I've read in several places that soldiers used chicory as a coffee substitute. What other plants were used? Also, tobacco was in short supply for the men, so what did they smoke instead? Having known many dedicated smokers, I know that NOT smoking wasn't an option! Has anyone tried these substitutes?
I came across an ad in a Richmond newspaper from early 1865 in which a charity was collecting tobacco for the Southern troops. What a sign of tough times, that Virginian troops didn't have anything to smoke!