Dominoes

The Civil War was a time of great and terrible battles and loss. But it was, for the most part, in between those historic moments, defined by countless idle hours and boredom.

One way to pass the time was by playing games. Soldiers carried playing cards, marbles and dominos from camp to camp. Some carved entire chess sets from spent bullets retrieved from the battlefield. Games and the subsequent gambling that ensued were condemned by chaplains. Some men took to throwing their cards away on their way into battle, only to find them again after should the owner survive the onslaught.