Food of the Civil War
An artifact from the Civil War- hardtack.
Every human needs food to survive. So, what did the soldiers eat (even though not all of them lived)? The Union armies and Southern armies had different foods, which could have possibly affected the spirits of the soldiers, and maybe even the outcome of the war.
All the soldiers had to make their own foods before going to bed because they didn't have cooks lik generals and higher placed officials did. They mostly grouped up together, called "messes," cooking their food over an open campfire. The food was cooked on cast iron skillets, kettles, or occasionally spits. If they had time, they would attempt to spice up the food-literally- by hunting wild game, or gathering local berries and fruits.
The Civil War soldiers had a saying that an army marches on its stomach. Which was proved true in the Civil War; without food, they wouldn't have any will or energy to fight. This happened during the battle and seige taken place at Vicksburg. But they usually did recieve food, which was not of the best quality. It was monotonous, boring, raw, and stale. The foods had to be traveled long distance in order to be reached their destination, so preservable foods were the key- salted mean and canned foods. Northern soldiers also received sometime called hardtack, which was and unsavory biscuit-like cracker that was as hard as cement. But the Southerners were lucky if they received even a sustainable amount of food to hold them until the next meal- they were usually given a measly portion of "sloosh", or cornmeal. When Lee surrendered to Grant, he even asked for food for his starved soldiers!
But there were other choices that soldiers could have eaten, one of which was salted pork. But it was nasty, for it often had chunks of hair, skin, and dirt in it. It was over salted, yet it was their main contributer to their daily protein intake. This was believed to be called bacon. They were also given salted beef and jerky, but they only ate this when extremely necessary. This was because they were the worst part of the cows: organs, necks, and shanks. So the pork was the most important food to give them their protein. Union soldiers did have these bad foods too, but their were many sutlers, or civilian merchants, who sold them canned fruit, sugar, and tobacco to help their experience become somewhat, though only a small amount, better. Once in a rare while, there would be entire herds of cattle, pigs, and sheep following Confederates, giving them temporary fresh meet to eat. But they would usually get their deserts from generous farmers giving them fruit. When soldiers were in enemy territory, they would raid houses and farms to get food, thinking these were the "spoils of war." This was shown in Sherman's March to the Sea. They ate cattle, hogs, vegetables, and fruit they normally could not get while in combat. On occasion, soldiers were given slow-perishing items, such as rice, potatoes, onions, and molasses, but the shippers and distributers would rather send the cheep nonperishables. They were also easy to carry into battle or while on a march.
Soldiers were given their foods in three-day allotments. Before a battle, they cooked their raw food so then they would be able to carry it with them. The food was carried with them in a canvas haversack, and though it had a removal lining and washed it, it smelled like old meat. The poultry wasn't always given to them on time, so it was called "salt horse." Corn was only given when they weren't in battle, and when things were going well for whatever army it was being sent to. The same situation with beans, only if everything was good, because they needed to be cooked to a certain time or else the soldiers might get sick. Peas were always readily around, and were used as emergency food as well part of a normal meals. Fresh fruit was needed to be there at all times, because a lack of it would equal an outbreak of scurvy for the army. This could be prevented by just eating an orange or an apple. Or any simple fruit. Coffee was also a treasured drink because of its magical skills of allowing them to stay up after hours of weary battle. The Union army were given green coffee beans, and they roasted them and crushed them with the butt of their rifles. The Confederates usually had to have coffee substitute, such as chicory or roasted acorns.
The diet this soldiers lived on was definitely not balanced. Since the conditions of the camps were also pretty cramped and unsanitary, as well as the "sewage" going directly to rivers, disease rate was extremely high on both sides, more soldiers dying from disease than the war itself. Volunteers and nurses often went out in search of fresh fruits and supplies from home to bring to the soldiers. This happened on both sides, and the majority of the gatherings went to the sick or injured soldiers. Many times, volunteers and nurses stayed up late baking goodies for those who were sick and injured. Gingerbread was commonly used, because it was easily digestible, as well as nourishing. It was used as comfort food.
All the soldiers had to make their own foods before going to bed because they didn't have cooks lik generals and higher placed officials did. They mostly grouped up together, called "messes," cooking their food over an open campfire. The food was cooked on cast iron skillets, kettles, or occasionally spits. If they had time, they would attempt to spice up the food-literally- by hunting wild game, or gathering local berries and fruits.
The Civil War soldiers had a saying that an army marches on its stomach. Which was proved true in the Civil War; without food, they wouldn't have any will or energy to fight. This happened during the battle and seige taken place at Vicksburg. But they usually did recieve food, which was not of the best quality. It was monotonous, boring, raw, and stale. The foods had to be traveled long distance in order to be reached their destination, so preservable foods were the key- salted mean and canned foods. Northern soldiers also received sometime called hardtack, which was and unsavory biscuit-like cracker that was as hard as cement. But the Southerners were lucky if they received even a sustainable amount of food to hold them until the next meal- they were usually given a measly portion of "sloosh", or cornmeal. When Lee surrendered to Grant, he even asked for food for his starved soldiers!
But there were other choices that soldiers could have eaten, one of which was salted pork. But it was nasty, for it often had chunks of hair, skin, and dirt in it. It was over salted, yet it was their main contributer to their daily protein intake. This was believed to be called bacon. They were also given salted beef and jerky, but they only ate this when extremely necessary. This was because they were the worst part of the cows: organs, necks, and shanks. So the pork was the most important food to give them their protein. Union soldiers did have these bad foods too, but their were many sutlers, or civilian merchants, who sold them canned fruit, sugar, and tobacco to help their experience become somewhat, though only a small amount, better. Once in a rare while, there would be entire herds of cattle, pigs, and sheep following Confederates, giving them temporary fresh meet to eat. But they would usually get their deserts from generous farmers giving them fruit. When soldiers were in enemy territory, they would raid houses and farms to get food, thinking these were the "spoils of war." This was shown in Sherman's March to the Sea. They ate cattle, hogs, vegetables, and fruit they normally could not get while in combat. On occasion, soldiers were given slow-perishing items, such as rice, potatoes, onions, and molasses, but the shippers and distributers would rather send the cheep nonperishables. They were also easy to carry into battle or while on a march.
Soldiers were given their foods in three-day allotments. Before a battle, they cooked their raw food so then they would be able to carry it with them. The food was carried with them in a canvas haversack, and though it had a removal lining and washed it, it smelled like old meat. The poultry wasn't always given to them on time, so it was called "salt horse." Corn was only given when they weren't in battle, and when things were going well for whatever army it was being sent to. The same situation with beans, only if everything was good, because they needed to be cooked to a certain time or else the soldiers might get sick. Peas were always readily around, and were used as emergency food as well part of a normal meals. Fresh fruit was needed to be there at all times, because a lack of it would equal an outbreak of scurvy for the army. This could be prevented by just eating an orange or an apple. Or any simple fruit. Coffee was also a treasured drink because of its magical skills of allowing them to stay up after hours of weary battle. The Union army were given green coffee beans, and they roasted them and crushed them with the butt of their rifles. The Confederates usually had to have coffee substitute, such as chicory or roasted acorns.
The diet this soldiers lived on was definitely not balanced. Since the conditions of the camps were also pretty cramped and unsanitary, as well as the "sewage" going directly to rivers, disease rate was extremely high on both sides, more soldiers dying from disease than the war itself. Volunteers and nurses often went out in search of fresh fruits and supplies from home to bring to the soldiers. This happened on both sides, and the majority of the gatherings went to the sick or injured soldiers. Many times, volunteers and nurses stayed up late baking goodies for those who were sick and injured. Gingerbread was commonly used, because it was easily digestible, as well as nourishing. It was used as comfort food.