CIVIL WAR SOLDIER VOCABULARY

  • Artillery - cannon and other large weapons
  • Bayonet - knife-like weapon attached to the front end of a musket or rifle.
  • Bedroll - blankets rolled and carried by soldiers, containing personal belongings.
  • Bummer - soldier that would take needed items from farmers and townspeople.
  • Canteen - tin or wood container on a strap, used to carry liquid.
  • Cap - a small device used to explode powder in a musket barrel.
  • Cap Box - small box of leather attached to the belt to hold caps used to fire muskets.
  • Cartridge - Paper tube which held a bullet and gun powder.
  • Cartridge box - box made of leather used to hold cartridges.
  • Cavalry - group of men fighting from horseback.
  • Corps badge - an army was divided into several units called corps. Each Union soldier wore a badge to show which corps he belonged to.
  • Foraging - roving the countryside in search of food, sometimes taking from farmers.
  • Hardtack - flour, salt and water biscuit that was very hard.
  • Haversack - small canvas sack used by soldiers to carry their food stuff.
  • Housewife - small sewing kit.
  • Infantry - group of men fighting on foot.
  • Jacket - four-button woolen or cotton coat worn by Civil War Soldiers.
  • Kepi - cap or hat, part of the uniform of the Civil War Soldier.
  • Knapsack - canvas container strapped to a soldiers back, carrying personal belongings.
  • Rifled-Musket - muzzle loading gun, fired with cartridge and cap.
  • Shoes - made of leather; a necessity and often scarce in the South.
  • Slouch hat - wide brimmed hat, sometimes worn instead of kepi.
  • Suspenders - cloth or leather used to hold up pants.
  • Tin cup - cup used to hold water and cook with.

    • (Courtesy of U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service)

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