A very short post before starting a longer series in July.

I never know what might catch my interest as I look through documents at the National Archives. In terms of how I usually discuss the cavalry, the following is outside my norm but it caught my eye.

We live in a world of clean water. We carry bottled water or easily refillable water containers. Even minimalist backpackers carry small water filters in their backpacks. Few of us in this country live day to day worrying about drinking contaminated water. Not so, however, for soldiers in the Civil War, when water borne diseases killed thousands. Thus I bring you an 1863 solution to cleaner, healthier water – clean your canteen. The idea of cleaning one’s canteen sounds obvious but maybe we assume too much.

On August 20, 1863, Col. Frederick Hecker, 82^nd Illinois Infantry, sent the following suggestion to Col. George von Amsberg, commanding the 1^st Brigade in Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz’s 3^rd Division, 11^th Corps.

“This being the sickly time of the year, every measure should be taken to improve the health of the troops. [An] inspection of the canteens furnished me the evidence that by the use of impure water, a deposit of mud formed a kind of incrustation inside the canteens, so that even clear and good water after a little while was spoiled and of a bad taste. [A] cleaning of the canteen, with gravel, sand or lumps of paper or rags removed this deposit. [So,] I ordered a [thorough] cleaning of the canteens in my regiment. I would respectfully submit this observation to higher authorities to have the proper measures taken in the interest of the health of our soldiers.”

Colonel von Amsberg and General Schurz forwarded Colonel Hecker’s suggestion up the line to army headquarters. Seeing merit in the idea, Maj. Gen. George Meade had Hecker’s communication copied and distributed, presumably to all of the other elements of the army. On August 25, a copy reached Cavalry Corps headquarters, where Maj. Gen. Pleasonton then had copies distributed throughout the corps.