For each of the diary entries of Davis, McCarthy, Holsinger, and Nichols please

describe the following:

Charles E. Davis
Food
The food that the soldiers were given, were large round cakes about two inches
thick. Davis describes the taste similar to a herb tea, which he believes is a
“abominable compound”. However, in the morning, they were given coffee such as
on March 12.
Shelter
On the fifth night from home, the soldiers were tired and weary, and they stopped
at a mule-yard for sleep and shelter. This is not a good place to sleep, and is not
desirable, but it was competent to their needs for the night.
Clothing
When they marched and arrived at Sandy Hook, they were given uniforms
transported by express, and from the State. The size of the knapsacks that they
were carrying were much too heavy and uncomfortable for the soldiers to
carry. The clothing was baggy and did not fit, as well as it was a bad appearing
garment. Very few fit the soldiers, and hats were not nearly protective or
decorative.
Activities
There were no activities instead of sleeping and marching. Other than that, there
was keeping watch during the night and eating. However, a man on guard who slept
during the night, was shot in the morning, and the regiment believed that a short nap
was not worth the price of death.
Emotions
The soldier’s morales seemed to stay at a all-time low, with heavy bags to carry,
and undesirable sleeping places and having to carry obnoxiously heavy bags. The
coats were said to be much too heavy, and the hats unnecessary.

Carlton McCarthy
Food
Canteens were carried throughout the men, but they were easily discarded as
water was very scarce among their regiment. They were not mainly used to
carry water, but to store items such as buttermilk, cider, and sorghum back to
camp. The soldiers seemed to prefer a strong tin cup over a canteen, because it
would fill easily over a stream or spring or well, and was “serviceable as a boiler
for making coffee when the column had halted for the night.”
Shelter
Tents throughout the regiment were claimed to be rarely seen. Mainly, two men
would sleep tight together, covered with two blankets, and protected from rain
with a oil cloth on top. However, this proved competent as the soldiers slept
comfortably through rain, snow, hail, and any other weather.
Clothing
Clothing that they were were heavily clad, and burdened with all manner of things,
the passage states. The boots were heavy and was not suitable for a long march.
The person wearing this shoe apparel would be “nearly twisted out of joint by
every unevenness of the road.” Especially when the boots were completely wet,
they were hard to take off. Sufficiency for clothing was lacked, and only a
blanket was given to soldiers, even in the most severe weather.
Activities
Little activities spread throughout the regiment. Many soldiers had a lack of money,
and barely was ever seen. The men did not expect or care for others money, and
they learned to live without it.
Emotions
The soldier’s courage and devotion among the men “rose equal to every hardship
and privation”. The suffering that they endured soon came to “a source of
merriment”. They laughed at their bare feet, ragged clothing, and they did not mind
feeling weak, hungry, or cold.

Frank Holsinger
Food
Throughout the battle, the tongue is written to be parched with the lack of water.
Even cryinging, “Water, water!” there is no water to quench the thirst of the hard
working soldier.
Shelter
There is no shelter in battle. However, the wounded have a chance to go home if
they survive. The only shelter they receive is inside of a hospital. Although, many
wounded soldiers, even Holsinger, believed that the seriousness of their condition
may lead to being a cripple.
Clothing
The clothing and uniforms that were previously given by the State are turned into
rags covered with grime and vermin. No new clothing is provided in battle, and it is
not focused upon, due to many men praying for survival.
Activities
As the regiment advances throughout the woods of Antietam, they are fired upon
by a cannon, and face oncoming antagonists, hiding behind trees and vegetation.
However, when wounded, there is nothing you can do. The wounded are helpless.
Although the bullets keep flying over their heads, they can do nothing but pray that
they do not get shot.
Emotions
Holsinger writes, “A volley decimented our ranks fully one half; the regiment was
demoralized.” This indicates that the whole regiment was losing morale. However,
later on in the paragraph, he writes, “I met a tall, thing young soldier, his hat off,
who yelled, “Rally Boys, rally! Die like men; don’t run like dogs”. SInce the writer was
afraid and worse off than the others, he was encouraged to fight and he claims
that all his fear vanished. He believed that he could stand and fight if the young man
could.

George Ward Nichols

Food
During a halt, some soldiers may pull out a bit of hard bread, but nothing more. This
means that the bread is all stale, and there is a miniscule amount of it, in contrast
to an abundance of food.
Shelter
Shelter would be consisted of breaking camp. Most of their shelters just consist
of blankets thrown above soldiers sleeping on oil-rags. The campsite sometimes
harbors a firepit, where coffee can be made and food could be warmed up.
Clothing
A soldier sometimes stops to take off his shoes and socks to cool his swollen,
heated feet. This can imply that the soldiers are given boots that are
uncomfortable or tight fitting. The boots and/or socks could possibly not be
breathable, because the soldier is described as having hot feet.
Activities
Nichols states that one of the most characteristic features of a soldier’s life is
the important step of breaking camp, which is at once the close of a season of
monotonous activity.
Emotions
The emotions of the soldiers are always varying. They are alert and tired for
marches, but they rejoice and are merry during a fire where a pot of coffee
could be made and boiled.
What are some big similarities with these individuals?
All of these individuals suffer from very uncomfortable clothing. Also, their shelter
does not consist more than a couple blankets. There is not an abundance of food
to share throughout the regiment, but all of the soldiers seem to remain ready and
alert, but happy and jolly at other times. Activities are also put at an all-time low,
but many men seem to enjoy themselves despite the obstacles.
What are some differences?
Differences would be the different activities and clothing. Not all the clothing fits
the men, and some do fit their wearers. However, they are both an eye-sore.
Activites are always contrasting, from keeping watch at night, to boiling coffee, to
breaking camp after a long march.
Why might these similarities and/or differences exist?
These similarities and differences exist, because the points of views that are
written by the writers, are completely different. Nichols is a Union soldier,
whereas McCarthy is a Confederate soldier.