Cans in the Civil War

[major bill]

Early armies had developed methods to feed their soldiers. This effort was aided when the French military offered 12,000 francs for a new method to preserve food. Nicolas Appert suggested canning and was awarded the prize in 1810. This method was brought to America and by the 1812 American companies were selling canned food. During the Civil War canned food became very popular. The use of metal cans changed how soldiers ate. Many Civil War soldiers talked about receiving cans of oysters.

One of the major Civil War ear canning companies was the William Underwood Company. In 1836 Underwood switched from glass jars to metal cans. Underwood Deviled Ham is still sold today.

 

[godofredus]

According to many articles on Borden's condensed milk: "In 1861, the Union Army purchased Borden's condensed milk for use in field rations, further bolstering its success. "
Supposedly it was also used in hospitals. I have never found any soldier letter referring to the condensed milk, altho I have seen reference to canned oysters, jellies of some kind, and meat....
Anyone see any ref to milk?

 

[Northern Light]

If I am not mistaken, the first cans were sealed with lead. I believe that they found that this was part of the issue of the Franklin Arctic expedition: lead poisoning.

 

[reading48]

Agree with you on that...I saw a show and analysis of exhumed bodies showed lead poisoning to be present...But at that time they didn't know about lead poisoning...