Food at camp during the civil varied from plentiful to minimal. A typical meal for Union soldier would consist of hard bread, salted pork/fresh meat, fish and coffee. A Confederate meal consisted of mainly the same components of a Union meal, but reduced and included more vegetables.

A typical Union or Confederate shelter included a shelter half or a "dog tent," a thin layer of cloth with both sides pinned to the ground that bunked two soldiers. Soldiers would usually receive a rubberized blanket to sleep on and a wool blanket to keep warm.

Soldiers usually enjoyed forms of music, cards and gambling as entertainment during camp.

During training, soldiers practiced marching formations and drills that got them accustomed to following orders and using weapons such as rifles, bayonets and muzzles.

Letter from homes were always celebratory for soldiers at camp. They would receive letters from family or friends and sometimes, care packages.

When moving one place to another, soldiers traveled in marches and endured harsh weather conditions.

Camp Life