Comments on: Gruesome Yard Sale

By: Harry Smeltzer

Harry Smeltzer — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:45:48 +0000

Thanks for commenting, Ken. Yes, I get the feeling there are some details of soldier life about which we are in the dark, despite the best efforts of folks like Wiley, Billings, etc. Maybe it was too mundane to talk about – perhaps it was something that simply reflected the culture in general and was not peculiar to the military. I think the maritime customs referred to earlier may hold some key to this.

By: Ken Noe

Ken Noe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:30:21 +0000

Several years ago, I published an article* about a KIA Union soldier whose pards divided up his belongings, only to be sued for their return by the soldier’s father. I suspect that entire situation of dead men’s belongings was more complicated than we’ve ever considered.

*‘Coming to Us Dead’: A Civil War Casualty and His Estate.” Journal of Illinois History 2 (Winter 1999): 289-304.

By: Terry Johnston

Terry Johnston — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:20:12 +0000

Never heard of such a thing. I wonder, though: Where did the colonel intend for the money raised to go? Into some sort of regimental fund, perhaps?

By: Michael C. Hardy

Michael C. Hardy — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:22:32 +0000

Harry – I’m not sure that I’ve come across a letter in such detail, but I have seen examples in my research on Tar Heel soldiers of the effects (not personnel, like a watch), being sold after death and the money sent to the family.

Regards,
Michael

By: Bruce Trinque

Bruce Trinque — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:11:56 +0000

Selling the clothes of dead sailors was a long-established custom in the Royal Navy and, I think, the US Navy. But I have never heard of it before in connection with Civil War soldiers.

By: Chris Evans

Chris Evans — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:39:48 +0000

Wow, that is really interesting. I have never heard of them selling the clothes of dead men after a battle. I know ,of course, the stripping of the dead took place after a battle but that was usually of opposing sides. As superstitious as soldiers can be and especially Civil War soldiers that they would want to wear the clothing of someone who had died that was in their regiment or on the same side seems pretty strange.
Thanks,
Chris

By: Gerry Mayers

Gerry Mayers — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:34:45 +0000

Never heard of this happening after a Civil War battle but as I was reading it was reminded of the scene in the versions of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” where some of Scrogge’s possessions are being sold. The secne is also in the book.

I wonder if this was something that indeed was done at the time but, not everyone was in agreemtnt as to its propriety?

I would like myself to know if there are any other accounts from this particular regiment about this occurrence or from other regiments, US or CS, relative to any other battles.