Nikole Stewart
When you think about the Civil War, you think about the tumultuous time of conflict and the bravery of soldiers. You probably don’t think about people’s jobs other than those who go into battle and strategize. But there are some strange, overlooked jobs during the Civil War that you should learn about. Let’s jump back through history and learn about them.
5. Photographers
While not so much a strange job, one of the most overlooked jobs during the Civil War were photographers. Interestingly enough, the Civil War was the first major conflict extensively documented through photography thanks to pioneers like Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner, and Timothy O’Sullivan.
Images were widely distributed to the public through newspapers, prints, and more. These photographers helped keep Americans everywhere in the know about the situation.
4. Laundress
Another one of the most overlooked jobs during the Civil War, yet one that might not sound strange, is a laundress. While it might sound strange that there was a whole team of laundresses during battle, they were crucial to keeping the mess down and preventing the spread of diseases.
But interestingly enough, it wasn’t just about keeping clothes clean. Along with that, they spent their days boiling cauldrons, scrubbing wool uniforms covered in mud, blood, and sweat, and keeping medical and other tools clean and sanitized.
A type of laundress is also known as a Vivandières, often women, who served on the front lines, offering comfort, food, and medical aid to soldiers. They risked their lives and dealt with labor-intensive jobs to help soldiers.
3. Embalmers
While embalming is something we’re familiar with today, the Civil War is where it began. Back in the day, there was no use for embalmers, as people died at home, surrounded by loved ones. During the Civil War, hundreds of thousands of soldiers died in battle. Relatives started wondering about their family’s deaths, and in response, embalming emerged.
“Embalming emerged during the war as both a means to preserve the bodies of fallen soldiers and to disinfect them,” according to the National Museum of Funeral History. “The goal was to keep the remains intact long enough to return them to their families, allowing for a funeral and the dignity of a proper burial.”
2. Teamsters
Teamsters are another one of those strange, overlooked jobs during the Civil War. Also known as wagoners or drivers, teamsters were primarily privates and an essential part of the rank. Their work was physically demanding and hazardous, as they were in charge of handling wagons and teams of animals, including horses, mules, or oxen.
They were solely responsible for baggage, provisions, ammunition, medical supplies, cooking utensils, and so much more. They essentially helped keep the camp running in the background, ensured that they had what they needed to get by, and were also crucial for coordinating the movement of supplies to the front line.
1. Sutlers
One of the most interesting, yet overlooked jobs during the Civil War were Sutlers. Also known as a Victualer, these were civilian merchants who sold provisions to an army in the field, in camp, or in their quarters. They often sold at the back of their wagon or temporary tent, traveling with an army or to remote military outposts.
While they were crucial, providing necessary merchandise to armies, they were also controversial, as they kept outrageously high prices. They were such a controversy that they were often expelled by generals, like Ulysses S. Grant.