The American Civil War offers a number of instances of alcohol
supposedly influencing battlefield outcomes.  Two of the more famous are:
Grant's alleged drunkenness before the battle of Shiloh, which detractors
claimed resulted in his forces being surprised by the Confederates; and the
willingness of an unruly Northern regiment to storm heavily defended
Burnside's Bridge at the Battle of Antietam in return for having their
whiskey ration (which had been suspended as a penalty for poor behavior)
reinstated.  Many other instances of this kind pepper the various accounts
of battles.  I hope that this helps.

Scott C. Martin
Associate Professor
History Dept.
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH   43403
419/372-2030
419/372-7208 fax
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