Alcohol in the Armies

The American Civil War remains one of the most pivotal and complex periods in our history. While much has been written, countless fascinating questions still spark our curiosity. In our podcast Civil War Curious, we enlist expert historians to answer your lingering questions about the conflict.On this episode, we're joined Megan L. Bever, an associate professor of history at Missouri Southern State University and the author of At War with King Alcohol: Debating Drinking and Masculinity in the Civil War (2022). Bever discusses the prevalence of alcohol in Civil War armies and the many issues that resulted from its presence. ©2026 by The Civil War Monitor. All rights reserved.