Webb Garrison’s Civil War Dictionary: An Illustrated Guide to the Everyday Language of Soldiers and Civilians
by Webb Garrison and Cheryl Garrison, Cumberland House Publishing
There’s a pretty good chance a waiter today would either stare you down or laugh in your face if you happened to order a big slice of “secession bread” and a pint of “possum beer” to wash it down. But these were common tablefare during the Civil War.
In an updated release by Cumberland House Publishing, the daughter-in-law of well-known historian Webb Garrison, who was a veteran linguist of Civil War vernacular, has packaged the fruits of 30 years of his research and study into a palatable dictionary format. Contained in Garrison’s dictionary are colorful words and phrases—including nicknames and slang—commonly used at the time. Where appropriate, examples and anecdotes are included to illustrate meanings. All told, there are more than 2,500 entries and 250 illustrations that help explain the vernacular of the times, equipment names and organizations of common soldiers, their officers and civilians.
And in case you’re wondering: “Secession bread” was made from rice flour instead of wheat flour, and “possum beer” was a home-brew libation based on persimmons.
Originally published in the June 2009 issue of Civil War Times. To subscribe, click here.
