896), p. 627.>
Though I am certain Longstreet remained calm during the exchange, I wonder if he sanitized his recollection....

 

[WJC]

I recall one fellow in the Navy saying "I don't give a f---ing f---"

Thanks for your response.
Although I was familiar with profanity, I didn't use it myself until college. The military was graduate study, a finishing school....

 

[SWMODave]

Captain James Totten was quoted in diaries as having a very colorful tongue, which with his Virginia accent, was entertaining enough to Union soldiers, that it was said some would walk miles just to hear him bark orders.

 

[WJC]

Maybe we're more used to hearing profanity in today's society, whereas during the CW and Victorian era there was a certain amount of shock in it. Maybe not?

I agree as far as general, public conversation. In some business settings today, both sexes casually use profanity that was not acceptable by males in such settings just a few years ago.
The military, though, because of demographics and the nature of the 'work', has probably always been a profane environment, from earliest times.

 

[mofederal]

My father was a very creative cusser, so I slowly picked it up from him. He creatively and frequently used the F word. I said it a few times around my mom, and she said where did you pick that up at? I usually remained silent, but one time she really made me mad, so I answered her. I said my dad. She said, he didn't talk like that. So I told her Not with her in hearing range, but he did every **** day I was by myself with him. I knew she believed me, but would not admit it. He also used to tell me old jokes, like from the teens, 20's and 30's. I think some of them were Victorian jokes. He was from a very old family. His dad was born in the mid 1860's.

 

[rpkennedy]

Captain James Totten was quoted in diaries as having a very colorful tongue, which with his Virginia accent, was entertaining enough to Union soldiers, that it was said some would walk miles just to hear him bark orders.

General Winfield Scott Hancock could apparently peel paint off the walls with his language.

Ryan

 

[WJC]

My father was a very creative cusser, so I slowly picked it up from him. He creatively and frequently used the F word. I said it a few times around my mom, and she said where did you pick that up at? I usually remained silent, but one time she really made me mad, so I answered her. I said my dad. She said, he didn't talk like that. So I told her Not with her in hearing range, but he did every **** day I was by myself with him. I knew she believed me, but would not admit it. He also used to tell me old jokes, like from the teens, 20's and 30's. I think some of them were Victorian jokes. He was from a very old family. His dad was born in the mid 1860's.

One of my biggest embarrassments was when I committed the mistake that haunts everyone in the military. I was home on leave, having Sunday dinner with my family, and asked my mother to "Pass the f**king salt, please."
No one said anything. I was too mortified to speak. My sister told me afterward that my mother was heartbroken, My dad, she said, counseled her that it was to be expected, since I was around only other men all the time. I hope she forgave me.

 

[diane]

General Winfield Scott Hancock could apparently peel paint off the walls with his language.

Ryan

So could Forrest! Well after the general's death one of his veterans remarked, "I don't know who said Gen Forrest never cussed. Whoever it was wasn't where we were at Brice's Crossroads!"

 

[LoriAnn]

Is "tarnation" profanity? I didn't know. Not that i hear it often....

It's on the list that was linked. I didn't think it was so bad either.

One of my biggest embarrassments was when I committed the mistake that haunts everyone in the military. I was home on leave, having Sunday dinner with my family, and asked my mother to "Pass the f**king salt, please."
No one said anything. I was too mortified to speak. My sister told me afterward that my mother was heartbroken, My dad, she said, counseled her that it was to be expected, since I was around only other men all the time. I hope she forgave me.

Our family would have bust out laughing. Not that we swear every chance we get, but we would have not been surprised that you picked up some new habits.

My father did all his swearing at the firehouse. Only once in a while would I hear him say something profane. I myself didn't really swear until meeting my in-laws. And then that all went to H*ll.

 

[amweiner]

I thought my mother had the foulest mouth on any woman I'd ever known.

Then I met my wife, and learned how wrong I was...

 

[WJC]

It's on the list that was linked. I didn't think it was so bad either.

Thanks for your response.
I still have no idea what it means, even after just now looking it up!
Wasn't that something Yosemite sam used to say?

 

[AshleyMel]

So could Forrest! Well after the general's death one of his veterans remarked, "I don't know who said Gen Forrest never cussed. Whoever it was wasn't where we were at Brice's Crossroads!"

As I'm reading more and more on Forrest, I'm beginning to love his cadence!

 

[WJC]

Our family would have bust out laughing. Not that we swear every chance we get, but we would have not been surprised that you picked up some new habits.
My father did all his swearing at the firehouse. Only once in a while would I hear him say something profane. I myself didn't really swear until meeting my in-laws. And then that all went to H*ll.

Thanks for your response.
It wasn't that profanity was so uncommon in my family: we were hardly a 1950s TV family. It was THAT word.

 

[rpkennedy]

I thought my mother had the foulest mouth on any woman I'd ever known.

Then I met my wife, and learned how wrong I was...

My mom will swear but won't use THE word. She is fond of flipping my dad off when he makes her mad though, a habit my wife has picked up. And if she's complaining about work and the kids aren't around, my wife will definitely use THE word.

Ryan

 

[diane]

As I'm reading more and more on Forrest, I'm beginning to love his cadence!

He did whatever it took to get his troops to fight - sometimes he'd practically beg them pretty please with sugar up top and other times it was get your Bleep! out there and Bleep! fight or I'll Bleep! well kick your Bleep! Bleep! all the way Bleep! over there!

 

[rpkennedy]

I did leave my daughter speechless once when she was around 13. We were watching football and it panned to the sideline where the coach was mid tirade. He was using the F word pretty liberally and I commented that he was using bad words and my daughter said, "Yes he is." I slowly turned to her and asked her, "How do you know that word?" She stuttered for a few seconds until I started laughing.

Ryan