Civil War language
‘Dogrobber’ considered something good

If a Civil War re-enactor refers to “a beat” or a “dogrobber”, or even mentions the opportunity to “grab a root,” do you know what he means?

Military terms are encased in a language of their own. Modern military terminology is no exception, nor is the distinctive and often confusing catalog of terms used during the Civil War.

Union and Confederate soldiers had a variety of names for things used in daily routines and developed a wide range of terms for equipment, fellow soldiers or locations where they were based. Some still can be found in everyday language.

For example, if a Civil War soldier referred to “a beat,” it was a lazy enlisted man who dodged work. Then, there was a “dogrobber,” a soldier who cooked for everyone else. And, if you were going to “grab a root,” you were going to help yourself to some vegetables.

Here’s a brief example of some colorful Civil War expressions and nicknames:

Accoutrements – a soldier’s fighting equipment, made of leather.

Bombproof – an underground shelter, also used to describe officers who never visited the front.

Bones – Dice.

Carriage – wooden mount for artillery, also used to describe a lady’s shape.

Dog Tent – a small, two-man tent.

Fresh Fish – new recruits.

Housewife – a sewing kit.

Jonah – a soldier who always brought misfortune and bad luck with him.

The Luck of Cain – one who has bad luck or is prone to illness.

Paper Collar Man – someone who has money, or who is financially well off.

Sacred Soil – Virginia mud.

Seeing the Elephant – first experience in combat.

Shebang – a temporary shelter of poles and branches.

Top Rail – the best place to be. Number one.

When you hear the following expressions, remember that their roots also are in the vernacular of the Civil War:

“Snug as a bug in the rug.”

“Chief cook and bottle washer.”

“Been through the mill.”

“Scarce as hen’s teeth.”

Sometimes, we understand, but don’t always know why we say it. As Civil War re-enactors and living history buffs explain, that’s the value of history.