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Re: What is a galvanized soldier?
In Response To: What is a galvanized soldier? ()

Chief, you no doubt know that early batteries were called Galvanic cells. They were used to operate the telegraph. A little remembered other use was in coating tin and steel tubs with zinc by electrolysis. This process gave the tubs a gray color, and avoided rust. The O.R. segment you posted referred to formerly blue clad soldiers being found in gray. I suspect the first use of the term "Galvanized Yankee" stemmed from the knowledge of this process, in that the formerly "blue" troops were changed to "gray", thus being "Galvanized". Whatever the risks, the Confederacy could use all the troops it could get. When the reverse process took place, and Confederate soldiers "took the oath" and became "bluecoats", they were regularly sent west to fight Indians, and not be a risk to other US troops. Of course, some Confederates would only enlist if they were sent west, and so did not have to fight their former comrades. With use, I suppose the term came to be used by both sides. Stan

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What is a galvanized soldier?
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British repressive?
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The whole country lost
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