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Summertime and The Civil WarDuring these hoi summer days of high humidity and temperatures in ihc mid 91*. modern min seeks air conditioning, a he cere under a shidc tree or the comfort of a fan. How much different it was for the Wabash County soldiers of the 1860s.The great majority of the over 900 Wabash County soldiers were infantry. Thu meant a lot of marching with heavy guns, ammunition and packs Ten to 20-mi Ic marches in the hot sun were common each day.Occasionally, forced marches of 30 to even 40 miles on itc way to a battle scene occurred. The heat soaking blue wool uniforms and the inadequate sun protection from the cap added to the soldiers' misery. Then add io the situation the biting flies, gnats, mosquitos, as well as tlx 'domestic livestock — the fleas, lice and licks.The roads were soon trampled to ankfc deep dust. When it rained, this immediately became deep mud. The creeks, water holes and larmcrs' wells were usually quickly drained by tlx thousands of thirsty men. mules and horses.Thirst and heat were two of the most common enemies of Grant's Army, urxter whom most of the Wabash County area soldiers servedSeveral area soldiers includingHistoricallyYoursBy Dallas Krumm,Wabash County Historical SocietyWilliam Anthony Crum served in tlx 32 Illinois Infantry Regiment. Francis Marion Johnson of the regiment kept a diary. In it. he tells ol tlx conditions of a sumnxr’s march.June 13. 1862. We marched pretty hard all day. The heat was excessive and the dust nearly choked us, and water was not to te had.June 15. We started early this morning. The roads were very dusty and weather hot. and no water along the road A number were sun struck on the route...Ihc men suffered on that day's march. Men offered SO cents (more than a day’s pay) for a swallow of water, but all were in the same fix. none to be had.Blisters and chaffed skin were common problems. This was especially so at the beginning of the fighting season in April through May. Usually die soldiers spent time in winter camps and their feet and skin were soft in tlx spnng. Also, the shoes or bcogans were made of roughly tanned leather and often fit poorly. Copper sulphate, used by 20th Century infantrymen to toughen the feet, was not in common use in the 1860s. A few wild plants such as elder-berry were used to ease the intense pain ol Misters rubbed raw. But all too often badly blistered feel just had to be used and the blisters either got infected or callouses eventually formedMany of the big battles were fought in the summer’s heat. The soldiers usually had to lie in the hot sun all day. In addnicn, the black powder a died to tlx problem. It burnt the eyes, dried the mouth and throat, and caused a lot of coughing and choking. The soldier usually carried a canteen of only about aquan of water. So as well can be imagined, thirst on the battlefield was a cause of a lot of suffering. especially during a 2-3 day battle.In spite of tlx miserable weather and living conditions, only a small number of our area’s soldiers deserted. Most just kept on going each day and toughed it out as best they could. They were not quitter*. Undoubtedly, there were many complaints and grumblings, but that is tlx soldier’s cherished privilege.Discipline was tough. Family honor, company pride and community pride also encouraged the men to keep going.Wc should be proud of our ancestors and relatives who fought and suffered as they served according to their consciences on cither side.Ic was a long, lough, hard, miserable war. This column has tried to explain tlx duly summertime torments and suffering of our area soldiers.So tlx next time we hear a complaint about the Ixal and haw miserable it is, let’s pause to remember how our area Civil War soldiers had it a lot harder than we do. It may even make the temperature a bit more bearable.
Newspaper Details
Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register
Mount Carmel, Illinois, US
Fri, Jun 17, 1994
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
George C.
VA, USA 28 May 2017
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