The Diary of a Union Soldier (1862)

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The Diary of a Union Soldier (1862)
Question 1
Rhodes reveals camp life as entirely different from normal life. They ranged from the battle of weather conditions, inconsistent supply of food, sickness among soldiers, tiredness, lack of sleep, and imminent attack to death. The camp life is full of challenges that not can lead to death but also the lived experiences of those who survive the war. The soldier sleeps on the ground or spine-bought beds, sometimes out in the open (Shi and Mayer 397). When they arrived at the Battlefield of Williamsburg, for instance (397), Rhodes explains that the soldiers slept in the mud and water on the ground. Consistently, the soldiers battle changing weather patterns, alternating from the rain, which made sleeping difficult, and the hot days made it difficult to compete for daily tasks.
Along with the cold weather is sickness when Rhodes says, "the army is full of sick soldiers" (398). The camp life is also full of homesickness as the soldiers are far away from their homes. General McClellan, in his speech, says, "how should I like to see my home…". The camp life is also full of food scarcity, sleeplessness, and persistent tiredness. Most importantly, however, war-inflicted wounds and death are familiar places that soldiers use in the camp.
Question 2
Throughout these struggles, Rhodes provides both a realistic and romantic description of the camp life. For instance, he says (397) that the camp at Newport News had tended full of a variety of food, including pork, ham, and bacon. Having a beefsteak and sweet potatoes is a good living for the soldier in the camp. ...