Soldier Life PDF
Preview Soldier Life
H^piBI-g 5 ^/ 'd6(^^i cy, y//^ yCT'^e/^if'tU f*ir/f.efy /f/r^ ^z- :z/t^ / ,/ ' '0-7835-4703-x •^' 'HiA w :\r.- <>' :>>', 1 1 ;• 'M ;> r. i '\:<y t^' This b(K)k is a mosaic ofthe daily life ofsoldiers durins; the American C:i\il \\'ar. Kncamped in winter, on cam- iit•.'i .V\:r, paign, orin lulls between battles, soldiers \\rote. Their 'tT*. letters and diaries. e\en theirsketches, testify that sur- '.}. 'A»•/ vi\al reciiiired more than beatingthe odds in combat. It meant keepinji bod\ and soul togetheragainst a conspir- acy ofcircumstances. Throuj;!! this album ofemotions and recollections, you can experience the idealism, tedi- imi. petty srie\ances.jokes and <;ibes. camaraderie, and desolation ofthe l>oysand men whowere now soldiers. — Whenever possible these excerpts tollected from — hundreds ofpublished and unpublished sources ha\e been painstakingly matched with photographs, sketch- es, orartifacts associated with the wtiter. 'l"o do this we had the assistance ofan extensive network ofexpert consultants who ha\e contributed to otherTime-I.ife projects, notably our 28-\()lume series The (".i\ il War and its companion work, Kchoesof(ilor\. With these diverse resources and access to materials in libraries. archi\es. and historical societies across the eoimtrv. we compiled a dramatic account ofdaily life in the army. '["here are several reasons for the abundance offirst- hand sources from the Civil War. Postage was rela- ti\ely cheap, only three cents. .\nd the mail systems were remarkably effective: Mail packets were even exchanged across enemy lines. .Aboxe all. a surprising number ofsoldiers, not only officers but recruits as well, could write, describing their plight with simple elo(|uence. From camp nearChattanooga, Tennessee, Pri\ate Benjamin V. Jackson ofthe 33d Alabama wrote: m "Ma. I want to see you all the worst I e\er did before in ii\ *« \: my life, but I don't know when I can hear from you for h, we are fixing to take another march. We got orders yes- terday to throw away all ourclothing butone suit. We .fV ;.' <, .h aren't allowcd to ha\e but one pairofpants and have them on. one pairofdrawers, two shirts, and one pairof •tAtl We socks. have been in a line ofbattle orfighting . . . for >Vm'iM fifteen daVsand it has not missed but one day but what ^l,At >" I M it rained. ThaV* - - waded creeks up to my arms with- '•'»\,\*i \{'}V' V ^ out anythinj*ro e;if for three days at a time. It has been I •> •'I '»'• con/i'uictionthebackfap .4n.] •.fall •••'• • t , . I!. * > V ,1. ' ^ , ' V, •.•'-..- I ' Jt/ ' [*, -I *: '., t» v.f' :' •I 4(' ' 7^^ v^r Wi' • f ~.^./J^ •••' ;<s I *^ '. .it' *^•- . *^ ; T •* » L, » * .^.'l- ,k I . < War Voices of the Civil Soldier Life • By theEditors ofTime-LifeBooks, Alexandria, Virginia Contents S Answering the Call 26 The Organized Bore 54 A Question ofCharacter 78 Tenting Tonight 120 The Promise of Home 160 Glossary 161 Acknowledgments 161 Picture Credits 163 Bibliography 165 Index A WINTER ENCAMPMENT Civilwararmiesmarchedandfoughtin thewarmseasonsandholedup overthewinter. ThepaintingdepictsatypicalwintercampforaFederal (orConfederate) regiment, withitsassortmentoftents, cabins, andlog- and-canvasstructuresallneatlylaidoutaccordingto regulation.
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