Civil War Encampment 2008

So today in Congress Park there was a small Civil War Encampment. This wasn't anything like the reenactments I've been to either, since they were there to speak to us and educate the public. Which was actually really, really nice. I enjoyed listening to them speak and learning.

I think what I liked the best though, was learning that Hollywood dramatized the amputations something horrible. You actually had to get five doctors to agree to it, and then they would put the guy under so he slept through it. More men died because they didn't have limbs amputated than not. I think the number was 50,000 men. But they would end up with lead poisoning or gangrene and keel over.

Of course, children's diseases killed a lot of them too, since the farmers weren't exposed to them like the city kids and then with everyone so crammed together in camp... disease spread like WILDFIRE.

I also learned that the Civil War was the origin of Rootbeer. See, when you had dysentery, the doctor would prescribe blackberry and sassafras tea to calm the stomach down. And it actually does work. So when guys went into bars, they weren't being a pansy by ordering sassafras, they actually had an upset stomach and were going to calm it down before getting plastered. So someone decided that since it was so popular, to market it. But he decided that it was too bitter for kids to enjoy, so he added some sugar to make it sweet. And then tinted it a deeper brown, so it looked hearty like beer. The name came from the fact that sassafras is a root, and the drink was the colour of beer. And thus rootbeer was invented, and it helped calm the stomach. Later on there would be Coca Cola with real cocaine to keep you awake... x'D

Doctors also started to get smart in this war, and keep logs and learn things. They went to college for medicine as well. And they figured out that Loudenum, which was basically watered down opium, was bad, even if it did kill the pain. xD GOOD JOB.

I learned that the bullets SHATTERED bones too. And that's why we have small bullets now. Safer warfare, as ironic as that is. The real purpose though, he said, is not to kill your enemy, but scare them into surrender. Which makes sense.

There was music as well. That was fun. And the drill team was enlisting the kids and letting them handle muskets. The muskets were totally safe though, no ammo in them and not able to be dry fired. These guys were smart.

The horses were beautiful as well. The mounted guy actually let me steady the horse and hold it for him while he did something too, and remounted. I felt so honoured. :3

We were also informed that the men earned between $11 and $28...

A MONTH.

GOOD MONEY BACK THEN!!! LMAO

I don't know why, but that makes me giggle.

I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff too, but I just had a ton of fun soo...

Oh, they did mention that this was NY state's war too, since we supplied the most men and had the most factories that could benefit from it. Not sure how true it is, but that's what's said. Kind of cool. ^^

On a side note, the ducks in Congress Park have serious attitude. They literally don't move out of the path until you just about step on them. Bold little bastards. But they're cute. :3

SO!

IMAGERY!

My favourites from the Civil War Encampment, and then ducks! You can view all the photos from the Civil War here. And the ducks are also on my DeviantART.



His Mount by *Saknika on deviantART


At the Ready by *Saknika on deviantART


Issuing Weapons by *Saknika on deviantART


Shattered Bones from Bullets by *Saknika on deviantART


A Doctor's Setup by *Saknika on deviantART


Old Fashioned Remedies by *Saknika on deviantART


Laundry Day by *Saknika on deviantART


Preening ::DUCKS:: by *Saknika on deviantART