Immersion.

[beltplate53]

I have many, many books and photographs pertaining to The Civil War but something is missing. I can tell you who went where with what unit and how to put on a uniform with regulations. What is missing is "walking the walk and talking the talk". I know drill , but what I want to know is mannerisms, 19th century dialect, what exactly was the camp routine.
Can anyone direct me to some source material about the Union soldiers themselves?

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Immersion.

Search function on this site to start; all kinds of key words will give you specific information.

Books. Hardtack and Coffee--Billings; Corporal Si Klegg and His Pard--Hinman; The Life of Billy Yank--Wiley.

Should get you going in the right direction.

[beltplate53]

Re: Immersion.

Found it, thanks. This is great!

[W.S. McDaniel]

Re: Immersion.

"The Citizen's Companion" helps. It is published by the same folks who publish the "Camp Chase Gazette." It has some good info from time to time, as in this edition "how to escort a lady." Granted, it is civilian in orientation, but that's where Soldiers come from. ;)

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[beltplate53]

Re: Immersion.

An idea that has come to mind is to prepare before an event by reading period papers published right before the time depicted at the event. "The Citizen's Companion" sounds like a great idea for learning mannerisms. I also have to consider the Private that I depict comes from rural New York with manufacturing on the Hudson at Troy and Hop growing Dairy farms dotting the country side. Letters from home would be about Johnny being missed at Hop picking time or work being done on the canal. (Erie) So and so's brother is missing at... etc... Thanks everyone for the idea's.

[Elaine Kessinger]

Re: Immersion.

A Cultural Encyclopedia of the 1850s in America by Gale

http://www.amazon.com/A-Cultural-Encyclopedia-1850s-America/dp/0313285241

The 1860s were only a year old at the start of The War, so your Biographical Legends will come from previous to the 1860s.

Once you get beyond generalized knowledge of everyday things, let an interest in one topic snowball into a search on others.
In example a search for how the Army made coffee might lead to civilian coffee sales which leads to how other common staples were bought which leads to money systems and accounting which leads to how figuring was taught to the common man which leads to...
You get the idea.