PLEASE HELP!!!!---For a food "demonstration" at event

[cwsteno14]

Can anyone here help me? My unit is putting on its own event for its 4th year, and this year we are trying to get more "scenerios" to keep the crowd around and interested. I'm the Mess Coordinator for my unit so I was more or less volunteered to do a cooking/kitchen demonstration at the event. What I'd really like to do is be able to inform the spectators of how much the prices of goods went up in such a ridiculous way. I know that the prices were inflated just like most everyone does, the problem is I don't have any sources with accurate/actual (or as accurate as possible) data. I'd like to be able to say flour cost this much in the begining and this much by the end of the war, etc.

Oh yeah, my unit is a Southern Unit, so I'm trying to show the effect that it had on the Southern states in paticular, but honestly at this point I think I'd take any info that anyone has.

If anyone has ANY source or information that would be helpful I would greatly appreciate it. So THANKS in advance!!!!

If this is the wrong the wrong forum to put this in I apologize, I'm still new to this.

 

[diane]

This is really an interesting topic! I don't have the knowledge to help you but it will be fun doing a bit of research. Used to cook for a fire crew during fire season - making the most of the money I had was often challenging! I can't imagine what it would be like to feed a large number of people during a war with lots of critical shortages.

 

[AndyHall]

Jones' A Rebel War Clerk's Diary discusses prices at Richmond frequently. The HTML version is here, that you can use the "find" feature in your browser.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31087/31087-h/31087-h.htm

Now, if you can just explain how much a "peck" is, you're good to go!

The other thing, not really a demonstration, it to talk about the women's "bread riots" that occurred various places. There were a number of such incidents, and there may be one with a local angle for you to talk about.

 

[Nathanb1]

We have a lot of threads on these topics that should be helpful. Some are probably still in the general history forum, and elsewhere. Might try the search with some basic terms. Sorry I'm not more help, but it's 9:30 and I'm fading fast. Thank goodness tomorrow begins Spring Break!

 

[BelleBlackburn]

I know a few things about Nashville with sources but it was regarding food for the civilian population. Would that help?

 

[CSA Expat]

Might I suggest two titles that may help. First one A Blockaded Family, Life in Southern Alabama During the Civil War by Parthenia Antoinette Hague. Published by Applewood Books. ISBN 1-55709-247-8. The second title may be a bit difficult to find, Life In Dixie During the War by Mary A.H. Gay. Published by DeKalb (County GA) Historical Society, 1979. Both books were written by ladies witnessing the events of '61 to '65. Incorporating material/demonstration/examples of the subsitutions of common every day items and foods could be one route to explore. Good luck with your living history demo. OBTW, several of my ancestors made the "grand tour" of your part of Pennsylvania in the summer of '63, especially enjoyed the stop in Wrightsville.

 

[donna]

This is a very interesting topic and needs to be discussed more in the Food Forum. Off hand, two good books on this subject are "Everyday Life During the Civil War" by Michael J. Varhola. He has chapter dealing with food. He states "flour cost $30 to $75 per barrel and cornmeal $10 to $3500 per bushel, depending on area you lived in". You can google name of book. Several are for sale. Your library may have it.

Another good reference book is "Starving the South: How the North Won the Civil War" by Andrew F. Snith.

Any information about bread riots would be a good topic to discuss also.

I will check out these books again this weekend and try to quote some prices. What is date of your event?

Donna

 

[cwsteno14]

Thanks everyone for your input, I'm going to try to respond to everyone, I hope I don't miss anyone.

AndyHall, Thanks for the link to the Rebel War Clerk's Diary. I haven't looked at it yet, but from what you explained, I'm sure it's going to be very useful for what I'm trying to do. My unit actually set up/ took part in a "recreation" of the Richmond Bread Riot at an event last year in September up in NY, but thanks for the suggestion of connecting it all.

NathanB1, I will start looking through the past threads, thanks for the advice.

BelleBlackburn, Right now I'm taking any information that is possible. I'm hoping to be able to talk about both military and civilian "issues" with foods, so if you wouldn't mind sharing what information you have about Nashville, I would greatly appreciate it.


CSA Expat, Thanks for the book references. They sound both extremely interesting, not only for this scenerio I'm trying to do but just to read and be able to understand what a true civilian went through during the war. I'm really going to try to get a hold of a copy of these books. It's so easy to find books from the soldier's perspective or just detailed accounts of the soldiers life, but not for the civilians. So thanks again for bringing my attention to these!!!!!

Donna, Thanks also for the book references. In all honesty, the flower costs and cornmeal cost changes are more or less exactly what I was thinking about. I do realize that the prices in different areas would vary, and right now I'm looking for any information and then sort it out later, to what can make the best/most fluent presentation/scenario.
My unit's event is the first weekend in June, so I have some time, I'm just wishing that I had found this website and forums earlier. This website is great!!!

ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HELP THAT YOU ARE GIVING ME. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE TAKING THEIR TIME TO HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! You're all great people!!!!

 

[CSA Expat]

Thanks everyone for your input, I'm going to try to respond to everyone, I hope I don't miss anyone.

AndyHall, Thanks for the link to the Rebel War Clerk's Diary. I haven't looked at it yet, but from what you explained, I'm sure it's going to be very useful for what I'm trying to do. My unit actually set up/ took part in a "recreation" of the Richmond Bread Riot at an event last year in September up in NY, but thanks for the suggestion of connecting it all.

NathanB1, I will start looking through the past threads, thanks for the advice.

BelleBlackburn, Right now I'm taking any information that is possible. I'm hoping to be able to talk about both military and civilian "issues" with foods, so if you wouldn't mind sharing what information you have about Nashville, I would greatly appreciate it.


CSA Expat, Thanks for the book references. They sound both extremely interesting, not only for this scenerio I'm trying to do but just to read and be able to understand what a true civilian went through during the war. I'm really going to try to get a hold of a copy of these books. It's so easy to find books from the soldier's perspective or just detailed accounts of the soldiers life, but not for the civilians. So thanks again for bringing my attention to these!!!!!

Donna, Thanks also for the book references. In all honesty, the flower costs and cornmeal cost changes are more or less exactly what I was thinking about. I do realize that the prices in different areas would vary, and right now I'm looking for any information and then sort it out later, to what can make the best/most fluent presentation/scenario.
My unit's event is the first weekend in June, so I have some time, I'm just wishing that I had found this website and forums earlier. This website is great!!!

ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HELP THAT YOU ARE GIVING ME. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE TAKING THEIR TIME TO HELP ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! You're all great people!!!!

Your welcome!

 

[donna]

Your welcome. I am going to do some more research this week.

Unfortuanately, there was a death in my son's family so been very involved with that. I would appreciate prayers for him and his family. Thanks.

Donna

 

[cwsteno14]

Your welcome. I am going to do some more research this week.

Unfortuanately, there was a death in my son's family so been very involved with that. I would appreciate prayers for him and his family. Thanks.

Donna

Oh Donna, Sorry for the loss in your son's family. Prayers for him and his family will be sent. I hope everyone is able to get through this difficult time okay.

 

[donna]

Thanks for your prayers.

 

[Nathanb1]

Take care, Donna. You know we'll all put you in our prayers.

 

[BelleBlackburn]

I have not forgotten you but am flying by the seat of my pants at the moment. When is your event?

 

[cwsteno14]

I have not forgotten you but am flying by the seat of my pants at the moment. When is your event?

No worries. Thanks for any help you can give, the event is June 8-9.

 

[BelleBlackburn]

Okay, good. I should have info for you within a couple of weeks, when I can finally breathe again.

 

[cwsteno14]

Okay, good. I should have info for you within a couple of weeks, when I can finally breathe again.

Well, take your time. Breathing is a very important thing and a little bit of a necessity in life.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Regarding food and living history events, I attended an event commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads, held at the Mariner's Museum* in Newport News. They had a very well-received cook-off between a naval unit reenactor who cooked food that might have been eaten onboard a ship such as the USS Monitor, and a woman reenacting an enslaved African-American who cooked plantation-type food. Perhaps for a follow-on event you might be able to come up with a similar sort of cook-off using different categories; food eaten in a Confederate camp vs food eaten on a plantation or perhaps in a Union-occupied area where some things were scarce.

*Their "Monitor Center" is preserving and restoring the actual turret, guns and engine of the USS Monitor, and has a great exhibit called "The Ironclad Revolution" that interprets the building of the Monitor, the CSS Virginia, and the battle. Great place to visit if you're in the area.

 

[BelleBlackburn]

Okay, now that I'm inhaling and exhaling on a regular basis I will tell you what little I know. What I do know is confined to the early part of the war in Nashville. In August 1861 prices of food and dry goods had soared in the city. A passport was required to enter or leave the city so that might also have been a factor in markets there. But Nashville was the center of production of a number of military things and a big shipping spot for the Confederacy so I imagine the war effort took a lot of food too that would normally have been available to the people at a lower price. The hospitals were always calling for milk and butter and they were always short on that. In February 1862 the Great Panic happened, when Fort Donelson fell, and there was a mass exodus out of the city before the Yankees came. There was two weeks before they actually showed up. The people starting pilfering what they could from the warehouses and a man was seen staggering under the weight of a whole side of beef and a woman was seen carrying the same thing. People were seen to be running with salt pork under their arms. Later during those two weeks they tried to distribute the government stores. It was initially to go to the women who had worked tirelessly for the Confederacy but had not been paid, but word got out and hundreds of men and women appeared and it was a riot. Four shopkeepers were shot. It was at the point that Nathan Bedford Forrest arrived in town and Gen. Floyd put him in charge before he could dismount from his horse. The mounted soldiers had to charge the crowd. They had a fire truck spray the crowd with water from the cold river. A lot of Nashville supplies came from the other side of the Cumberland River, but Gen. Floyd insisted on burning the beautiful suspension bridge before the Yankees got there (like they could not find another way to get across the river). There were no markets for days during this two week period but eventually they opened them back up and assured folks the Yankees would not bother them and to please resume their markets, especially needing wood, butter and eggs. Beef and greens seemed to be available. Once occupied there was a dictum that no intoxicating liquors be sold unless it was for medicinal purposes and had to have a prescription. There was a need for corks and people saved them. Can't remember what they were needed for - maybe wine bottles! People's Confederate money was no longer accepted or deeply discounted so people had a hard time buying what they needed if they could find out.

This probably doesn't help you much. It is mainly a small picture of a short period of time in this city.

 

[cwsteno14]

I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to get back to everyone. All this information that you have all shared with me is great and very helpful!!!!! I'm not sure I can thank you all enough for everything that I've learned and will be able to use for my scenario/demonstration. So again, I'm sorry this is a very late response, but THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!