A system where several horse-drawn cannons would ride along the battle front, stop and set up the guns, fire, limber up, and ride to another position.  This practice gave the impression that many guns were in use when only a few were actually being used.

  Gunboats using stacked cotton bales to protect themselves from enemy fire.

  United States Colored Troops. Federal Army regiments composed of African-American soldiers.  The U.S.C.T.’s were established by General Order Number 143, issued May 22, 1863, and included infantry, cavalry and artillery regiments.   While the soldiers themselves were African American, officers were white.  Until 1864 African American soldiers rec [..]

  Salt pork is a pork product similar to bacon that is made by curing pork bellies in salt.  This curing process allowed the pork to last a very long time without the need for refrigeration.  As a result, salt pork became a common food issued to soldiers by both the North and the South.

Freedom from slavery.  See Emancipation Proclamation »

The science of growing crops or raising livestock; farming.

A line of tall stout posts securely set either as a defense, to keep the enemy out, or as a pen to keep prisoners in. See image »

A pledge by a prisoner of war or a defeated soldier not to bear arms. When prisoners were returned to their own side during the War (in exchange for men their side had captured) the parole was no longer in effect and they were allowed to pick up their weapons and fight. When the South lost the War and the Confederate armies gave their parole they p [..]

A Northerner; someone loyal to the Federal government of the United States. Also, Union, Federal, or Northern.

Fortified structures designed to strengthen a position in battle. This includes earthworks, fieldworks, entrenchments, siege lines, etc.