The life of a soldier in the Civil War was a very difficult one. It began with a meal, which often consisted of hardtack and salt pork, which was common food for soldiers. The vast majority of the day was spent practicing marching. This was very important considering that marching was the only convenient way of traveling for soldiers at the time. In the afternoon, quite often there would be free time. Soldiers would often spend this time playing cards, or other games, writing letters to family or friends, socializing, or finding other ways to entertain themselves. Unfortunately, in the colder months, soldiers often found themselves with nothing to do. Supplies would often run low, and soldiers would be forced to use whatever tools were at their disposal to get by.
