substitutes, which meant the brewing of dried peanuts, potatoes, peas, corn or apples. Food supplies were often inadequately preserved—maggots and worms were a common, if unwanted, garnish to a soldier’s meal.

Health

soldiers in the trenches

In addition to the risks of the battlefield, soldiers in the Civil War consistently faced the dangers of disease. More troops died of diarrhea and dysentery than were killed in battle. Contaminated food and water supplies, cramped and unsanitary conditions combined to increase the risk and spread of disease. The inadequacy of clothing, shelter, and food was also a factor. Among Union troops, African Americans were more likely to get sick and died from diseases more often. Lice, measles, and malaria were common in Confederate camps. Most regiments in both armies saw some infection of1861

The Civil War saw developments in firearms that were reflected by Union and Confederate soldiers. As with other supplies needed by troops, the distribution of firearms was poor in the beginning for the Confederacy. Soldiers could be seen carrying shotguns, sporting rifles, remodeled squirrel guns, and old guns from the War of 1812. Huge numbers of men volunteered for service and had to wait to be armed before they could fight. Contracts between the Confederacy and companies for the manufacture of guns delayed their supply. Some states that had ample stores of firearms were reluctant to share with soldiers from other states. Most Confederate soldiers began the war with .69-caliber smoothbore muskets loaded with a round ball, or with what was called “buck and ball”—three buckshot behind a