Civil war soldier vocabulary
Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:16 pm
CIVIL WAR SOLDIER VOCABULARY
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Infantry- soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight by foot
Cavalry- soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on horseback
Artillery- soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight using cannon
Flank- the right or left of a formation
Cartridge Box- box made of leather used to hold ammunition
Cap Box- small box attached to belt to hold caps which fire musket
Haversack- canvas sack used to carry soldier's food
Gum Blanket- made of rubber on one side and canvas on the other, used to sleep on
Dog Tent- very small tent which buttons together in the middle
House Wife- small sewing kit
Ration- a fixed daily food allowance of one person
Hard Tack- very hard biscuit made of flour, water, and sometimes salt
Salt Pork- pork cured in salt or brine
Knapsack- pack carried on soldiers back, holding clothes and personal items
Minie Ball- rifle bullet having a cylindrical body
Fife- small flute with shrill tone used to accompany the drum
Scabbard- leather sheath in which the blade of a sword or bayonet is enclosed when not in use
Cap- small device used to ignite powder in musket barrel
Cartridge- paper tube which contained bullet and gun powder
Sharpshooter- person skilled in shooting
Canteen- tin or wooden container on a strap used to carry water
Foraging- roving the countryside in search of food, sometimes taking from farmers
Sack Coat- four-button woolen coat worn by Civil War Soldier
Kepi- cap or hat, part of uniform
Brogans- shoes made of leather and often scarce in the South
Slouch Hat- wide brimmed hat, sometimes worn instead of kepi
Rifled-Musket- muzzle loading gun, fired with cartridge and cap
Campaign- a connected series of military operations forming a distinct phase of war
CIVIL WAR PHRASES
"Raining cats and dogs."
"Snug as a bug in a rug."
"Simple as pie."
"Fit as a fiddle."
"Smart as a whip."
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Infantry- soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight by foot
Cavalry- soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on horseback
Artillery- soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight using cannon
Flank- the right or left of a formation
Cartridge Box- box made of leather used to hold ammunition
Cap Box- small box attached to belt to hold caps which fire musket
Haversack- canvas sack used to carry soldier's food
Gum Blanket- made of rubber on one side and canvas on the other, used to sleep on
Dog Tent- very small tent which buttons together in the middle
House Wife- small sewing kit
Ration- a fixed daily food allowance of one person
Hard Tack- very hard biscuit made of flour, water, and sometimes salt
Salt Pork- pork cured in salt or brine
Knapsack- pack carried on soldiers back, holding clothes and personal items
Minie Ball- rifle bullet having a cylindrical body
Fife- small flute with shrill tone used to accompany the drum
Scabbard- leather sheath in which the blade of a sword or bayonet is enclosed when not in use
Cap- small device used to ignite powder in musket barrel
Cartridge- paper tube which contained bullet and gun powder
Sharpshooter- person skilled in shooting
Canteen- tin or wooden container on a strap used to carry water
Foraging- roving the countryside in search of food, sometimes taking from farmers
Sack Coat- four-button woolen coat worn by Civil War Soldier
Kepi- cap or hat, part of uniform
Brogans- shoes made of leather and often scarce in the South
Slouch Hat- wide brimmed hat, sometimes worn instead of kepi
Rifled-Musket- muzzle loading gun, fired with cartridge and cap
Campaign- a connected series of military operations forming a distinct phase of war
CIVIL WAR PHRASES
"Raining cats and dogs."
"Snug as a bug in a rug."
"Simple as pie."
"Fit as a fiddle."
"Smart as a whip."