The Common Soldier

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The typical Union foot-soldier carried with him all of the equipment necessary to fight and survive. In this exhibit, objects from the Museum’s permanent collection illustrate the daily life of the typical Union soldier. Among the equipment displayed are examples of Springfield and Enfield rifle-muskets, cartridge and cap boxes, a knapsack, mess utensils, and a variety of personal objects used for leisure-time activities. Of special interest is a protective vest called body armor and a denim shell jacket with Federal eagle buttons which is recorded as having been worn by a black soldier in the U.S. Army.

The Art of the Artilleryman

Many artillery regiments were stationed in the Defenses of Washington. A well-drilled artillery crew could fire a typical Civil War cannon two to three times a minute. In this exhibit, discover the tools and equipment used by artillerymen to aim, load and fire a cannon. Brochure available.

Medical Care for the Civil War Soldier

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At the beginning of the Civil War, neither side was prepared to care for the vast numbers of sick and wounded. Three out of four Civil War soldiers died of disease rather than from battle wounds. A broad selection of medical tools, equipment and images is featured illustrating treatment practices of the time, the importance of the ambulance corps, the vital efforts of women such as Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton in nursing the troops, and the role of Alexandria as a major hospital center for the Union Army. Brochure available.