snakes!

[M.T. Moses]

Re: snakes!

But, it seems like snake accounts are much like mosquito accounts. Perhaps it just didn't rate a mention in a soldier's letter or diary because it was too mundane.

While very rare, a few instances of mosquitos being mentioned are floating around....

"One thing I can tell you this is a fine
country but the mosquitos are as big as pigeons and when
they light on you it is all day with you."

Private Sam White, Co. D, 4th Massachusetts Infantry
1863 Letter Written From Brashear City, Louisiana

[Union Navy]

Re: snakes!

Make sure you study your range maps before the you get the willies. I've lost track of the number of times fellow Hoosiers talk about seeing/killing water moccasins (cottonmouths) here, and they are only found in one small area of Spencer County.

And if you are going to kill a snake, make sure you also kill the 500 or so mice it would have eaten. Fair is fair.

[Michael Comer]

Re: snakes!

I've always made a practice of not killing them. They are pretty neat creatures and usually just want to get away from you if you'll let them. I don't kill spiders either though, which kind of drives my wife crazy - unless it's a Brown Recluse - then all bets are off. Mosquitoes, flies and ticks receive no mercy at all.

[Brandon Ledvina]

Re: snakes!

The only snake I have ever seen at an event was a grass snake, although living in Wisconsin I don't get to see the snakes already mentioned as much as others. Although I'm not complaining.

I have also always wondered about the amount of snake bites during the war. As mentioned with as many people, horses, etc. around they must have scared many snakes away but I'm sure it must have happened from time to time. The first thought I would think of is someone on guard duty in the dark a little way off from everyone ells. I don't remember ever reading about it happening but it would be interesting to hear some first hand accounts.

[Mcguire]

Re: snakes!

deleted post

[Mcguire]

Re: snakes!

Too stupid to make up!

The picture attached is the one I had as a pet, he ate everything I gave him to eat!

Kevin Dally

I find it interesting that you refer to a poisnous snake as a pet.

[jake.koch]

Re: snakes!

This is the first of references I mentioned earlier,

From We Were The Ninth pg.73-74 Western Virginia 1861 (Ninth Ohio Infantry, a regiment of Germans from Cincinnati, OH)

" Then we spent a week at Big Sewell Mountain. Abominable weather, therefore privation. Our table was often badly supplied and foraging not exactly a snap Still we enjoyed many a meal not to be found in cookbooks but nonetheless sumptuous (under the circumstances). As is well known, white and black inhabitants of the Virginia mountains eat many large nonpoisonous snakes and even rattlesnakes. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," some of us said. "Snake is a delight." The gullies of Sewell Mountain, as well as the mountainous country all around, fairly teemed with big snakes. Soon the regiment had its renowned snake hunters. Two of them in particular distinguished themselves: Captain Ferdinand Muller and Private Eduard Stremmel."

He goes on to describe one such meal given by the Captain -

" On patrol in a dreadful region, we struggled up and down mountains, through ravines, and across steep slopes. You kept your balance with the aid of overhanging limbs, and you supported yourself with your rifle or your sidearm, so as not to lose your footing and tumble into the depths, never to return. Certainly not a pleasurable hike. But our good humor heartened us enough to help us over the obstacles. Meanwhile the snakes simply glided along the ground and curled alluringly around trees and branches. Captain M. soon cut the head of one with his sword, an especially fine reptile several feet in length. Nobody noticed how he carried it or even that he brought it along.
Next morning, after the mailman delivered letters and packages in camp, it being a day of rest, the captain emerged from his tent, smiling contentedly. He invited several of us, who were standing around, to breakfast at 10:00. "I just got in the mail some splendid marinated eel from Cincinnati and I'm cooking it up in grand style." Three of us accepted. Our amiable benefactor hoped we might bring crackers and beverages; and we brought them. We sat down to pieces of superb eel in a tasty sauce. We crumbled and added the crackers and washed down the oily mouthfuls with an occasional pull at one of those renowned flat and square bottles. Our genial host rubbed his hands in glee and urged us to dig in. "We can't have any left over," he said. "What a shame if such good fish spoils or is thrown out."
Now even the stomach of the soldier in the field has its limits. And so at last we were sated on those savory morsels. The bottle was empty. Captain M. folded his hands piously across his giant paunch and turned congenially to a lieutenant notorious for being squemish: "Well, K., old buddy, how about it? Nothing beats a well-marinated Virginia snake!" A leap from the chair, a savage curse, and a dash from the tent . . . and let us not say what else!"

[jake.koch]

Re: snakes!

This is the Second reference, from For Country Cause & Leader:The Civil War Journal of Charles B. Hayden Hayden served as an officer in the 2nd Michigan Infantry, which was transferred west from the Army of the Potomac in early 1863.

From June 20, 1863(pg.332)

"Canebrakes such as we buy at home for fish poles are very abundant & are used by the men for almost anything. There sre some alligators, a good many snakes, lizards everywhere, plenty of mosquitoes, flies, bugs, tarantulas, horned frogs & other infernal machines too numerous to mention. I have not been far into the woods. I went up to the edge once to day & very cautiously looked in a little way then walked off. I am not much afraid of snakes but I do not wish to provoke any unnecessary collision. They say that in the woods snakes & lizards tumble down on your head every few steps but could not swear to that."

From June 27, 1863(pg.234)

" The country is not so bad after all as I was first led to believe. There are not so many snakes orother infernal machines as was represented. The alligators eat some soldiers but if the soldiers would keep out of the river they would not be eaten."

Also here at Vicksburg Lt. Henry Foster, nicknamed "Coonskin" for the coonskin cap he wore, and who later sniped at Confederates from "Coonskin's Tower" had a few run ins with snakes. Before his tower was built he would burrow into the ground at night, making a peep hole to shoot through for use in the day. Apparantly he had to kill multiple snakes that tried to join him in his "man-cave".

[adamandnicole]

Re: snakes!

Jason,
What's the story with the petrified snake?

Adam Dickerson

[Michael Comer]

Re: snakes!

Also here at Vicksburg Lt. Henry Foster, nicknamed "Coonskin" for the coonskin cap he wore

Now, this is an interesting little tidbit.

[Ken Myers]

Re: snakes!

Back in the early 1980's, we did a march and encampment about three miles from Fort McAllister. It was in July or August, hot as can be, and we camped on some land on the Ogeechee river. We cleared some woods and set up camp. At night, we had a picket station set up out side of camp. Around 12:00 midnight, Lewis Potts was on duty. He heard something moving in the brush and stuck his bayonet in to the brush to see what was moving around. He heard a rattle and the snake struck his bayonet. From that point on the picket station was moved back about 100 feet back into the clearing, and we could not get Lewis to stand guard anymore that night.
Ken Myers

[Jeremy Bevard]

Re: snakes!

Jake, I remember hearing the yell when that snake was found at Bummers. It was the first time we went to forage and came out empty. I do see the size has come down some since the second day of that event. Last I remember hearing it was around 10-12 feet ;)

[Irish Bill]

Re: snakes!

I originally hail from the outskirts of Chicago and only saw snakes behind glass or rarely on camping trips (nothing ever poisonous.) In the last few years living in Galena I have seen tons of snakes either out in my woods or sunning themselves in the road. We even get Timberbacks here. I have seen two and killed one of them after he went for me. Every so often I would run over a small snake with the lawnmower. I dont mind snakes at all but if they are near I keep away and if attacked bye bye snake. I have never seen one at an event and would prefer not to but I get shivers down my spine to think of one day awakening with company in my blanket. I will deal with it when it happens and it probably never will but you never know.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: snakes!

I apologize for the modern reference to snakes but if you guys do an event along the East Coast and further South in the Carolinas, Georgia and here in Florida, The Eastern Diamondback Rattler is one to be reckoned with. The snake below was spooked out of a dense woods area with plenty of palmettos, live oaks etc. after a Wildfire here in my area of West Central Florida. He was burned but still alive. We put him out of his misery. He tasted great too. :D

Here is a period reference for you. from The Iron Hearted regiment: being an account of the battles, marches and gallant deeds performed by the 115th regiment N.Y. vols.

Seeing that the negroes were so much afraid of them, the soldiers were very careful when traveling through the swamps. A snake called the "Wood Rattle abounded at Braddock's Point, and the soldiers made great slaughter among them. Many measured seven feet in length, and but few were seen less than five. One of our pickets upon awaking in the morning, found a huge snake coiled up in his blanket fast asleep. Not liking such bedfellows, he beat his head to a jelly with the butt of his gun.
Along Broad river, close by a picket post, we used to call No. 1, was a den of snakes; and the soldiers on duty there amused themselves hours at a time in shooting them as they crawled out to bask in the sun.
A New Hampshire officer found a black snake seven feet long, in bed with him one night; and after that he built his bunk up from the ground, so that the reptiles could not reach him.
A cavalryman sabred two snakes in front of my tent door, and when one of them was cut in halves the head part ran off into the bushes and escaped. A hollow log was brought into camp one day for fuel, and when it was split, a black snake six feet long rolled out, much to the terror of the chopper, but to the great amusement of the other soldiers; who, taking it by the tail, threw it high in the air.
A member of Co. H was out in the woods one day, and while there, was attacked by a monstrous adder eight feet in length. Having no weapon to defend himself he shouted for help. A soldier who happened to be near by, with an axe, cutting tent poles, upon hearing cries of distress, ran to the spot, and after quite a struggle dispatched the snake.
Long, slender snakes, as green as grass, and some as red as blood, were seen on the roofs of the houses.

Mike, here is a mosquito and other bugs account for you from the same text, I know we were all too familiar with them in Savannah a few weeks ago LOL..:)

During the summer, the gnat, the musquito and and the sand flea, are among the soldier's greatest enemies. The gnat is about the size of a pin head, and swarms around every tree by the million. Pickets and guards stand in great dread of them; for they light on their faces and necks, and get into their hair in spite of everything that they can do; and nothing but tobacco smoke will drive them away.
The red sand flies are the worst of all. They will get into a person's stockings and clothes, and murder by inches. At night they cover the soldier's blanket, and keep him in agony until morning. Some of the regiment were so badly bitten that their legs and bodies were bleeding sores. Insect powders are a partial preventative.
The musquito also pesters the soldier considerably, and some regiments use musquito nets, fixing them around their beds in a frame.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: snakes!

I wish I could remember the title and author of the memoir, but there was an account by a New York or Pennsylvania infantryman describing a guy in his company who was a professional clown. This man caught a large snake, pulled it's teeth out, and would hide it in his sleeve. He walked around camp greeting friends with a hand-shake and the snake would come out and try to bite them. If memory serves he did this to several of his regiment's officers (including the colonel) and chased the black cooks and teamsters with the snake. The latter were so frightened that they jumped into a river to get away. I have to say that I'm not really afraid of snakes but if someone tried this at an event I'd probably punch them in the face!