If you'd like to see all 20 slang terms, just click on the slang label below.
16. FORTY DEAD MEN
Soldiers had nicknames for almost every item that they had to take with them. "Forty Dead Men" referred to a full cartridge box of bullets. A full cartridge box held 40 rounds. And, of course, they could kill you (well, the enemy).
17. PLAY OLD SOLDIER / HOSPITAL RAT
Being honorable during the war was very important. Faking an injury was not very honorable. Nothing was more dishonorable than faking am injury of disability to avoid battle.
Soldiers doing this were referred to as "playing old soldier" or "hospital rat" for their frequent trips to the infirmary.
18. PARLOR SOLDIERS
Parlor soldier was a derogatory term for an unsuitable soldier. Someone who talked about their war experience without actually having it.
19. GREY BACKS
Diseases rule when there is a war. One of the most prevalent diseases during the war was malaria which was called "The Shakes."
Next to malaria, soldiers on both sides suffered from grey backs, otherwise known as lice. This was also a derogatory term for Confederates since that was generally the color of their uniforms.
20. LONG SWEETENING
Soldiers really loved their coffee. And a favorite extra ingredient was "long sweetening" which was molasses. This was a replacement for sugar, of course. Unlike sugar, this was a runny sweetener. If they could get sugar, that was short sweetening.
--Old Secesh
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