Some Really Large Hardtack

[lupaglupa]

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!

I like this theory.

 

[Jack7171]

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.

And that hardtack is still there today!

 

[Pollaco]

At first glance I thought they were munching on waffles.

 

[Jack7171]

An excerpt from one of my ggg grandfather's letters home to his brother William,,," Bill we marched 20 miles today to a place called Aquia Landing. We walked all day from sunrise and all we had to eat was 2 hard crackers they give us and a strong cup of coffee. The crackers is full of black bugs. Do you think you could do this Bill? I don't think you should come here" I'm assuming he was talking about hard tack, but other times he refers to crates of "army bread".

 

[7thWisconsin]

Yep -soldiers often referred to hard tack as ¨hard bread,¨ ¨hard crackers,¨ or ¨army bread.¨

 

[Woods-walker]

And that hardtack is still there today!

Actually I thought it might be. I went back a few years later and couldn't find a trace of it.

 

[Dave D]

Another Ohio soldier with a big piece of hardtack.

View attachment 458755

He's got his revolver, a Bowie knife, and a deadly looking square of hardtack ... I suppose that if he ran out of bullets and had lost his knife, he could whack the enemy with the hardtack.

 

[Pollaco]

Or use it for body armor?

 

[7thWisconsin]

He's got his revolver, a Bowie knife, and a deadly looking square of hardtack ... I suppose that if he ran out of bullets and had lost his knife, he could whack the enemy with the hardtack.

It´s a throwing star.

 

[Library Lady]

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.

Don't marathoners carb load before an event? If you're marching all day that might qualify as a similar endeavor.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

This writer says hardtack came in three sizes:

We are therefore now introduced to the immortal hard-tack. Some call it sea biscuit. There were three sizes of these which we used ; one size about three, one about five, and the other about seven, inches square, all being about three-eights or a half-inch in thickness, with perforations on one side and having a hardness and a durabihty quite remarkable. Some had the letters "B. C." embossed on them and the boys grotesquely asserted that the letters stood for "Before Christ." There may be some excuse for so profanely assigning unlimited antiquity, when, with empty stomach and ravenous appetite one is struggling with its unspeakable hardness and invincible durability.

Source: page 8

War as viewed from the ranks. Personal recollections of the War of the Rebellion, by a private soldier : Keesy, W. A. (William Allen), b. 1843 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

xvi, 240 p. 25 cm

archive.org

 

[gary]

I did not know that hardtack could be big nough to beat a man with.

 

[nc native]

I love nabs/crackers but I don't know about anything that would require a hammer to help me eat it. One of my go to snacks is still a pack of cheese nabs and a diet soda. I know it's not healthy but it still hits the spot sometimes.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Two Ohio soldiers pose with their generous portions of hardtack.

View attachment 458733

EGGO Waffles? Sorry, I'll see myself out.

 

[Joe Whitworth]

Tried some at a civil war church presentation. Soaked the end of one piece in water for about an hour. That end softened enough to get a taste, it tasted like really well done pie crust. The piece I put in my coffee was unaffected after 30 minutes and got thrown out. Chewing on that stuff would gain on a rat's tooth growth rate leaving him only nubs at the gum line before he could finish it.