Johnny Reb and Billy Yank loved to sing --on the march, in camp, and sometimes even in battle, The men in blue favored "Battle Cry Of Freedom," "Red White and Blue," "The Star Spangled Banners," and others The men in Grey cherished "Dixie,' Bonnie Blue Flag," and Yellow Rose of Texas," and all were moved by the heartbreaking tune "Home Sweet Home." Mess time--"What breakfast could possibly compare with this, "Union Lieitenant Theodore Ayrault Dodge wrote in his journal in 1862-- "hard crackers, boiled beef(2days in the haversack) and bologna sausage (ditto) Officially, the daily Union ration consisted of 22 ounces of bread and either 12 ounces of pork or a pound of salted beef. Confederates were supposed to be supplied( but seldom were) with 12 ounces of bacon or 20 ounces of beef(usuallu salted a long with 18 ounces of flour or 20 ounces ofa corn meal or hard bread. Vegetables such as beans and peas were often hard to come bym especially for the Rebs. Usually, Yankees banked on hardtack and coffee, while theircounterparts tried to get by on corn bread and coffee. Men on both sides got what they could by sutlers and foraging. Coffee and tobacco were common cravings Soldiers on each side intitially earned $11 per month. In june of 1864 the Confederacy raised each soldier's pay to $18 per month, a sum worth less as the Confederate dollor dropped in value. That same month the Union upgraded its soldiers' monthly wage to $16. Black Soldiers were paid just $10 per month-minus the $3 clothing allowance that white troops received. After June 1864, black Soldiers who had been free men before the war were paid the same as whites, but recently freed slaves who joined the army's ranks did not get the raise To fill the hours They wrote letters. In spite of the warnings Officers bouts of drinking and especially gambling broke out. Soldiers played card games, checkers, chess, and baseball, they whittled caraved and if they were feeling particularly creative, would even put on plays. Both armies claimed to be fighting with God's blessing, religion played a big part in the lives of many soldiers ----- While the slaughter and grief of war drove some men from their faith, religion revivals swept through both armies, claiming thousands of converts, Most of the men were Christian, though 7,000 Jews fought for the Union and 3, 000 for the South. 600 Jewish soldiers died in the war. Hope you enjoyed reading the Common Soldier, I know there is so much more to tell about these brave soldiers. Ann

Ann, Thanks for the posting on the Common Soldier. As always, you've come up with some really good information. One thing you pointed out was the pay scale of soldiers. It's amazing how the Union Army paid white soldiers more than minority soldiers, but the Confederate Army paid each soldier the same pay which was determined by rank, and not if they were White, Black, Indian, Jewish, etc. Kind of interesting I think. Edward