Introduction
Most of soldiers' time was spent in the camp instead of the battlefield. In the camp, soldiers woke up early, cooked and marched. The food was mainly hardtack and coffee. They marched and practiced 5 two-hour times. Camp life was not easy. They had to deal with starvation and diseases. Some of the soldiers feared diseases and infections more than gunshots. Treatment for diseases such as smallpox was not always available. Because of the overwhelming number of soldiers and limited nurses and medical equipment, hospital could not handle the demands of the war. Men, lacking proper clothing suffered during the winter, especially in the north. Some of the soldier were captured, imprisoned or even died trying to escape from the camp. This exhibit gives a glimpse into the hard lives of these soldiers. |