Everyday life during the Civil War

Format:

Book

Title:

Everyday life during the Civil War

Other title(s):

Civil War

Author:

Varhola, Michael O., 1966-

ISBN:

9780898799224

9781582973371

Publication Information:

Physical Description:

274 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

General Note:

"A guide for writers, students and historians"--Cover.

Contents:

North and South; one nation, two peoples -- Wages, currency, clothing and dry goods -- Life in city, town and country -- Food and diet -- Fun and games; how people entertained themselves -- The civil war viewed from the home front -- Brothers at war; Billy Yank, Johnny Reb -- Slang and idiom -- Technology -- Arms, equipment and uniforms -- Civil war time line.

Summary:

This exceptional book will be applauded by writers, students, historians and casual readers alike. From soldiers and statesmen to farmers and firing lines, Everyday Life During the Civil War offers an in-depth exploration of this fascinating era. Using dozens of illustrations, timelines and maps, Michael J. Varhola illuminates the details of Northern and Southern economy; town and country living; food and the impact of the war on diet; popular entertainment; clothing; military life; tools and weapons; slang and much more. Also includes a thorough appendix of resources, featuring books, websites, historic locations and living history organizations.

Subject(s):

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects.

United States -- Social life and customs -- 1783-1865.

Geographic Term:

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Social aspects.

United States -- Social life and customs -- 1783-1865.

United States.

Genre:

History.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	973.7 VARHOLA	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Newberg Public Library	973.7 VARHOLA 1999	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

From soldiers and statesmen to farmers and firing lines, Everyday Life During the Civil War offers an exploration of this era.

Reviews (1)

Booklist Review

This intended basic reference on daily life during the Civil War may be a little too basic for many a potential writer, given the volume and accessibility of Civil War material, and it commits at least one potentially misleading error by treating North and South as rather monolithic entities. On the other hand, it provides introductory coverage of a good many matters sometimes overlooked elsewhere, such as regional accents within both North and South, etiquette, and what technology was available for everyday living (e.g., gas lighting was strictly postwar). And it features a comprehensive bibliography, likely to cover familiar territory for many but invaluable for those who need to do further study. Perhaps the book will prove most useful in preventing the egregious errors that are prevalent enough in historical fiction, and in opening research avenues for serious students of the war. --Roland Green

R. Lee Hadden

Foreward	p. 1
Introduction	p. 3
1 North and South: One Nation, Two Peoples	p. 5
The North	p. 6
The South	p. 7
Union and Confederate States	p. 8
United States Territories	p. 30
Terms	p. 33
2 Wages, Currency, Clothing and Dry Goods	p. 36
Wages	p. 36
Currency	p. 40
Clothing and Other Dry Goods	p. 45
Shortages and Substitutions	p. 53
Costs of Goods and Services	p. 56
Terms	p. 59
3 Life in City, Town and Country	p. 62
Where People Lived in the North	p. 62
Where People Lived in the South	p. 63
Country Life	p. 63
City Life	p. 66
Architectural Styles	p. 73
Costs of Homes and Housing	p. 76
Terms	p. 78
4 Food and Diet	p. 79
Food in The North	p. 79
Food in the South	p. 80
Civilian Diet	p. 80
Shortages and Inflation	p. 86
Military Diet	p. 89
Recipes	p. 92
Terms	p. 94
5 Fun and Games: How People Entertained Themselves	p. 96
Entertainment in the North	p. 96
Entertainment in the South	p. 97
Games	p. 97
Music	p. 98
Reading	p. 98
Sports	p. 100
Theater	p. 100
Circuses and Carnivals	p. 104
Tobacco and Other Vices	p. 107
Terms	p. 110
6 The Civil War Viewed From the Home Front	p. 112
The Northern View	p. 113
The Southern View	p. 115
Who Fought?	p. 117
Slavery	p. 121
Filling the Ranks	p. 122
Reconstruction	p. 124
Terms	p. 125
7 Brothers At War: Billy Yank, Johnny Reb	p. 128
The Armed Services	p. 129
The Army	p. 129
The Nay	p. 139
The Marines	p. 141
The Revenue Cutter Service	p. 143
Terms	p. 144
8 Slang and Idiom	p. 150
A Nation of Many Tongues	p. 151
Language in the North	p. 152
Language in the South	p. 153
Ethnic Influences	p. 154
A War of Many Names	p. 156
The Written Word	p. 157
Terms	p. 157
9 Technology	p. 166
Technology in the North	p. 167
Technology in the South	p. 167
Military Technology	p. 168
Medical Technology	p. 171
Farm Technology	p. 175
Rail Transport	p. 175
Communications	p. 177
Terms	p. 182
10 Arms, Equipment and Uniforms	p. 185
Nomenclatures	p. 185
Small Arms	p. 185
Melee Weapons	p. 189
Heavy Weapons and Ammunition	p. 189
Infantry Weapons and Equipment	p. 191
Cavalry Weapons and Equipment	p. 192
Artillery Weapons and Equipment	p. 192
Navy Weapons and Equipment	p. 194
Marine Corps Weapons and Equipment	p. 195
Revenue Cutter Service Weapons and Equipment	p. 195
Other Items	p. 196
Uniforms	p. 197
Rank and Insignia	p. 200
Flags	p. 205
Looting	p. 207
Terms	p. 208
Appendix I Civil War Time Line	p. 215
Appendix II Recommended Books/Bibliography	p. 234
A Note on Sources	p. 235
Part 1 General Sources	p. 235
Part 2 Specialized Sources	p. 236
Part 3 Other Sources	p. 238
Part 4 Novels and Literature	p. 239
Part 5 Television and Film	p. 241
Appendix III Resources	p. 243
Books	p. 243
Periodicals	p. 244
Web Resources	p. 244
Maps	p. 246
Heirloom Seeds	p. 246
Historical Sites	p. 247
Appendix IV Songs and Poetry	p. 254
Song Lyrics	p. 255
Index	p. 261

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Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Reviews (1)

Booklist Review

Table of Contents