Forum Host- Joined
- Aug 6, 2016
Today is national "Pi" day in the world of mathematics. It remembers the value of "Pi" which 3.14. . . However, for the Ladies Tea Forum and for those that believe the narrative that "ladies" are not as well versed in mathematics as men, we honor "Pie" Day with these remarkable stories from the war.
"His death was caused by poisen from some of the huxters that brings Pies in to Camp to sell," {1} so writes Christopher Long to his family that his close friend, William Hanbin had "Departed this Life". As I study, I discover this was a common form of warfare for those that didn't carry a gun.
Mrs. Welton is arrested. She is a "free colored woman" and the date is September 12, 1861. Later on in the war Mrs. Nevins is arrested and soon another woman who is only remembered as "Grinder" from Pittsburg have also been arrested, charged and sentenced to death. What did these ladies do? The made or sold poisoned pies. Mrs. Welton sold her pies in St. Louis, Missouri and targeted Union soldiers while Mrs. Nevins simply made her pie to kill her husband.
The 52nd Massachusetts Infantry were stationed in Baton Rouge in December of 1862. They had to learn the hard way the cost of pies when one of their comrades had bought a pie and died the same day. Their captain sent out a command forbidding any of the soldiers to purchase any pies from "Rebel" women.
Not all pies were deadly as some Confederate soldiers discovered. Martha Scott lived on Chambersburg Street and one day during July of 1863 she decided to make a pie. It just so happened that General Jubal Early was coming to her town and soon her door was rattling with Rebel soldiers arriving at the Scott home looking for something to eat. Martha invited them into her kitchen and brought out her homemade pie. She decided to let the soldiers cut the pieces themselves so she would not be accused of favoring one soldier over another.
Suspicion soon filled the faces of the soldiers as they watched Mrs. Scott. One soldier demanded that she take the first piece and the first bite. Martha is shocked at their lack of trust insisting the women of Chambersburg does not poison their food. The soldiers studied the pie and then left the table and her home leaving the homemade pie on the table. Whatever happened to the pie is left to history.
2nd Lieutenant P.V. Wise wrote to his friend Lute that "Several of the boys have been made dangerously sick by eating poisoned pies and cakes. The traitors are worse than fiends of hell!" {1}
Sources
1 https://www.legacytree.com/blog/poisoned-pies-and-the-civil-war
2.https://www.historynet.com/history-pies/
3.https://emergingcivilwar.com/2016/11/21/civil-war-cookin-dont-you-want-some-pie/
"His death was caused by poisen from some of the huxters that brings Pies in to Camp to sell," {1} so writes Christopher Long to his family that his close friend, William Hanbin had "Departed this Life". As I study, I discover this was a common form of warfare for those that didn't carry a gun.
Mrs. Welton is arrested. She is a "free colored woman" and the date is September 12, 1861. Later on in the war Mrs. Nevins is arrested and soon another woman who is only remembered as "Grinder" from Pittsburg have also been arrested, charged and sentenced to death. What did these ladies do? The made or sold poisoned pies. Mrs. Welton sold her pies in St. Louis, Missouri and targeted Union soldiers while Mrs. Nevins simply made her pie to kill her husband.
The 52nd Massachusetts Infantry were stationed in Baton Rouge in December of 1862. They had to learn the hard way the cost of pies when one of their comrades had bought a pie and died the same day. Their captain sent out a command forbidding any of the soldiers to purchase any pies from "Rebel" women.
Not all pies were deadly as some Confederate soldiers discovered. Martha Scott lived on Chambersburg Street and one day during July of 1863 she decided to make a pie. It just so happened that General Jubal Early was coming to her town and soon her door was rattling with Rebel soldiers arriving at the Scott home looking for something to eat. Martha invited them into her kitchen and brought out her homemade pie. She decided to let the soldiers cut the pieces themselves so she would not be accused of favoring one soldier over another.
Suspicion soon filled the faces of the soldiers as they watched Mrs. Scott. One soldier demanded that she take the first piece and the first bite. Martha is shocked at their lack of trust insisting the women of Chambersburg does not poison their food. The soldiers studied the pie and then left the table and her home leaving the homemade pie on the table. Whatever happened to the pie is left to history.
2nd Lieutenant P.V. Wise wrote to his friend Lute that "Several of the boys have been made dangerously sick by eating poisoned pies and cakes. The traitors are worse than fiends of hell!" {1}
One thing that is certain; during the Civil War, the mathematical Pi was much safer than an enemy pie.
Sources
1 https://www.legacytree.com/blog/poisoned-pies-and-the-civil-war
2.https://www.historynet.com/history-pies/
3.https://emergingcivilwar.com/2016/11/21/civil-war-cookin-dont-you-want-some-pie/
Bringing the