Civil War America

Debating Drinking and Masculinity in the Civil War

Megan L. Bever

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781469669557
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: American Civil War History
• Index: History

Liquor was essential to military culture as well as healthcare regimens in both the Union and Confederate armies. But its widespread use and misuse caused severe disruptions as unruly drunken soldiers and officers stumbled down roads and through towns, colliding with civilians. The problems surrounding liquor prompted debates among military officials, soldiers, and civilians as to what constituted acceptable drinking. While Americans never could agree on precisely when it was appropriate to make or drink alcohol, one consensus emerged: the wasteful manufacture and reckless consumption of spirits during a time of civil war was so unpatriotic that it sometimes bordered on disloyalty. Using an array of sources—temperance periodicals, soldiers' accounts, legislative proceedings, and military records—Megan L. Bever explores the relationship between war, the practical realities of drinking alcohol, and temperance sentiment within the United States. Her insightful conclusions promise to shed new light on our understanding of soldiers' and veterans' lives, civil-military relations, and the complicated relationship between drinking, morality, and masculinity.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction: A Revival of the Temperance Cause?
• Chapter One: Supplying the Spirit Ration in the Union and Confederate Armies
• Chapter Two: The Drinking Practices of Officers and Enlisted Men
• Chapter Three: Mishaps, Morality, Masculinity, and Military Discipline
• Chapter Four: Military Regulations and Civilian Sellers
• Chapter Five: Controlling the Traffic in the Union and Confederate States
• Chapter Six: Drinking, Duty, and Disloyalty
• Epilogue
• Acknowledgments
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index