Some Really Large Hardtack

[frontrank2]

Two Ohio soldiers pose with their generous portions of hardtack.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Evidently there is no set protocol on which strap is crossed on the chest first

 

[bdtex]

Two Ohio soldiers pose with their generous portions of hardtack.

View attachment 458733

I'd call those bricks.

 

[scooter748driver]

Love the use of their napsack/backpack as tray tables

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Love the use of their napsack/backpack as tray tables

They probably made good writing tables too

 

[Gandycreek]

Looks like an Ohio Breastplate the soldier on the right is wearing too.

 

[frontrank2]

I'd call those bricks.

I've told this story before, so forgive me if you heard this already. Two Federal soldiers were on the march when the first one says " While eating my hardtack this morning, I bit into something soft. " The second one asks " was it a worm?" The first guy replied " No. It was a nail. "

 

[Salterr]

Still as hard as a brick and just as inedible now as it was 160 years ago.

 

[bdtex]

I've told this story before, so forgive me if you heard this already. Two Federal soldiers were on the march when the first one says " While eating my hardtack this morning, I bit into something soft. " The second one asks " was it a worm?" The first guy replied " No. It was a nail. "

That hardtack stuff is pretty hard.

 

[Robert Gray]

Another Ohio soldier with a big piece of hardtack.

 

[Robert Gray]

Looks like an Ohio Breastplate the soldier on the right is wearing too.

A close-up look.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I recall reading an account in which each Union soldier in a certain camp was issued 8 pieces of hardtack per day. That is a lots of carbs! Also have seen reference by a POW that Federal hardtack was larger than the ones Confederates issued, which is believable under the circumstances.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I think 8-10 was pretty standard. At least one account I read also noted something to the effect that ¨more could always be had if you wanted.¨ I can´t eat that many. When I make them, I plan on 2 per meal, and even then I may bring some home. It´s OK; they´ll keep for the next time.

 

[lupaglupa]

I'm wondering if they had these made to send home to their mothers - look what they feed us Ma!

 

[UCVRelics]

Thats some big hardtack.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Their morale looks high. I once had a little party at my house and made hardtack as part of an appetizer. They didn't know what it was. They didn't say anything bless their hearts but I could tell it wasn't a hit.

 

[7thWisconsin]

My daughter toasted a piece and added peanut butter once. It was very good. I like to break em up in as small as possible pieces and fry in bacon fat. They come out like those crispy bits of fries that stay in the bottom of the container.

 

[Woods-walker]

Two Ohio soldiers pose with their generous portions of hardtack.

View attachment 458733

Some of the ole timer cwt folks might recall the post I did some time ago……
I ve relic hunted since 1961. One day around 1963, while hunting a Yankee winter camp near Fredericksburg I got a "trash" reading (I.e. tin). It being a slow day and not digging much of value, I decided to dig. Just a few inches down came a chunk of tin. When I pulled it from the ground I was surprised to see rows of hardtack under it.
Those were the days where if you didn't find several buckles or plates, you had a bad day. So being a dumb kid, I covered all the hardtack and moved on. There have been many times I ve regretted my poor judgment.

 

[Rebel_Giratina]

I guess those would be Wheat *Thicks*?

 

[SgtDarby8OVI]

Since it appears in more than one photo, is it possible (or likely) that it was the studio's "prop" hardtack rather than something the guys had in their haversacks? We know that guns, knives, swords, and flags were routinely placed in soldier photos, so perhaps we can add "inedible bread product" to the list!