• Poplar Grove National Cemetery Luminary Event (photo courtesy of Joanne Williams)

    Petersburg

    National Battlefield Virginia

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  • Time Change for Today's Corling's Corner Program

    The time for today's (June 14) Corling's Corner event has been changed from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This program focuses on the slave trade in Petersburg and occurs at the corner of Sycamore and Bank Streets.

Pictionary: H

Hardtack

Hardtack

A hard square cracker made of salt, flour, and water, that represented one of the major staples for both Northern and Southern soldiers. This hard bread in the form of crackers measured about 3 inches square by 1/2 inch thick was issued--9 or 10 constituting a ration.


Haversack

Haversack

Every soldier on field service was issued a haversack or "bread bag" in which he carried his rations and eating utensils on the march. It was worn over the right soldier and rested on the left hip, with a tin cup usually buckled to the strap. The haversack was used to carry field or "marching rations" such as hard bread, salt pork, or fresh meat, sugar, and coffee. Items like tobacco, paper and pencil and a housewife  were also carried in the haversack.


Housewife

Housewife

Many soldiers carried an item known as a housewife in their knapsacks. The housewife contained scraps of material, thread, buttons, and a needle that was useful for mending tears or lost buttons that came with wear and tear on their uniforms.

Did You Know?

President Lincoln and General Grant at the Wallace House

Union General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant and Army of the Potomac Commander George G. Meade met with Abraham Lincoln on April 3, 1865 at the Thomas Wallace house on Market Street in Petersburg. President Lincoln visited Petersburg again on April 7, 1865. (Petersburg National Battlefield)