16 Civil War Recipes Made for Soldiers (2024)

FAQs

What was a typical meal for Civil War soldiers? ›

These rations allotted just over a pound of meat, likely beef or pork, just under a pound of "hard bread," and a small collection of dried vegetables. The most common form of hard bread, was called hard tack, a basic wheat biscuit that did not easily decay and could survive a rough march.

Gail Borden's invention of condensed milk was very helpful for the Union army. Soldiers would also regularly drink coffee, however it was not always entirely coffee beans. Dandelion root served as a supplement or Ersatz good when coffee beans were scarce.

Soldiers from each army typically had a different mix of rations. A Federal soldier might have salt pork, hard tack, fresh or salted beef, coffee, sugar, salt, vinegar, dried fruit and vegetables. If it was in season, they might have fresh carrots, onions, turnips and potatoes.

Coffee, hardtack, and salt pork comprised the majority of a Civil War Soldier's diet. While these items may seem crude by 21st century standards, they met the nutritional needs of Soldiers at the time.

However, soldiers at the front still relied on preserved foods. These largely consisted of tinned items, but also dehydrated meats and oatmeal that were designed to be mixed with water. Morale-boosting items, such as chocolate and sweets, were also provided. And powdered milk was issued for use in tea.

During the Civil War one of the most common meals for soldiers was a cracker-like food called hardtack. Hardtack is made from flour, water, and salt.

Among the dishes prepared were chicken fricassee, mushroom ketchup (a condiment made by boiling mushrooms), a beef-and-potato stew, cornish game hens and ham and beans -- foods that would have been made by Union soldiers.

Troops supplemented government rations with found or purchased foods whenever possible: ripe or unripe fruits and vegetables, and pies, cakes and canned goods bought from sutlers (mobile storekeepers).

MREs are high in sodium and low in fiber and fatty-acids. It is not recommended to eat nothing but MREs for more than 21 days. Eating MREs for extended periods of time can lead to nutritional deficiencies that can affect your health. It is also important to monitor your calorie intake when eating MREs.

Do soldiers eat 3 meals a day? ›

The approved feeding standard for the Army Field Feeding System (AFFS) is three quality meals per day. This standard is achieved by using a combination of individual rations and unitized group rations (UGRs).

There are set foods to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but that's it. There are no snacks, and there's no wiggle room about food choices based on your tastes. Your calorie count starts at 1,400 on day 1 of your 3 “on” days.

Water was obtained from wells 15-20 feet deep. The sinks consisted of a ditch which ran across the prison. Wood for cooking was delivered within the camp at three sticks per man per day. Rations consisted of bacon, beef, coffee, sugar and one loaf of bread each per day.

As with the Revolutionary Way, cornbread again played a vital role in feeding soldiers during the Civil War. You may have heard of hardtack, an unleavened bread made from only flour and water used to feed troops using as little resources as possible.

As a result, coffee, a staple for many in the South prior to the war, became a luxury for both the troops and for those still on the home front.

According to army regulations for daily camp rations, a Union soldier was entitled to receive 12 oz of pork or bacon or 1 lb. 4 oz of salt or fresh beef; 1 lb. 6 oz of soft bread or flour or 1 lb. of hard bread (hardtack), or 4 oz of cornmeal.

Soldiers carried a variety of personal items to help ease the hardships of war and the drudgery of camp life. Such items included plates and utensils for eating and cooking, a sewing kit (called a housewife), pencils and paper to write letters, as well as books, playing cards, and tobacco pipes to help pass the time.

In 1861 to June 1864, union army private's base was $13.00 per month. Confederate private remained at $11.00 per month until June 1864, when the rebel's pay was increased actually to a base slightly higher than union private—to $18.00 per month.