We Turned a Nice Penny: Soldiers' Moneymaking Schemes

by William Chapman

John Jacob Omenhauser was a Confederate prisoner in Point Lookout Federal prison in Maryland. During his stay there at Point Lookout, John Jacob Omenhauser drew a book of sketches depicting life in the prison. One common thing shown in his illustrations is soldiers selling things (especially food) for money. This was a common practice in both the Federal and Confederate army. Troops wanted money for gambling, buying things, or saving, and they got it however they could. This is the greedy story of moneymaking schemes in the Civil War.

This illustration by Omenhauser shows men at Point Lookout making biscuits and selling them as fast as they can be eaten. Soft bread such as biscuits was a welcome break from normal rations.

Robert Jarman was a member of the 27th Mississippi Infantry. Jarman wrote of a time when the men who had servants would send them to Georgia to buy potatoes, molasses, flour, and brandy. The servants would also bring back ginger cakes, which they could buy for $1.00 each and sell in camp. They sold the cakes for twice that ammount. "We sold at $2.00 a piece at camps, upon an average of five hundred to eight hundred per week, so you see we turned a nice penny on ginger cakes.", Jarman said. If you do the math, Jarman would have been able to make $2,000 in just two weeks.

Practically anyone who knew how to make something would use their talents to make some extra money. Soldiers would mend garments, cook, and do other services for money. Civilians could also use the opportunity to do work for the troops to their benefit.

Omenhauser's illustration depicts a soldier selling dumplings.

Gambling was a common way to make money during the war. Soldiers gambled on races, fights, games, and just about anything else. Although the pastime was discouraged, troops continued to gamble. Sam Watkins (Co. Aytch) said that they played chuck-a-luck, a dice game. Valerious Giles of the 4th Texas Infantry said they played faro. Whatever game it was, soldiers lost a great deal of money playing it. Giles said, "It was "Paradise Lost" to many a poor devil who blew the last cent he had and then trudged back to his regiment, busted but no wiser."

Officers discouraged gambling but it still continued. Often, soldiers wasted their last cent to gambling. Many times, soldiers were reported to have blown their enlistment bonuses in card games.

There are countless accounts of gambling, deceit, and treachery all for money during the war. Men did what they had to to make a precious cent.

Sources- "Soldier Life", by the editors of Time-Life Books
"Co. Aytch", by Sam Watkins
The Library of Congress

Comments

[Sandy]

If I'm not mistaken, I think faro is a card game. Very good post. Can you imagine them making $2,000 in two weeks way back then? Those cakes must have been really good! LOL

[william]

Yes, you are right, faro is a card game. Thanks!