19th Century Backpacker

An unnamed citizen of Frederick, watching Confederates march through his hometown, recalled a mass of filthy, strong-smelling men whose dirt, matted hair and clothing, and constant scratching suggested abundant vermin. He observed that they had no uniforms but were well armed and equipped, and that they had become so hardened to hardship that they cared little for the comforts of civilization. Veteran soldiers learned how much, or how little, they needed to carry on their persons to sustain life in the field, where fast-marching armies often left their supply wagons far to the rear.

Maryland · United States