John D Billings

Hardtack and Coffee John D Billings

Originally published in 1887, Hard Tack and Coffee quickly became a best seller, and is now considered one of the most important books written by a Civil War veteran.

Some sample chapter headings reveal the breadth of subjects covered:

How the Soldiers Were Sheltered

Life in Tents

Army Rations

Offences and Punishments

Raw Recruits

Special Rations

Boxes from Home

Sutlers

Foraging

Corps and Corps Badges

The Army Mule

Hospitals and Ambulances

Breaking Camp

On the March

Army Wagon-Trains

Army Road and Bridge Builders

Talking Flags and Torches

Brilliantly written, dazzlingly detailed and from the mouth of someone who was actually there, Hardtack & Coffee - The Unwritten Story of Army Life is a must-read for Civil War buffs and military historians.