Civil War Soldier Vocabulary
- Artillery: cannon and other large weapons.
- Bayonet: knife-like weapon attacked to the front end of a musket or rifle.
- Bedroll: blankets rolled and carried by soldiers, containing personal belongings.
- Bummer: soldier that would take needed items from farmers and townspeople.
- Canteen: tin or wood container on a strap, used to carry liquid.
- Cap: a small device used to explode powder in a musket barrel.
- Cap Box: small box of leather attached to the belt to hold cape used to fire muskets.
- Cartridge: Paper tube which held a bullet and gun powder.
- Cavalry: group of meen fighting from horseback.
- Corps badge: an army was divided into several units called corps. Each Union soldier wore a badge to show which corps he belonged to.
- Foraging: roving the countryside in search of food, sometimes taking from farmers.
- Hardtack: flour,salt and water biscuit that was very hard.
- Haversack: small canvas sack used by soldiers to carry their food stuff.
- Housewife: small sewing kit.
- Infantry: group of men fighting on foot.
- Jacket: four-button woolen or cotton coat worn by Civil War Soldiers.
- Kepi: cap or hat, part of the uniform of the Civil War Soldier.
- Knapsack: canvas container strapped to a soldiers back, carrying personal belongings.
- Rifled-Muslet: muzzle loading gun, fired with cartridge and cap.
- Shoes: made of leather; a necesssity and often scarce in the South.
- Slouch Hat: wide brimmed hat, sometimes worn instead of kepi.
- Suspenders: cloth or leather used to hold up pants.
- Tin Cup: cup used to hold water and cook with.
- This information is Courtesy of U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service.
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