HEBRON — Peter Hammond recently spoke to the Hebron Historical Society on the daily living conditions of Civil War Union soldiers. He covered all aspects of their encampment, including clothing, equipment, food, and medical facilities. Upon enlistment, each soldier was issued just one set of clothing which had to be used continuously in all temperatures and weather conditions. This included wool socks, a wool shirt, and an overcoat. Each soldier had to carry about fifty pounds of equipment and personal items. He detailed the graphic reality of the soldiers’ living conditions. Local streams and ponds were often used for drinking water and washing with total disregard for sanitary practices. A main food staple was a “hardtack” biscuit to supplement soups/stews provided. Medical assistance to soldiers was mainly limited to wounds to their extremities, and amputations accounted for about 75% of surgeries in the field – and these had a nearly 70% success rate. Considering the difficult living conditions, some soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor just for reenlisting at the end of their scheduled service.

Photo: Peter Hammond