• Subscribe & Save!
  • Today In History
  • Major Wars & Events
    • American Revolution
    • The Civil War
    • World War I
    • World War II
    • Cold War
    • Korean War
    • Vietnam War
    • Global War on Terror
    • Movements
      • Women’s Rights
      • Civil Rights
      • Abolition of Slavery
  • Famous People
    • U.S. Presidents
    • World Leaders
    • Military Leaders
    • Outlaws & Lawmen
    • Activists
    • Artists & Writers
    • Celebrities
    • Scientists
    • Philosophers
  • Eras
    • Modern Era
      • 2000s
      • 1900s
      • 1800s
    • Early Modern
      • 1700s
      • 1600s
      • 1500s
    • The Middle Ages
    • Classical Era
    • Prehistory
  • Topics
    • Black History
    • Slavery
    • Women’s History
    • Prisoners of War
    • Firsthand Accounts
    • Technology & Weaponry
    • Aviation & Spaceflight
    • Naval & Maritime
    • Politics
    • Military History
    • Art & Literature
    • News
    • Entertainment & Culture
    • Historical Figures
    • Photography
    • Wild West
    • Social History
    • Native American History
  • Our Magazines
    • American History
    • America’s Civil War
    • Aviation History
    • Civil War Times
    • Military History
    • Military History Quarterly
    • Vietnam
    • Wild West
    • World War II
  • More
    • Feature Stories
    • Interviews
    • Book & Film Reviews
    • Biographies
    • Quizzes
    • Videos
    • Portfolios
    • Weapons & Gear
    • Battle Maps
    • Ask Prof. History
  • Get Our Newsletter
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Skip to content
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
HistoryNet

HistoryNet

The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet.

  • Subscribe & Save!
  • Today In History
  • Major Wars & Events
    • American Revolution
    • The Civil War
    • World War I
    • World War II
    • Cold War
    • Korean War
    • Vietnam War
    • Global War on Terror
    • Movements
      • Women’s Rights
      • Civil Rights
      • Abolition of Slavery
  • Famous People
    • U.S. Presidents
    • World Leaders
    • Military Leaders
    • Outlaws & Lawmen
    • Activists
    • Artists & Writers
    • Celebrities
    • Scientists
    • Philosophers
  • Eras
    • Modern Era
      • 2000s
      • 1900s
      • 1800s
    • Early Modern
      • 1700s
      • 1600s
      • 1500s
    • The Middle Ages
    • Classical Era
    • Prehistory
  • Topics
    • Black History
    • Slavery
    • Women’s History
    • Prisoners of War
    • Firsthand Accounts
    • Technology & Weaponry
    • Aviation & Spaceflight
    • Naval & Maritime
    • Politics
    • Military History
    • Art & Literature
    • News
    • Entertainment & Culture
    • Historical Figures
    • Photography
    • Wild West
    • Social History
    • Native American History
  • Our Magazines
    • American History
    • America’s Civil War
    • Aviation History
    • Civil War Times
    • Military History
    • Military History Quarterly
    • Vietnam
    • Wild West
    • World War II
  • More
    • Feature Stories
    • Interviews
    • Book & Film Reviews
    • Biographies
    • Quizzes
    • Videos
    • Portfolios
    • Weapons & Gear
    • Battle Maps
    • Ask Prof. History
  • Get Our Newsletter
Posted inAsk Prof. History

Where did Civil War soldiers go to the bathroom?

by mandykinne2/28/20132/9/2016
Share This Article

Where did soldiers during the Battle of Gettysburg go to the bathroom?

– Lexi

? ? ?

Dear Lexi,

Give the matter an ounce of thought and you’d have an answer applicable to any Civil War battle—or pretty much any battle of the 18th and 19th centuries. Each camp had its open latrine area, raked and buried over daily to maintain a modicum of sanitation, but during a battle any available latrines and privies were generally luxuries reserved for the senior officers. For the typical line infantryman, cavalryman or artilleryman on the march or engaged in battle, there were no convenient facilities and little time for a “time out.” If he really couldn’t hold out any longer, the nearest tree, bush or stream would have to do—and fast, since his comrades were counting on him to rejoin them ASAP. As for privacy—when everyone in the vicinity is focused on kill or be killed, who’s looking at you?

Sincerely,

 

Jon Guttman
Research Director
World History Group
More Questions at Ask Mr. History

 

Share This Article
by mandykinne

more by mandykinne

Dive deeper

  • Gettysburg

Citation information

mandykinne (5/22/2022) Where did Civil War soldiers go to the bathroom?. HistoryNet Retrieved from https://www.historynet.com/where-did-civil-war-soldiers-go-to-the-bathroom/.
"Where did Civil War soldiers go to the bathroom?."mandykinne - 5/22/2022, https://www.historynet.com/where-did-civil-war-soldiers-go-to-the-bathroom/
mandykinne 2/28/2013 Where did Civil War soldiers go to the bathroom?., viewed 5/22/2022,<https://www.historynet.com/where-did-civil-war-soldiers-go-to-the-bathroom/>
mandykinne - Where did Civil War soldiers go to the bathroom?. [Internet]. [Accessed 5/22/2022]. Available from: https://www.historynet.com/where-did-civil-war-soldiers-go-to-the-bathroom/
mandykinne. "Where did Civil War soldiers go to the bathroom?." mandykinne - Accessed 5/22/2022. https://www.historynet.com/where-did-civil-war-soldiers-go-to-the-bathroom/
"Where did Civil War soldiers go to the bathroom?." mandykinne [Online]. Available: https://www.historynet.com/where-did-civil-war-soldiers-go-to-the-bathroom/. [Accessed: 5/22/2022]

Related stories

Stories

Allied-Printed Military Money Caused a Black Market Frenzy in Postwar Berlin

American and Soviet occupation forces
in Germany found themselves rolling in cash, both legal and otherwise.

Stories

‘1984’: A History of George Orwell’s Dystopian Masterpiece

Why has this book about a fictional future London been banned by some governments through the years?

Feature

He’s Spent Decades Wandering Antietam — Here’s What He’s Found

A “Babe Ruth of Storytellers” holds history in his head… and his pockets.

Ride the High Country movie poster
Stories

The Magnificent 6 Western Movies, According to ‘Wild West’

We love ’em all, but if trapped in a mine, these are the ones to watch

HistoryNet
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

“History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”

David McCullough, author of “1776”

HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the world’s largest publisher of history magazines. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 11,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines.

Our Magazines

  • American History
  • America’s Civil War
  • Aviation History
  • Civil War Times
  • Military History
  • Military History Quarterly
  • Vietnam
  • Wild West
  • World War II

About Us

  • What Is HistoryNet.com?
  • Advertise With Us
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Meet Our Staff!

Stay Curious

Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians.

sign me up!

© 2022 HistoryNet.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service