Civil War Nudity (a true historic tale)
Confederate Private John Walters was marching in a reinforcement column from Front Royal Virginia, to Maryland as the troops were advancing toward Pennsylvanian skirmishes.
He had already explained in his diary by this point, crossings of rivers and streams in the Summer, and wet wool uniforms, would leave one with uncomfortable rashes. So they were always fully disrobed, carried underwear, clothes and packs over their head through the river while fully naked.
One would then dry off with their union suit underwear, and get back dressed, once firmly upon the opposite bank.
As they now approached Hagerstown, MD, they stopped, at the south bank of the shallow Potomac, the regiment hastily disrobed, they waded across the chest-deep river, and cambored up the higher north bank to muster, and dry off, where they could then, get dressed.
Only to discover, all of Hagertown had turned out to greet the (now fully nude) regiment, in a wide open field ...with a BAND!
[from NORFOLK BLUES: The Civil War Diary of Private John Walters]
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