How did soldiers stay cool during the southern heat?

[JRL1164]

I've always wondered how soldiers/civilians stayed cooled during the summer months of the war? Not only during the War of Northern Aggression but also the Revolutionary War. I like to preface this question with I have lived in the South nearly my entire life other than the few northern places the military took me and I never could understand how soldiers could wear the wool uniforms of the period and not succumb to the terribly heat. Did soldiers frequently deblouse (remove their coats) and just wore their cotton shirts with their wool pants? Obviously hydration would of key regardless of time period.

I understand the buildings had high roofs to allow the heat to stay above normal living areas and other architectural features help keep the heat at bay but with but has air conditioning really soften us up in regards to heat tolerance?

I spent a lot of my military time in southern GA and often thought (while I was miserable in the heat) how terrible it must have been in those uniforms, long marches and etc and how miserable it surely was for them.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

So having worn full British regimentals in 105 degree weather in Colonial Williamsburg, and so has @Artificer, IF you get a breeze, the wool breathes, and the small clothes (shirt and waistcoat) have gotten damp with sweat, so it's actually cooling. When the air is still and going straight up, then you get heat casualties. They say there were more casualties from the heat in Monmouth New Jersey than from musket and cannon fire.

LD

 

[NorthFork]

So having worn full British regimentals in 105 degree weather in Colonial Williamsburg, and so has @Artificer, IF you get a breeze, the wool breathes, and the small clothes (shirt and waistcoat) have gotten damp with sweat, so it's actually cooling. When the air is still and going straight up, then you get heat casualties. They say there were more casualties from the heat in Monmouth New Jersey than from musket and cannon fire.

LD

This is 100% factual and I agree!

 

[Old Hawkeye]

They didn't stay "cool", they suffered through it. I'm sure they took whatever measures they needed to with regard to uniforms to survive. Georgia was first established as a penal colony, as the British considered it unlivable because of the heat. Albeit, they came from a relatively cool, damp climate. Even into the 20th Century the south was not heavily populated or considered a "comfortable" place to live, weather wise. The south's rise in population & the migration of people to that region, which has resulted in the large growth of southern cities, only began after air conditioning became the norm. People are still migrating to the south to this day bringing growth & prosperity while many northern cities are on the decline, which in a way confirms that "the South will rise again".

 

[NorthFork]

Wool to a degree is temperature regulating.

 

[SOLANCO]

I am 75. Had many occasions to visit, stay, serve, hunt in the South during my life. Some military. Some family. Some hunting.
Short visits were difficult. But if I was there long enough to acclimate (7 days for me) then no problem. Spent mornings hand picking worms off of granny's tobacco as the sun got higher. By lunch needed a two hour nap in the shade. Then out in the afternoon sun. Swim in the stock tank. Chase each other around with Daisy bb guns. No one lost an eye.
I hate to say it, but it was not the heat but the humidity. At one point got assigned short term to Camp Roberts California in height of summer. 110 Easily most days, but zero humidity. It was not bad at all.
SE Asia? The first weeks were brutal. But you acclimate. Eventually.

I appreciate the hc pc groups that want those old wool uniforms. God Bless you in August. I wear a WWII era USN pea coat. In winter. And am happy to have it.

 

[SOLANCO]

Wool is a miracle fabric. Keeps you warm when sopping wet.

 

[Campbell]

They were acclimated to it. Yes, it was hot. But look at photos as recent as the early 60’s. Men were in three piece wool suits, with hats on in summertime.

 

[sleepingbulldog]

My grandparents didn’t get air conditioning until some time in the 80’s, not even a window unit. Triple digit temps didn’t seem to really bother them at all. You acclimate to the heat.

 

[AtlatlMan]

So having worn full British regimentals in 105 degree weather in Colonial Williamsburg, and so has @Artificer, IF you get a breeze, the wool breathes, and the small clothes (shirt and waistcoat) have gotten damp with sweat, so it's actually cooling. When the air is still and going straight up, then you get heat casualties. They say there were more casualties from the heat in Monmouth New Jersey than from musket and cannon fire.

LD

Can likewise confirm this in Civil War kit. As others here have said, it's really the humidity that gets you.

 

[tenngun]

I knew a fellow from Arkansas who did WBTS reinacting. He was active around tge 125th
He wore a uniform at all times. Not just to events or drill but day to day life.
I wondered the same thing. He said he was cooler than in regular clothing.
The great desert saw the nomadic people there in heavy woolen robes. However the desert that’s 120 at noon is freezing at midnight summer and winter, not the same as the south, wher 100 might cool to 80

 

[Artificer]

So having worn full British regimentals in 105 degree weather in Colonial Williamsburg, and so has @Artificer, IF you get a breeze, the wool breathes, and the small clothes (shirt and waistcoat) have gotten damp with sweat, so it's actually cooling. When the air is still and going straight up, then you get heat casualties. They say there were more casualties from the heat in Monmouth New Jersey than from musket and cannon fire.

LD

My absolute worst time at CW was when I was wearing 18th century Overalls, a WOOL waistcoat and Regimental while portraying a Private Soldier of the Black Watch. I got the initial stages of heat exhaustion, so I took off the Regimental, unbuttoned the waist coat and drank cold water in the shade while I cooled off.

The next day another member loaned me a spare Philabeag (Short Kilt) and I wore it "authentically" with diced hose, so no more heat problems. HOWEVER, the mosquitos almost turned my nether regions into a well-used pincushion, until I got some bug juice. The next year I made DARN sure I had a linen waistcoat instead of the wool one.

Now for the UnCivil War, it was common in the worst heat and humidity for orders to be given that no waistcoats be worn and ONLY the top button of the Shell Jackets, Sack Coats, etc. be buttoned and all other buttons left unbuttoned.

For the 125th year reenactment of 1st Manassas, we added wetting down the soldiers' shirts before putting the Shell Jackets, Sack Coats, etc. on with only the top button buttoned. It took a while for the water on the wet shirts to evaporate, so that gave us a fairly long term cooling effect between the water and then the sweat. We had an overall 20 percent heat casualty rate amongst the reenactors that day, BUT surprisingly the tourists in their shorts, lightweight shirts, etc. had a heat casualty rate at least two to three times higher than we reenactors. That's because they were not used to being outside in the heat and humidity.

We learned from the Israeli Army that "over drinking" water, beyond normal thirst, was also of great benefit to we reenactors, though they weren't able to do that in the period.

Gus

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I will add that folks that go from AC to hot weather back and forth, aka "office workers", have a lot tougher time than the folks with outdoor jobs. Several of our lads in our unit have outdoor jobs..., two work for lawncare companies, one is a grounds keeper at a country club, and another works for state roads, plus (iirc) one is a house carpenter, and another is a roofer. Those six fellows only "feel the heat" when the season first starts, but..., when autumn comes on IF the air temps drop a good bit over a very short period of time, we see them wearing their blankets at night as "matchcoats" because they are used to warmer temps, while the rest of us find the evening air "delightful". The body gets used to functioning at different temps, so long as it has time to adjust.

LD

 

[Whitworth]

Living just below the Mason Dixon you can get both, stifling heat with humidity in the Summer and in Winter it can dip below Zero. The good thing is it usually doesn't last that long. I thought I was used to miserable heat and humidity here until I went to visit Charleston SC, man that was hot and even more humid To me that explains why the South is more laid back, you have to adjust your physical activity to the heat and humidity. JMHO

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Acclimation, acclimation, acclimation.

 

[SOLANCO]

Living just below the Mason Dixon you can get both, stifling heat with humidity in the Summer and in Winter it can dip below Zero. The good thing is it usually doesn't last that long. I thought I was used to miserable heat and humidity here until I went to visit Charleston SC, man that was hot and even more humid To me that explains why the South is more laid back, you have to adjust your physical activity to the heat and humidity. JMHO

Never saw anyone rushing in Charleston. Except maybe to get away to Folly beach.

 

[Fitzhugh Williams]

I never lived in a house with AC until 2003. Attic fans and proper ventilation did the job. I have worn French CfM uniforms at Fort Loudoun, beside the lake, in 90 + degree heat, and it was hot, but you stay hydrated and it can be tolerated. At times in the 18th century the French would remove the veste and keep only the coat and shirt on. The coat was necessary since it identified the Regiment. The CfM would also go to the breech cloth and shirt when they could, making their, and the milice, dress very close to the same.

 

[senseisugarbear]

My worst heat related incident had nothing to do with Uniforms.I was driving a straight truck full of Class A Blasting powder ( Our family was in the display FIREWORKS mfg business) I had to travel through Kansas City ,Mo. on HWY. 71...71 was a strange thouoghfare that had several miles of 3-4 houses then a couple of Store front businesses, pattern repeated for several miles at 25mph. Did I mention this happened at the highth of the CIVIL RIGHTS days? People had their Sofas & TVs in the front yard at 2 AM,trying to Cool off.There were Stop Lights every 3 blocks.With groups of young men on the corners.( At 2 AM)Temp. was 101*with 97% humidity. The truck had NO A/C and I was not about to open a window even a little bit, Ever sit at a stop light for 10 min. at a time Every 3 blocks.( Was probably really 1 min, but, seemed like a life time) Alcahol fueled curses and threats Abounded....These folks were Pi$$ed , hot , and drunk.I was hot SCARED, and wanting to be some where else. I thought I'd be alright by picking the LATE hr.On the return trip I was hauling Class B explosives, and drove about 40 miles out of my way so as not to revisit any of my late night aquaitces...All turned out WELL, Not even any extra Laundry.......But it sure was HOT that night..Be Safe>>>>>Wally

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Spent time in the Persian Gulf wearing modern military uniforms. When not out on actual missions, we stayed in the shade as much as possible, drank lots of water and stripped as much as we could get away with. Don't imagine it was all that much different in earlier wars.

True story:

My squad-level unit was tasked once to move ammunition that the Iraqis had left behind in a Kuwaiti bank to a deuce and a half truck. It was hot and the ammo crates were heavy. The Kuwaiti soldiers tasked to guard the bank were quite happy to let the Americans do the grunt work, so they stayed in the shade and watched us until the captain (civil affairs units often have officers commanding small teams) suggested that we remove our outer clothing... which made lots of sense.

After the jackets were all in a pile on the pavement, the guards suddenly noticed that one of the shorter members of our team had ...um... "bumps" on her chest. With short hair, a helmet and in full uniform, Lahela could pass for a boy if you didn't look too closely... but in a T-shirt and bra, it was obvious that she was a member of the fair sex.

This presented the guards with a dilemma. After all, they could not allow a woman to do heavy lifting without them at least helping a little. Suddenly, the guards had given their weapons to one of their number, freeing them up to help us load the truck. While the work did go much easier, I guess I'd have rather they kept their weapons and watched for possible Iraqi soldiers still in the city looking to acquire more ammo. We all kept our weapons slung on our backs and worked that way, but even the relatively light weaponry the guards had would have been helpful if things got exciting.

 

[Rifleman1776]

So having worn full British regimentals in 105 degree weather in Colonial Williamsburg, and so has @Artificer, IF you get a breeze, the wool breathes, and the small clothes (shirt and waistcoat) have gotten damp with sweat, so it's actually cooling. When the air is still and going straight up, then you get heat casualties. They say there were more casualties from the heat in Monmouth New Jersey than from musket and cannon fire.

LD

I'll take yer word for it. I'll go shorts and T in hot weather. I do know some WBTS reenactors who claim their heavy wool uniforms are comfortable in hot weather. I ain't going to try it. But, we must remember our forefathers wrote the Constitution in a third floor room with all the windows closed and wearing wool suits for sixteen hot days in June. Miracle they survived and produced such a historic document.