Lena Savoie
Alcohol abuse was rampant in both the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Alcohol was easily accessible to soldiers, who consumed it to numb the pain and homesickness of war. The Temperance Movement gained momentum during the Civil War, with many of its advocates being nurses who witnessed alcohol's ill effects on soldiers first-hand. While there is no explicit mention of deaths from alcohol withdrawal, there are records of soldiers dying from alcohol-related causes, such as delirium tremens. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including shaking and confusion, were often regarded as a consequence of immorality rather than as an illness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol consumption among soldiers | Very high |
| Alcohol consumption in the 19th century | Very high |
| Alcohol as medicine | Whiskey was used to prevent malaria and treat illnesses |
| Alcohol withdrawal symptoms | Delirium tremens, shaking, confusion |
| Alcohol-related deaths | 98 Union soldiers died from inebriation, 423 died from delirium tremens |
| Temperance movement | Led by spouses of Civil War veterans and nurses who saw the ill effects of alcohol |
| Alcohol abuse methods | Drinking from flasks, filling musket barrels with whiskey, looting alcohol |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol was used as medicine
Alcohol was widely abused in both Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. However, it was also used as a form of medicine. The consumption of alcohol was very high throughout the 19th century, and many believed that alcohol, especially whiskey, was beneficial to one's health. Physicians often prescribed whiskey for various ailments, and alcoholic beverages such as spiritus frumenti (whiskey) and spiritus vini gallici (brandy) were distributed as medicine during the Civil War. Whiskey was also used to help soldiers tolerate the bitter taste of quinine, which was used to prevent and treat malaria.
The use of alcohol as medicine was so prevalent that both the Union and Confederate armies published guidelines on when to use liquor, which were based on the guidelines of the antebellum United States Army. Liquor was prescribed in hospitals to treat acutely ill soldiers, and whiskey rations were used to prevent malaria. However, the excessive drinking among soldiers led to chaos and uncompleted tasks, and some soldiers even resorted to smuggling alcohol into camps. Confederate hospital matron Phoebe Yates Pember wrote about a case where a drunken surgeon treated a patient with a crushed ankle, but set the wrong leg, leading to the patient's death.
The Civil War also saw the rise of the temperance movement, with many nurses and spouses of veterans advocating for temperance after witnessing the ill effects of alcohol abuse. Despite the efforts of the movement, alcohol continued to be a significant presence in the lives of soldiers and civilians during the Civil War, and it was often used as a form of self-medication to cope with the traumas and exhaustion of war.
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Alcohol was thought to be beneficial to health
Alcohol consumption was very common in the 19th century, with many believing that alcohol, especially whiskey, was beneficial to one's health. This belief was a major factor in the high alcohol consumption during this period. Physicians often prescribed whiskey for various ailments, and during the Civil War, alcoholic beverages such as whiskey and brandy were distributed as medicine. The Union and Confederate armies published guidelines on when to use liquor, which included prescribing liquor in hospitals to treat acutely ill soldiers. Whiskey was also used to prevent malaria by mixing it with quinine to mask the latter's bitterness.
The widespread belief in the health benefits of alcohol, however, had detrimental effects on soldiers' health during the Civil War. Alcohol abuse was rampant in both Union and Confederate armies, with soldiers drinking to cope with the traumas and exhaustion of war. The easy availability of alcohol, often smuggled into camps, contributed to excessive drinking. This resulted in disciplinary issues, with soldiers becoming drunk and causing trouble, as well as negatively impacting their performance and ability to march.
The overconsumption of alcohol also led to health issues, with soldiers experiencing delirium tremens, a condition characterised by shaking and confusion, when they went through alcohol withdrawal. Despite the prevalence of alcohol-related health issues, Civil War surgeons typically hospitalised soldiers for drunkenness only if they exhibited severe effects. The negative consequences of alcohol abuse during this period were not limited to soldiers. Confederate hospital matron Phoebe Yates Pember recorded a case where a drunken surgeon treated a patient with a crushed ankle, setting the wrong leg, which ultimately led to the patient's death.
While the temperance movement gained momentum during and after the Civil War, fuelled by the first-hand experiences of nurses and spouses of veterans, alcohol continued to play a significant role in society. The transitional nature of the 1860s in terms of Americans' understanding of illness and the perception of alcoholism as a moral failing rather than a disease contributed to the complex relationship with alcohol during this time.
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Alcoholism among soldiers
Alcoholism was a pervasive issue during the Civil War, affecting soldiers in both the Union and Confederate armies. The harsh realities of war, including boredom, horror, and trauma, drove many soldiers to drink excessively. While alcohol was often consumed to numb the pain and take the edge off misery, it also led to significant disciplinary issues and health concerns within the armies.
The consumption of alcohol was deeply ingrained in the culture of the time, with liquor readily available and even prescribed by physicians for various ailments. Whiskey, in particular, was believed to have health benefits, and it was commonly distributed as medicine during the war. Soldiers found creative ways to obtain alcohol, from smuggling it in care packages to filling their musket barrels with whiskey. The prevalence of alcohol led to concerns about excessive drinking and its impact on the health, morale, and discipline of the troops.
The Union army recorded that 4,625 of their soldiers were hospitalized or relieved from duty due to drunkenness, with 98 of them dying. Additionally, of the 3,284 soldiers admitted for delirium tremens—a condition characterized by shaking and confusion caused by alcohol withdrawal—423 died. The Confederate Army also faced challenges with alcohol abuse, as noted by Confederate hospital matron Phoebe Yates Pember. She recounted an incident where a drunken surgeon treated a patient with a crushed ankle, setting the wrong leg, which ultimately led to the patient's death.
The widespread presence of alcohol during the Civil War fueled the temperance movement, particularly among the spouses of veterans who struggled with alcoholism. These advocates worked to address the concerns of returning soldiers who had become accustomed to heavy drinking during their service. The transition back to civilian life was challenging for many veterans, and some continued to drink to self-medicate, struggling to adapt to societal expectations and the demands of manual labor to support their families.
The impact of alcoholism among soldiers extended beyond the Civil War, shaping perceptions and approaches to alcohol use and addiction in the years that followed. While the war may have contributed to a heightened awareness of the negative consequences of excessive drinking, it also underscored the complex relationship between individuals, society, and alcohol.
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Alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol was widely abused in both Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. The consumption of alcohol was relatively common among soldiers living in camp or stationed in large cities. Civil War surgeons typically only hospitalized soldiers for drunkenness if they were suffering from severe effects. It was uncommon for a soldier to spend the night in a hospital ward for simply being drunk. Drunk soldiers were usually left in camp to sober up.
During the Civil War, alcohol was distributed as medicine in the form of spiritus frumenti (whiskey) and spiritus vini gallici (brandy). Whiskey was also used to help with the bitterness of quinine, which was used to treat malaria. The British Empire and the U.S. Army had figured out that malaria tended to occur in swampy, low-lying areas. However, they did not know that it was a mosquito-borne illness.
The 1860s were a transitional time in the way Americans thought about illness, and physicians did not regard alcoholism as a disease in the same way modern Americans do. When people in the 19th century saw a person who drank too much, they interpreted it as a moral failing. Many people believed that everyone who even tried a drop of liquor was at risk of becoming a chronic drunkard. Americans during the war did notice the symptoms of too much drinking: the delirium tremens. This shaking and confusion occurred when someone who was regularly intoxicated experienced withdrawal. However, when they saw a person suffering from delirium tremens, they tended to regard it as the consequence of immorality rather than as an illness.
Alcohol abuse led to the death of at least one soldier during the Civil War. Confederate hospital matron Phoebe Yates Pember wrote of a case in which a drunken surgeon treated a patient whose ankle had been crushed by a train. After the injuries were set and bandaged, the soldier remained in excruciating pain and his condition worsened. Checking the patient, Pember found that the bandaged leg was perfectly healthy, while the other leg was “swollen, inflamed, and purple.” The attending surgeon had been so drunk that he set the wrong leg. Fever set in, and the patient died at the hospital.
Overall, alcohol consumption has fluctuated significantly over the past two centuries. At the brink of the Civil War in 1860, the average person drank 2.5 gallons of alcohol per year. This figure dropped to 1 gallon in 1934 at the repeal of prohibition and reached a historic peak of 2.8 gallons in 1980. In recent years, alcohol consumption has been on the rise again, with Americans drinking 60% more hard liquor now than in the mid-1990s.
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Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
Alcohol consumption was widespread during the Civil War, with both Union and Confederate armies abusing alcohol. Looting of alcohol was common among Confederate soldiers, and alcohol was often prescribed as medicine in the form of whiskey and brandy. Physicians did not regard alcoholism as a disease, and excessive drinking was a constant problem in both armies.
Mild symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:
- Headache
- Mild anxiety
- Insomnia
- Excessive sweating
- Upset stomach
- Heart palpitations
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- High body temperature
- Tremors (shakiness) of hands or other body parts
More severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens (DTs)
Delirium tremens is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal characterised by shaking and confusion. It can be fatal, and treatment is essential. Symptoms typically peak between 24 and 72 hours after the last drink and can last for several days, with the most intense symptoms occurring around four to five days after the last drink. Some people may experience prolonged withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia and mood changes, that can last for weeks or even months.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, people did die from alcohol withdrawal during the Civil War. However, it is important to note that the medical community at the time did not regard alcoholism as a disease, instead believing that drunkenness was a moral failing. Therefore, while people did die from alcohol withdrawal, it was not recognized or treated as a medical condition.
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal during the Civil War included shaking, confusion, and delirium tremens. These symptoms were often regarded as a consequence of immorality rather than as a medical condition.
Alcohol consumption was very common during the Civil War, with both Union and Confederate soldiers regularly drinking alcohol. Alcohol was also distributed as medicine in the form of whiskey and brandy, further contributing to its widespread consumption.
Alcohol abuse during the Civil War led to a variety of negative consequences, including impaired judgment, decreased combat effectiveness, and health issues. In addition, the looting of alcohol was relatively common among Confederate soldiers, leading to disciplinary issues. Alcohol abuse also contributed to the development of the temperance movement, as nurses and spouses of Civil War veterans advocated for moderation or abstinence.
