Guy Eating 1863 Hardtack

[Spunk Puppy]

Here is a video of a ration reviewer eating some original 1863 hardtack. Enjoy!

 

[JohnCWF]

"Tastes like mothballs and old library books..."

 

[mphstteach]

This is amazing, thank you for posting

 

[donna]

Thanks for posting. A nice addition to Food Forum.

 

[E_just_E]

Did they carbon date that thing?

 

[Arioch]

just begging for a gastric disturbance....

 

[samuel orris]

Actually, I think I know what he means by "smelling like library books." I remember going to our public library. in the children's area and there was a distinct smell to it. Can't describe though.

 

[frontrank2]

An anecdote from the ACW : Two Federal soldiers are on the march. The first one says " While eating my hardtack this morning, I bit into something soft." The second one replies, " Was it a worm?" The first one says " No, it was a nail!! "

 

[CheathamHill]

This is great.
Though I'm not sure I'd like a rare item like this ingested. Oh well. Entertaining none the less

 

[chubachus]

I was really waiting for this guy to try eating some Civil War hardtack! I would recommend watching his other old MRE reviews as they are quite informative and humorous.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Actually, I think I know what he means by "smelling like library books." I remember going to our public library. in the children's area and there was a distinct smell to it. Can't describe though.

Old hardtack?

 

[DixieRifles]

Did they carbon date that thing?

I asked a FaceBook friend in Italy to send me some WW2 relics that they had dug up in Italy. I wanted some simple items that would be used by the typical GI.
He sent me a few rusty items and some bottls and C-Ration packets dug out of a garbage pit.

One thing he sent was a Biscuit---which is pretty much the equivalent of Hardtack. It had been cooked in a fire and was carbonized. You can still read "KEEBLER" imbossed in the biscuit(Upside down in this image).


Sorry that I digress to WW2 but I was wondering if any Hardtack had been dug up on a battlefield?

 

[samuel orris]

Old hardtack?

I don't know about that. I'm just relating to the description of the smell.

 

[samuel orris]

I keep asking myself why he's doing this. Wouldn't the hardtack be considered to be some kind of, oh I don't know, relic?

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Interesting question, DixieRifles. If some are found, it would be more proof that the things last longer than any war. You could tile the roof; use them to cover worn places on the soles of your shoes; plug a hole in a tire; bullet proofing, etc. Sounds like an infomercial could be just what hardtack needs.

--BBF

 

[bdtex]

I keep asking myself why he's doing this. Wouldn't the hardtack be considered to be some kind of, oh I don't know, relic?

My thought too.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I don't know about that. I'm just relating to the description of the smell.

It was not a serious question, just thinking if hardtack tasted like old library books then library books should smell like hardtack....... . Seemed only fair.

 

[donna]

That is good question of whether Hardtack has been dug up on any battlefields or areas where troops camped during the Civil War. I am looking for information but have found nothing definite yet. Maybe some of you can research too.

It seemed since soldiers would soak hardtack in coffee or other liquids, it might not have lasted on a battlefield. Being outside, it, the hardtack would have got wet and soggy and just disappeared. Just a thought.

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

This sounds like just the right cup of coffee for washing down 153-year-old hardtack: "Essence of Coffee."

 

[Mike Serpa]

I've watched many of his videos on youtube. I would not eat half the stuff he does.