What details help to give a realistic picture of the combat experience of Civil War soldiers and of soldiers in general?

Answer 1

US Civil War soldiers were little different in living conditions, weapons, uniforms, food, or transportation than US soldiers serving on and in the frontier wars from 1865-1890.

The actual rifle change occurred during the Spanish-American War of 1898 when the army went to the 30-40 Krag bolt action rifle; but the uniform was unchanged. In fact, this war was the army's last war in which they wore the blue uniform.

Prior to the US Civil War, the US Army fought the Mexican War in 1846-1848. The weapons were a mixture of flintlock and percussion cap (the Civil War, with the exception of some metallic cartridge guns, was all percussion cap).

There is no way to explain combat...one has to experience it. It's akin to explaining what's it like to be in a serious car accident? or possibly, what's it like to be in a fist fight with another man? Most people will tell you: "everything went in slow motion", "everything was blurry", "I had tunnel vision, couldn't see nothing but red!" Or, "Don't remember, everything went numb, but I remember it was a beautiful day, with a blue sky and pretty white clouds, and a beautiful clear river running at the base of the hill."

With that said, there is one way to come close to the experience of a 1960/70s grunt (infantryman) during the Vietnam War:

1. Go camping in the mountains with your camper (or SUV or P-U truck/you'll be mechanized infantry/armored cavalry). Bring only enough supplies to last a month.

2. Bring no TV, no computers, no lamps; flashlights only (red or white lens is OK). A cell phone is OK, that'll represent an army PRC-25 radio (PRC-25 man-portable radio).

3. Only enough toilet paper to last 2 weeks (GIs always run out of toilet paper).

4. Take no bath or shower for the whole 30 days.

5. Brush your teeth only once a week or not at all for those whole thirty days.

6. Eat your food cold every night. Build no fires at night. Can heat food day only.

9. Eat only canned food. No potato chips, no deserts, just the canned food. Have one can opener to open all cans.

10. Find a place to use as your toilet (latrine). That'll be the only hygiene area you'll have.

After 30 days, you'll have a very general idea of what it's like to be in combat. Minus the violence.