Union Civil War Rations

[Legion Para]

 

[Ragged Old First]

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[Norm53]

Does not really answer my question of what goes into the man's pack for 3 days. If the video told me what goes to each man/day, then I could just multiply by 3, but it does not. Telling me what was issued per 100 men to be prorated for each man does not tell me what the QM person actually put into the package received by the man. Same for the alternatives. I doubt that the QM person asked the trooper, "Would you prefer to drink 3 teas, 3 coffees, 2 teas and 1 coffee, or 2 coffees and 1 tea for the next 3 days."

Does anyone know whether the cited blue book tells me what I'd like to know?

Thanks, Norm

 

[Camp Randall Armory]

Soldiers were not issued in individual packages. Rations were issued in bulk to the company and then divided up. For example, coffee would be issued in large bags and soldiers would each get a scoop. Salted meat was transported in large barrels and the company would hand out chunks of meat to each soldier for them to put into their haversacks. The regulations stated the daily intake for each soldier but it was up to the battalion commissary or company nco to translate that into the correct amount each three day period.

 

[Norm53]

Soldiers were not issued in individual packages. Rations were issued in bulk to the company and then divided up. For example, coffee would be issued in large bags and soldiers would each get a scoop. Salted meat was transported in large barrels and the company would hand out chunks of meat to each soldier for them to put into their haversacks. The regulations stated the daily intake for each soldier but it was up to the battalion commissary or company nco to translate that into the correct amount each three day period.

Then there must be packages at the company level for each soldier. Otherwise, how does the soldier keep coffee separate from salt? Also, I would not want salted meat soiling everything else in my backpack.

 

[scone]

Then there must be packages at the company level for each soldier. Otherwise, how does the soldier keep coffee separate from salt? Also, I would not want salted meat soiling everything else in my backpack.

poke sacks I used em and used duck canvas as well sewed them when I was reenacting / living history

 

[zburkett]

Being company issue there would be many different systems of issuing rations.. If the march was a simple movement the system could be different from a hard campaign. 1862 and 1864 would be very different.

 

[scone]

Does not really answer my question of what goes into the man's pack for 3 days. If the video told me what goes to each man/day, then I could just multiply by 3, but it does not. Telling me what was issued per 100 men to be prorated for each man does not tell me what the QM person actually put into the package received by the man. Same for the alternatives. I doubt that the QM person asked the trooper, "Would you prefer to drink 3 teas, 3 coffees, 2 teas and 1 coffee, or 2 coffees and 1 tea for the next 3 days."

Does anyone know whether the cited blue book tells me what I'd like to know?

Thanks, Norm

Depends on was what on hand.. and situation.. reason for foragers.. must remember 3 days no water dead 3 weeks no food dead …. To answer you question I Id go with coffee, salt pork, flour or corn mill, sugar , salt . pepper, salt pork , If reenacting think of stuff in season in area portrayed … Foraging is option apple , peach . pear, butter . [red skin potato's cook quick] lot out there issued and non …. may find egg on your travels rabbit or some other game animal . that's the way I always looked at it... I always pretended to forage then ration … unit never did rations so do di my best for event if still hungry hidden items … Not a fan of coffee or tea lol … Coffee over tea but will do both if need be … Some times you have to get out of the comfort zone... All you have make the best of it … Blessing

 

[scone]

I seen CS Civilians plucking chickens the real deal …. brick ovens seen a lot

 

[Norm53]

poke sacks I used em and used duck canvas as well sewed them when I was reenacting / living history

You confirmed an error of mine previously corrected: bags were not issued; they were made by the soldiers. However, the QM must have issued salt and pepper in small packages.

Norm

 

[scone]

You confirmed an error of mine previously corrected: bags were not issued; they were made by the soldiers. However, the QM must have issued salt and pepper in small packages.

Norm

Norm all good … May have been sent from home to … but no first person accounts … how many men sew or cook back the then ? It was a time changing event for sure .

 

[zburkett]

If you are looking at three days of rations for a re-enacting event it is best to remember that most modern Americans are quite a bit larger than the average soldier during the war. If you weigh more than 140 pounds you will have trouble getting by on what a Civil War infantry man could bet bl on for three days.

 

[Camp Randall Armory]

The calorie count of the daily prescribed ration was actually quite high. We are talking 10 hard crackers a day, 1 pound of meat, etc. The trouble was the nutrients, especially in campaign, were lacking.

 

[scone]

different bred of people back than tough as can be only a few of todays population can do it a week end, a week may be few weeks … back then a war

 

[LSBusch]

Then there was reality. This quote from the 14th Iowa's Captain William Campbell in "Pilot Knob: The Thermopylae of the West": "Rations were issued to them as they stood in line, hardtack and raw bacon being the bill of fare " This was breakfast as they were heading into a day of battle. The raw bacon has haunted me ever since I read it.

 

[scone]

Lose internet power etc folks cry these are luxuries! some times you have to step back been bare foot in snow . rose to a half frozen canteen .. eat hardtack, try period recipes, I've had parched corn and peas . dried fruit. jerky from home. …