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Rations

 

Civil War soldiers, like all soldiers, griped about their food.  An artilleryman from the Army of the Potomac once said that they never went without food, althought the food might not have been pleasing to the pallat (Hardtack and Coffee).  Union soldiers were issued Camp / Garrison Rations and Marching Rations.  These two forms of rations were sometimes supplemented with other things.  Care packages form home frequently contained breads, marmalades, fruits and vegetables.  Soldiers could buy food from sutlers and stores.  Canned fruits  and oysters were very popular, as were fresh baked pies.  Soldiers would sometimes beg, borrow, gamble, and steal to expand their diet.  Soldiers were not supposed to forage and commandeer foods unless ordered to. One Union sharpshooter took a chicken from a farm which his unit marched through.  He kept the chicken in his haversack until suppertime.  The chicken kept cackling and crowing, much to the amusement of the men of his company.  A company officer pretended not to hear it.  

 

During public displays, we like to show what Civil War soldier rations looked like.  Outside of public hours, we take liberties to prepare delicious meals over the fire because one of our members is a classically trained chef!  

 

  • CAMP AND GARRISON RATION:

    Meat:          12 ounces of pork or bacon, or
                       1 pound and 4 ounces of salt or fresh beef

    Bread:         1 pound and 6 ounces of soft bread or flour, or 
                       1 pound of hard bread [hardtack] or
                       1 pound and 4 ounces of corn meal

    To every 100 rations:
                        15 pounds of beans or peas (about 2.56 ounces a day), or
                        10 pounds of rice or hominy (about 2.56 ounces a day),or twice a week 1.5                                                          ounces Desiccated Potatoes and one ounce Desiccated Mixed 
                        10 pounds of green coffee, or
                         8 pounds of roasted (Or roasted and ground) coffee (1.6 oz. a day)
                        1 pound and 8 ounces of tea (0.24 oz. a day)
                        15 pounds of sugar (2.4 oz. a day)
                        4 quarts of vinegar (1.28 oz. a day)
                        1 pound and 4 ounces of adamantine, or star candles
                        4 pounds of soap
                        3 pounds and 12 ounces of salt (0.64 oz. a day)
                        4 ounces of pepper(0.04 oz. a day)
                        30 pounds of potatoes. when practicable. and
                        1 quart of molasses

 

Marching Rations:

Meat:          12 ounces of pork or bacon, or
                   1 pound and 4 ounces of salt or fresh beef

Bread:         1 pound and 6 ounces of soft bread or flour, or 
                   1 pound of hard bread [hardtack] or
                   1 pound and 4 ounces of corn meal

To every 100 rations:
                    10 pounds of green coffee, or
                     8 pounds of roasted (Or roasted and ground) coffee, o
                    15 pounds of sugar
                    3 pounds and 12 ounces of salt

Hardtack Recipe

  • 4 -5 cups flour

  • 2 cups water

  • 3 teaspoons salt

Directions:

  • 1

    Mix the flour, water and salt together, and make sure the mixture is fairly dry.

  • 2

    Then roll it out to about 1/2 inch thickness, and shape it into a rectangle. Cut it into 3×3 inch squares, and poke holes in both sides or save time by using a hardtack cookie cutter.

  • 3

    Place on an un-greased cookie or baking sheet, and cook for 30 minutes per side at 375? (or 350? if you have a convection oven).

  • 4

    When it’s done, you’ll want to let it dry and harden for a few days, just out in the open. When it has the consistency of a brick, it’s fully cured.

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