Civil War Reenactment Civil War Reenactment 20062006

Mount Horeb, WIMount Horeb, WI

Civil War Reenactment Civil War Reenactment May 18, 2007May 18, 2007

Each tour will visit six stations. Each presentation will Each tour will visit six stations. Each presentation will last 15 minutes. When the cannon fires, move to the last 15 minutes. When the cannon fires, move to the next station. There will be five minutes between next station. There will be five minutes between stations. The stations will be:stations. The stations will be:

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s life Infantry drillInfantry drill Student drillStudent drill Civil War medicineCivil War medicine Women in the Civil WarWomen in the Civil War Artillery or Cavalry demonstrationArtillery or Cavalry demonstration

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s life A re-enactor in front of a dog tent will speak to the students. A re-enactor in front of a dog tent will speak to the students. Dog tents were an innovation adopted by the U.S. Army Dog tents were an innovation adopted by the U.S. Army

shortly after the start of the Civil War. shortly after the start of the Civil War. A dog tent consists of two canvas shelter halves that button A dog tent consists of two canvas shelter halves that button

together to form a low tent that is open on each end. The together to form a low tent that is open on each end. The men crawled into and out of these tents which is why they men crawled into and out of these tents which is why they were called “dog” tents.were called “dog” tents.

Each shelter half was 5’6” long. The average height of a Each shelter half was 5’6” long. The average height of a Civil War soldier was 5’7”. Two soldiers or “pards” would Civil War soldier was 5’7”. Two soldiers or “pards” would put their shelter halves together to form the tent. put their shelter halves together to form the tent.

The use of dog tents greatly reduced the number of wagons The use of dog tents greatly reduced the number of wagons required to move an army and so increased its mobility.required to move an army and so increased its mobility.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s lifeUniformsUniforms The Civil War uniform consisted of a dark blue or The Civil War uniform consisted of a dark blue or

black wool hat, a dark blue wool coat, a long black wool hat, a dark blue wool coat, a long sleeve shirt, long dark or light blue wool pants, sleeve shirt, long dark or light blue wool pants, long underwear, wool socks and all leather long underwear, wool socks and all leather brogans (shoes). brogans (shoes).

In the winter, a woolen greatcoat (overcoat) and In the winter, a woolen greatcoat (overcoat) and wool gloves or mittens were also worn. wool gloves or mittens were also worn.

Men fell out of ranks and died from heat stroke Men fell out of ranks and died from heat stroke while dressed from head to toe in wool.while dressed from head to toe in wool.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s life

ShoesShoes The all leather brogans had soles either sewn The all leather brogans had soles either sewn

to the upper portion of the shoe or connected to the upper portion of the shoe or connected to the upper portion of the shoe with wooden to the upper portion of the shoe with wooden pegs. pegs.

Shoes for the left and right foot were first mass Shoes for the left and right foot were first mass produced for the Civil War. Prior to that time, produced for the Civil War. Prior to that time, shoes could be worn on either foot much like shoes could be worn on either foot much like socks are worn today.socks are worn today.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s lifeFoodFood In a permanent camp, food might include fresh meat, In a permanent camp, food might include fresh meat,

fresh soft bread, fruits and vegetables. Meals were often fresh soft bread, fruits and vegetables. Meals were often prepared by designated cooks. On campaign, food often prepared by designated cooks. On campaign, food often consisted of coffee, hard tack and salt pork.consisted of coffee, hard tack and salt pork.

Hard tack was an unleavened, unsalted biscuit about Hard tack was an unleavened, unsalted biscuit about three inches square. It was popular with the men, but as it three inches square. It was popular with the men, but as it aged it tended to get very hard and infested with insects. aged it tended to get very hard and infested with insects.

To deal with this, the men would usually break it into To deal with this, the men would usually break it into pieces and suck on it until it softened, or boil it in a cup pieces and suck on it until it softened, or boil it in a cup where they could skim the bugs off before consuming it. where they could skim the bugs off before consuming it.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s lifeFoodFood Salt pork was much like very fatty, very salty bacon. Salt pork was much like very fatty, very salty bacon.

The men preferred to put the salt pork in a stream The men preferred to put the salt pork in a stream overnight to remove most of the salt before they ate it. overnight to remove most of the salt before they ate it. Salt pork was most often fried and a popular meal was Salt pork was most often fried and a popular meal was to fry the salt pork and cook the crumbled hard tack in to fry the salt pork and cook the crumbled hard tack in the grease.the grease.

When times were good, the men would also be issued When times were good, the men would also be issued fresh beef from cattle driven along with the marching fresh beef from cattle driven along with the marching army. When times were bad, the men would eat the army. When times were bad, the men would eat the salt pork raw because so much of it was lost when salt pork raw because so much of it was lost when fried in a pan. fried in a pan.

On campaign, most men did their own cooking.On campaign, most men did their own cooking.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s life

WeaponsWeapons Typical infantry weapons were a rifled musket Typical infantry weapons were a rifled musket

and bayonet. The rifled musket had to be and bayonet. The rifled musket had to be reloaded each time it fired.reloaded each time it fired.

Loading was done by biting open a paper Loading was done by biting open a paper cartridge, pouring the black powder from the cartridge, pouring the black powder from the cartridge down the muzzle of the barrel, and cartridge down the muzzle of the barrel, and then ramming the remains of the paper then ramming the remains of the paper cartridge down the barrel along with the bullet. cartridge down the barrel along with the bullet.

The rifled musket weighed about ten pounds. The rifled musket weighed about ten pounds.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s lifeWeaponsWeapons The bayonet is a long knife that attaches to the end of The bayonet is a long knife that attaches to the end of

the musket. It is designed to stab the enemy but was the musket. It is designed to stab the enemy but was very rarely used for that purpose. very rarely used for that purpose.

It could be used to pull a hot pot from a campfire or as It could be used to pull a hot pot from a campfire or as a candlestick holder. It was used to loosen dirt for a candlestick holder. It was used to loosen dirt for trenches, the loose dirt then being removed by the tin trenches, the loose dirt then being removed by the tin plate.plate.

The leather cartridge box that held the bullets, the The leather cartridge box that held the bullets, the leather scabbard that held the bayonet and the leather leather scabbard that held the bayonet and the leather belts that held these were generally referred to as belts that held these were generally referred to as “leathers” and could weigh several pounds, depending “leathers” and could weigh several pounds, depending on how many bullets were in the cartridge box. on how many bullets were in the cartridge box.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s lifeReading and writingReading and writing Soldiers were generally supplied with free Bibles and Soldiers were generally supplied with free Bibles and

religious tracts by many Christian organizations. They religious tracts by many Christian organizations. They read newspapers whenever they could get them. read newspapers whenever they could get them.

They were tremendous letter writers and much of what They were tremendous letter writers and much of what we know about the Civil War comes from the letters we know about the Civil War comes from the letters written home. Letters from home were eagerly looked written home. Letters from home were eagerly looked forward to and kept and treasured once they were forward to and kept and treasured once they were received. Many letters from Civil War soldiers received. Many letters from Civil War soldiers included instructions to the recipient to write more included instructions to the recipient to write more letters.letters.

Union Civil War soldiers had a higher literacy rate Union Civil War soldiers had a higher literacy rate than the adult population of the U.S. has today.than the adult population of the U.S. has today.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s lifeRecreationRecreation When in a permanent camp, soldiers would often form When in a permanent camp, soldiers would often form

debating or acting societies and chorale groups. They would debating or acting societies and chorale groups. They would play rounders (predecessor to baseball) when the weather was play rounders (predecessor to baseball) when the weather was good or have massive snowball fights after a snow. good or have massive snowball fights after a snow.

There was also a lot of gambling. Gambling was an activity There was also a lot of gambling. Gambling was an activity soldiers could enjoy while on campaign. Cards playing often soldiers could enjoy while on campaign. Cards playing often involved the use of inexpensive “throw away” cards. involved the use of inexpensive “throw away” cards.

When going into battle, the soldiers would remove the cards When going into battle, the soldiers would remove the cards from their packs and throw them away so that if they were from their packs and throw them away so that if they were killed and their effects were returned to their families, their killed and their effects were returned to their families, their loved ones would not know that they had been playing cards. loved ones would not know that they had been playing cards. Card playing and gambling were generally viewed as moral Card playing and gambling were generally viewed as moral weaknesses.weaknesses.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s life

EquipmentEquipment In addition to the weapons and tents, soldiers would In addition to the weapons and tents, soldiers would

have a canteen, wool blanket, a vulcanized blanket or have a canteen, wool blanket, a vulcanized blanket or poncho (waterproof items), knife, fork, and spoon, poncho (waterproof items), knife, fork, and spoon, lucifers (kitchen matches), cup, plate, coffee boiler, a lucifers (kitchen matches), cup, plate, coffee boiler, a razor, perhaps a candle and hopefully soap and an razor, perhaps a candle and hopefully soap and an extra pair of underwear. extra pair of underwear.

Some soldiers also carried tooth powder and tooth Some soldiers also carried tooth powder and tooth brush. brush.

DrillDrill

Infantry units spent a great time drilling. Drill was intended to Infantry units spent a great time drilling. Drill was intended to make obedience to commands so automatic that soldiers could make obedience to commands so automatic that soldiers could execute them even in the chaos of battle.execute them even in the chaos of battle.

Soldiers normally moved in column, but fought in line.Soldiers normally moved in column, but fought in line. For maneuver purposes, soldiers were normally placed in For maneuver purposes, soldiers were normally placed in

columns of four men abreast. This allowed them to be moved columns of four men abreast. This allowed them to be moved along roads or though fairly narrow openings.along roads or though fairly narrow openings.

Because soldiers could not effectively fire their muskets while Because soldiers could not effectively fire their muskets while in column, they normally changed formation from column to in column, they normally changed formation from column to line before going into battle.line before going into battle.

Soldiers normally fought in line. In this formation, the soldiers Soldiers normally fought in line. In this formation, the soldiers stood two ranks deep. The men in the front rank were slightly stood two ranks deep. The men in the front rank were slightly shorter than the men in the rear rank so the men in the rear shorter than the men in the rear rank so the men in the rear rank could fire over the men in the front rank.rank could fire over the men in the front rank.

DrillDrill Firefights and charges were normally done while in Firefights and charges were normally done while in

line formation.line formation. Soldiers also practiced volley fire where all fired at Soldiers also practiced volley fire where all fired at

the same time, fire by file where the men in a file (two the same time, fire by file where the men in a file (two men, one behind the other) fired, and then the men men, one behind the other) fired, and then the men next to them fired and so forth all the way down the next to them fired and so forth all the way down the line which fired with a kind or ripple effect, and fire at line which fired with a kind or ripple effect, and fire at will where each man fired as quickly as he could.will where each man fired as quickly as he could.

When not on campaign, soldiers would often drill six When not on campaign, soldiers would often drill six or more hours a day.or more hours a day.

Many maneuvers used by marching bands today were Many maneuvers used by marching bands today were used by infantry units in the Civil War.used by infantry units in the Civil War.

SurgerySurgery The Civil War was fought before the medical community The Civil War was fought before the medical community

knew about the existence of bacteria. As a result, Civil War knew about the existence of bacteria. As a result, Civil War medical practices were often not very sanitary. After a battle, a medical practices were often not very sanitary. After a battle, a surgeon would often barely have time to wipe his bloody knife surgeon would often barely have time to wipe his bloody knife or saw on his bloody apron before going on to the next or saw on his bloody apron before going on to the next operation. Hand washing pretty much did not happen.operation. Hand washing pretty much did not happen.

The Civil War bullet was a .58 caliber lead slug that weighed The Civil War bullet was a .58 caliber lead slug that weighed about one ounce. It was much heavier and slower moving than about one ounce. It was much heavier and slower moving than modern bullets. As a result, these bullets did not so much modern bullets. As a result, these bullets did not so much make holes in people as they did smash bones. make holes in people as they did smash bones.

If hit in the torso, these wounds were generally fatal. If hit in If hit in the torso, these wounds were generally fatal. If hit in an extremity – arm, leg, hand, foot – the patient had a good an extremity – arm, leg, hand, foot – the patient had a good chance of survival, provided the damaged limb could be chance of survival, provided the damaged limb could be amputated while the victim was still in shock.amputated while the victim was still in shock.

Women in the Civil WarWomen in the Civil War

Women were not generally allowed in military Women were not generally allowed in military camps.camps.

There were civilian organizations such as the There were civilian organizations such as the U.S. Sanitary Commission which included U.S. Sanitary Commission which included women and which provided comfort and women and which provided comfort and health items to the men.health items to the men.

There were civilian nurses who worked for the There were civilian nurses who worked for the Army. These were not usually in camps but in Army. These were not usually in camps but in hospitals behind the lines.hospitals behind the lines.

ArtilleryArtillery

There will be an explanation of the different artillery There will be an explanation of the different artillery projectiles and a demonstration firing of a blank projectiles and a demonstration firing of a blank round from an original Civil War cannon barrel. The round from an original Civil War cannon barrel. The artillery re-enactors are from Battery B of the Fourth artillery re-enactors are from Battery B of the Fourth U.S. Artillery. This was a regular army battery that U.S. Artillery. This was a regular army battery that was attached to the Iron Brigade and a number of was attached to the Iron Brigade and a number of Wisconsin men served in it during the Civil War.Wisconsin men served in it during the Civil War.

When the cannon fires, that is the signal to move on When the cannon fires, that is the signal to move on to the next presentation.to the next presentation.