Some More On Drilling-- Part 3: "One Must Get Accustomed To It"

**  We shall all learn to like it in time ... but like olives, tobacco and some other luxuries, one must get accustomed to it to really enjoy it."

George G. Benedict, 12th Vermont Infantry to his hometown newspaper, September 28, 1862.

**  "Every amateur officer had his own pet system of tactics, and the effect of the incongruous teachings, when brought out in battalion drill, closely resembled that of the music of Mr. Bob Sawyer's party, where each guest sang the chorus to the tune he knew best."

Confederate soldier George C. Eggleston, in his memoirs.

--  Old Drillcesh

Some More On Drilling-- Part 2: "It Would Make a Horse Laugh"

**  "Of course, we drill; it would be hard to imagine a military camp without drill; but it would make a horse laugh to see us do it."

David Lane, 17th Michigan Infantry in his diary August 24, 1863.

**   "I don't know what Oi'll do.  You want us to drill in English and the devil a wurd I know but French."

An Irish-born Confederate soldier in a Louisiana regiment to his lieutenant.  Something about those Louisianans speaking French, you know.

--Old SecDrill

Some More On Drilling-- Part 1: "Face Met Face"

From the Fall 2016 Civil War Monitor magazine.

Last week, on Feb. 23rd,  I posted about 13th North Carolina's Charles C. Blaknall's view of camp life and drilling.

Here are some other comments about drilling:

**   "The first thing in the morning is drill, then drill, then drill again.  Then drill, drill, a little more drill.  Then drill, and lastly drill.  Between drills, we drill and sometimes stop to eat a little and have roll-call."  Oliver Wilcox Norton, 93rd Pa. Infantry, October 1861.

**  "The drill ... disclosed the fact that many, otherwise intelligent, were not certain as to which was their right hand or their left.  Consequently, when the order 'Right, face!' was given, face met face in inquiring astonishment ...."    John L. Smith, 116th Pa. shortly after the regiment's enlistment.

Maybe the Reason for All That You-Know-What.  --Old Secesh

Charles C. Blacknall .--Part 5, On Camp Life: "Drilling -- Drilling, Drilling"

After Manassas, Charles and his company spent a lot of time in camp.  He described his daily regimen as "dull and monotonous, time occupied principally in drilling, eating, drilling, studying and reciting Tactics (which by the way I don't at all fancy) eating again and then drilling -- drilling, drilling."

The 13th North Carolina was redesignated the 23rd North Carolina.

The Confederate Army then began having serious losses due to illness.

--Old Secesh

Elmer Ellsworth-- Part 5: Proving National Championship

To prove that his United States Zouave Cadets were the national champions in drill, Elmer Ellsworth determined to go on a 20-city tour.  But, in order to do so, $7,000 needed to be raised.  They sold Zouave drill manuals to raise part of it.

Even though his men were already a well-trained outfit, to be extra sure, Ellsworth launched a vigorous training regime.  They trained from 7 to 11 every night except Sunday.

They went on the road, appearing in Adrian, Michigan first and then to Detroit.  Ellsworth had strict rules and breaking any of them would get the man sent home immediately.

More stops at Rochester, Syracuse, Albany in New York and his Zouaves were becoming quite the celebrities. with their pomp and showmanship during the drills.

--Old SecZouave

Elmer Ellsworth and the U.S. Zouave Cadets-- Part 2

Elmer Ellsworth lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1853 to attend Kenosha High School.  He came to Chicago in 1854 at age 17 and became a businessman, something that he was not suited for and this venture bankrupted him.

While in the city,thought, he vigorously studied the two main military drill manuals of the day by William Hardee and Winfield Scott.  He also got a copy of the Zouave training manual.  The Zouaves had impressed the world with their action during the Crimean War.

In 1857, he became drill instructor of the Rockford Greys and in the summer of 1858 taught them the Zouave system of drill.  Many of these men later formed three companies in the 19th Illinois Infantry.

--Old Secesh