Cooks Whose Food You Would Like Or ELSE

[JPK Huson 1863]

One of these days I'll get my nose back out of National Archives Have several ( times 8 ) threads to pursue for Ladies Tea, thanks to the archives, phew! Unlike LoC there are a plethora of photos with civilian ladies included, love that!

Meanwhile, Army photos galore, all branches and occupations- this one flattens me! LOVE these men! There's a military aspect in the stance of the young man to the left- and all of them look to have been recruited either from Schuylkill County boatmen ( canalmen ), notoriously tough ( I may or may not have included them out of genetic pride- 2 grgrgrandfathers, 3 uncles ), or Boston Irish- or both. Would you complain about the nosh, served by any, single man here?

 

[donna]

That is a rough looking bunch. I guess no complaints there. They don't look very happy either.

Great photo.

 

[MRB1863]

Interesting photo, JPK! Does your heritage hail from Schuylkill County? My GGGrandfather who served in the 96th PA lived in Tremont.

 

[Allie]

I thought you were being overly melodramatic until I saw the picture. Yeesh! These guys must have been pretty good cooks for them to put them in a tent instead of the front lines.

 

[johnnydef47]

I am a chef and run a kitchen in the town where I live. would like to have these guys in my kitchen. they look tough and gritty. perfect!

 

[BillO]

Saw the title and had to look. Thought you might have met my Mom!

 

[diane]

I'm not complaining! But...are you sure they are cooks? Looks like that might be the butcher's crew...and I don't think I'd inspect that pile in the background very closely!

 

[3rd TN Cav USA]

My Dad had a charming saying for when one of us boys complained about something on the dinner table, especially if my Mom had made it. He would say, "Eat it or wear it!" Once I tested him, and chose wearing it; turns out spinach makes a terrible hat !

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

At this point if they had some bacon and eggs I'd be running to their table.....as I think many soldiers would have since they would be hungry too.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Interesting photo, JPK! Does your heritage hail from Schuylkill County? My GGGrandfather who served in the 96th PA lived in Tremont.

Yep! Half, Dad's half- Boatmen, Farmers, had a sign shop in there. The Knarrs started out as cabinet makers, switched over to building canal boats when they canals came in, in Schuylkill Haven. Grgrgrandfather, who I only mention annoyingly every other post, 6th US Cavalry, regulars- George Knarr, served his last 6 months in the 50th PA I guess for the heck of it after his time ran out because 3 brothers were in there. Also weirdly another grgrgrandfather was there- Harrison Walton, Co A, wounded at Spotsylvania, got stuck in the 21st VRC, hated it, somehow finagled his way back to the 50th! An uncle was killed with the 11th PA at Gettysburg, another lived through it, 7th PA Cav-just happened to be one of those families, weirdly had all the branches mostly settle in Schuylkill and stay there. Love Schuylkill County. It gets so overlooked, I guess because it's economically not on par with other counties but it's just so old and beautiful- reeks History! Tremont has some old buildings that could knock Philadelphia's socks off!

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I'm not complaining! But...are you sure they are cooks? Looks like that might be the butcher's crew...and I don't think I'd inspect that pile in the background very closely!

Good Lord, no ego here on the photo- National Archives are priceless on content but dicey on descriptions because it allows folks to sign on as members and leave their own information. I'll take input from your eye any day of the week- especially since the fellow in the front seems to be holding up a knife quite aggressively! I WAS wondering about the blood spatter on an apron on a fellow there- very ' iew'.

Yes, they did frequently butcher entire animals to feed troops, didn't they? Puts a whole, different spin on this. Donna, do you still want it in your forum?

 

[TinCan]

Talk about crazy. They make these guys wear the white hats so they don't drop hair in the soup and then surgeons are cutting off arms and legs and never washing their hands.

 

[donna]

Yes we will keep the photo. Someone had to butcher the meat.

 

[diane]

Oh, by all means it should stay here - nothing wrong with it! Everything is fair game. Some time ago there was a photo of a Union camp put up and three pages later somebody pointed out a row of latrines in the background...with occupants!

 

[Allie]

I honestly think that's a paring knife, and the tubs on the stoves appear to be full of potatoes. There has been blood shed somewhere, if you go by the stained aprons!

 

[johnnydef47]

Perhaps they barrowed the aprons from the surgeons tent

 

[Billy_Mojo]

What are those vessels that appear to be kettles or pots with flue pipe off to the sides? I've been searching for similar images and can't find anything. Are these some sort of broiler or double-boiler for large scale mess cooking, or some other lard rendering pot? I'm still searching.

 

[Billy_Mojo]

I was reckoning this group of fellas to be a butcher crew rather than cooks, just by the general look of the gear strewn about, however I may be off on a daydreaming tangent.

 

[Allie]

What are those vessels that appear to be kettles or pots with flue pipe off to the sides? I've been searching for similar images and can't find anything. Are these some sort of broiler or double-boiler for large scale mess cooking, or some other lard rendering pot? I'm still searching.

It appears to be a camp stove with built-in boiler... I looked and haven't found one quite like it either.

The one in the back partly concealed looks like it may be a more typical double-decker camp stove.

 

[reading48]

Yep! Half, Dad's half- Boatmen, Farmers, had a sign shop in there. The Knarrs started out as cabinet makers, switched over to building canal boats when they canals came in, in Schuylkill Haven. Grgrgrandfather, who I only mention annoyingly every other post, 6th US Cavalry, regulars- George Knarr, served his last 6 months in the 50th PA I guess for the heck of it after his time ran out because 3 brothers were in there. Also weirdly another grgrgrandfather was there- Harrison Walton, Co A, wounded at Spotsylvania, got stuck in the 21st VRC, hated it, somehow finagled his way back to the 50th! An uncle was killed with the 11th PA at Gettysburg, another lived through it, 7th PA Cav-just happened to be one of those families, weirdly had all the branches mostly settle in Schuylkill and stay there. Love Schuylkill County. It gets so overlooked, I guess because it's economically not on par with other counties but it's just so old and beautiful- reeks History! Tremont has some old buildings that could knock Philadelphia's socks off!

Annie.....today Schuylkill County is a depressed area.
All it has is Beer and Guers Ice tea....