Civil War Terminology

To better understand the Civil War, it is necessary to become familiar with the terminology being used. This list is provided as "the best we could come up with."

Abatis - An abatis is an arrangement of felled trees, with the branches facing outward from the defending position to impede the charging enemy. Sharp pointed sticks were also used. Abatis Photo

Barbette - A barbette was a raised wooden platform that allowed an artillery piece to be fired over a protective wall or parapet without exposing its gun crew to the enemy. Many times, however, a mound of dirt was used instead of the more "formal" wodden platform. Barbettes were more suited to more permanent fortifications, and the vast majority of Civil War battles were far away from fortifications of any kind. Cannon on Barbette -- 24-pounder on Barbette -- 100-pounder on Iron Barbette

Bivouac - Sleeping in the open air or under a hastily made shelter of branches and plants.

Black Republican - This was derisive terminology used to describe white people in the newly formed Republican Party. Many editorials of the day used it; even Abraham Lincoln used the term in a speech given at the Cooper Institute February 27, 1860.

Breastworks - This term denoted a position, usually defensive, in which soldiers prepared for battle. In World War II, it was commonly referred to as trenches. Click here for photo. Click here for breastworks photo taken at Little Round Top.

Camouflet - This was a simple explosive device planted in front an enemy who was digging toward your position. It would explode when hit by a pick or shovel. Rarely used but was tried by the Confederate troops at Vicksburg.

Case shot - Invented by English artilleryman Henry Shrapnel in 1784, it was an iron sphere that contained pieces of metal and an explosive charge. The purpose was to have the "shot" explode near the enemy and scatter many pieces of deadly "shrapnel".

County Town - This refers to the primary city within a county. Today, in Arkansas, it's referred to as the County Seat, for "seat of government." Examples: William D. Snow, on November 16, 1860, sent a report to Abraham Lincoln about the state of affairs in Arkansas. He wrote, "I leave in the morning for Pine Bluff, passing through Clarendon the county town of Monroe & also through Aberdeen. Should I learn any thing of interest, will communicate it." In the memoirs of Brigadier General Nicholas B. Pearce, he wrote, "The day on which it was issued at Bentonville (my county town), the Union party was having a grand speaking at the Court House. The Honorable Bob Johnson U. S. Senator was there to deliver a Secession Speech to his old Democratic constituents. The feeling was so violent against secession that he was hissed and hooted down."

Defeat in Detail - As was sometimes the case during the Civil War, units would become separated from other units in its company or brigade. Each unit required separate fighting. Defeating the various units so as to win the battlefield was to defeat them in detail. It did not refer, as some believe, to utter destruction.

Demonstration - Most athletes understand the value of "the fake." You try to trick your opponent into thinking you're going to do one thing while you actually plan to do another. In the Civil War, a unit would be sent to attack in a certain place to draw the enemy commander's attention to that spot. Then, a major force would attack from a different place.

Embalmed Beef - This term was used by Union soldiers when they talked about their canned rations, later known as C-rations and known today as Meals Ready to Eat (MRE). Of course, the quality has changed somewhat.

Fascine - A bundle of sticks or twigs used to reinforce earthworks, trench walls, or lunettes. While sandbags and cotton bales were the preferred reinforcement because of their bullet-stopping capabilities, fascine was used when necessary. Modern-day construction using concrete is made stronger by pouring the concrete over reinforcing steel bars. So, think of the fascine as serving the purpose of the steel bar. Many times, of course, the fascine would protrude from the dirt, giving the appearance of an abatis.

Forager - Some soldiers were designated as foragers who would scour the countryside for food and other things of value. Unauthorized foraging was discouraged and soldiers caught doing so could be arrested. Of course, that didn't stop hungry men from doing it.

Furlough - An enlisted man could receive "time off" from his commander. The enlistee would be given a paper that described him, when he could leave and when he was to return. Without this paper he could be accused of desertion...and shot!

Haversack - A canvas bag about a foot square that held the soldier's daily rations. It had a waterproof lining and a flap that buckled over its top. Some officers had theirs custom-made out of patent leather. Most haversacks had a number or other company identification painted or stenciled on them.

Hot Shot - Solid iron balls were heated in a furnace prior to being fired at wooden boats or fortifications. After piercing the target, the ball would heat the surrounding material to the point it caught fire. Confederate forces used hot shot against Fort Sumter at the beginning of the war.

Kepi - The Kepi was a hat, or cap, sometimes called the Zouave cap. It was mostly worn by foragers. Click here for photo.

Lunette - A two or three-sided structure, usually small, that faced away from the enemy. It's purpose was to provide protection from opposing fire while providing a meeting place for officers. Some lunettes were named for the highest ranking officer in the unit.

Mortar - Different from a cannon because it lobbed shells or bombs in a high arc. Sometimes it was used to lob bombs over friendly troops to explode over the enemy; much of the time mortars were used in siege situations of a fortification because they could lob shells over the walls to the interior of the structure. Mortars were, and are today, classified by bore size, but today's 4.2-inch (four-deuce) pales in comparison to those used during the Civil War. The coehorn mortar, one of the smallest, had a 4.5-inch bore. Other sizes, in inches, were 5.8, 8, 10 and 13. They were made of iron and usually mounted on heavy wood or steel platforms. Click here for photo.

Picket - A guard or advanced outpost position whose purpose was to alert the camp about enemy troops approaching. Pickets also performed as "point men", a term familiar to Vietnam vets. Since it was about the most hazardous duty assigned, it was rotated among the soldiers on a regular basis. Pickets were not only the target of snipers but were usually among the first to die in an enemy encounter. See skirmish line.

Quaker Guns - This was a strategy of Southern ingenuity since it involved "fake" cannons. Quaker Guns couldn't fire because they were logs with the ends painted so they would look like cannons from a distance. The appearance, of course, was that the Confederate troops had more fire power than they actually did. In turn, many Union troops delayed their attack because of the deception. Click here for photo.

Skirmish Line - This line usually consisted of troops, skirmishers, who moved in advance of the main body of troops on all sides, usually. They would meet the enemy first and send word of enemy strength and location back to the command post.

Sutlers - These were vendors who followed troops around the countryside. They were located at forts and other fortifications as well. Each regiment had an officially appointed sutler who would provide items like newspapers, razors, whiskey, books, cups, plates, and cutlery. Photo of Sutler's tent in Virginia.

Zouave - Zouave soldiers actually began in North Africa but the "craze" made it to America prior to the Civil War. New York and Pennsylvania were among the states who had Zouave units. What made these troops different? They had fancy drills and even fancier colorful uniforms of baggy pants and leggings to go with their shortened jacket and hat. As the uniforms wore out during the war, the federal government would not replace them. By the end of the war, Zouave soldiers were all but a memory. Photo of two New York Zouaves. Same photo as Kepi above.