Life at War The Early Years First hurdles
- Slides: 16
Life at War: The Early Years
First hurdles soldiers overcame • The first hurdle soldiers had to deal with in the life of the army was to join. • Why did soldiers join the armed forces? – Protection of home – Peer pressure – Seeking Adventure –. . . ? 2
Why They Fought
/ Why They Fought
The Average Soldier
The Average Soldier
The Average Soldier They were old and young, but mostly young…
The Average Soldier
Training • Most soldiers had no previous training and did not know what it meant to be a solider • Soldiers were sent off to training where they learned drill and the real life of a soldier • In camp they – Practiced drill, took care of farm animals, collected firewood, and many other monotonous (repetitive) tasks 9
What They Carried
What They Wore
What They Ate • Salt pork, bacon, or beef • Soft bread, flour, cornmeal, or hardtack • Beans or peas • Rice or hominy • Coffee • Tea • Sugar • Vinegar • Molasses
Where They Slept
Camp Life • Drill, practice, collecting goods, guard duty • Free time – Could get a pass to leave camp or attend church – Sang and played music – Played sports and games – Wrote home – Other past times: drinking, smoking, gambling, etc. 14
How They Communicated
When They Weren’t Fighting “first thing in the morning is drill, then drill again. Then drill, a little more drill. Then drill and lastly drill. Between drills, we drill…. ” – Union Soldier