There was no alcohol available to soldiers during combat. What was referred as the 'spirit ration' was discontinued completely in 1865 (War Department, General Order No. 120, June 29, 1865). This wasn't the first time that the spirit ration had been discontinued, since this also happened in 1832. The trend from 1832 to 1865 is replacing the spirit ration with a coffee ration and while alcohol was removed as a part of the overall ration given to the ordinary soldier by 1832, it was still something available to be issued to soldiers doing "fatigue-service" (i.e. building fortifications and trench works, etc.) but was completely discontinued by 1865.