Page 22 - Civil War Curriculum Book

SOLDIER TALK

The military of today has a confusing and distinctive catalog of terms
all its own and it was no different during the Civil War. The Civil War
soldier had a wide variety of names for different army items and
many slang terms or nicknames for their equipment, experiences,
and other soldiers. Many of these expressions were based on
military terms, lighthearted humor, or biblical references and can still
be found in our everyday language. Here are some examples of Civil
War expressions and nicknames:

(Hardtack & Coffee)

accoutrements-A soldier's fighting equipments, made of leather.
a beat-A lazy soldier who dodges work.
bombproof-An underground shelter, used also to describe officers who never went to the
front.
bones-Dice.
buck and gag-A form of punishment.
carriage-The wooden mount for artillery, also used to describe a lady's shape.
dogrobber-The soldier of a group who cooks for everyone else.
dog tent-A small, two-man tent.
first rate-Feeling well and very happy.
forage-To search for food from nearby farms. Fresh Fish-New recruits.
greenbacks- Money or script.
gum blanket- Rubber-coated cloth sheet used as a rain cover.
haversack-Cloth bag for carrying the rations & utensils.
homespun-A clothing item made of home-spun cloth.
housewife-A sewing kit.
horse sense-Smart or to use good sense.
Johnny-Union soldier's term for a Confederate soldier.
Jonah-A soldier who always brought misfortune and bad luck with him.
paper collar man-Someone who has money or is financially well off.
picket-A guard or guard duty.
sacred soil-Virginia mud.
sawbones-The surgeon of the regiment.
seeing the elephant-A man's first experience in combat.
shebang-A temporary shelter of poles & branches.
shirker-A soldier who would not do his duty on the battlefield.
smart like a fox-Slick and cunning.
tough as a knot-In good health.
top rail-The best place
to be. Number One!
vittles-food or rations. Yank-Confederate soldier's term for a Union soldier.