Authentic What Do You Call This Stuff Anyhow?

[NH Civil War Gal]

Civil War Cooking: "What do you call this stuff, anyhow?" - Emerging Civil War

It’s that time of year again with the holidays on the horizon! Tradition is tradition…so it’s time to share a week of Civil War Cooking blog posts on Emerging Civil War. (Previous cooking and drinking adventures here in the blog archives.) Gather ’round the table via the blog because it’s been a...

emergingcivilwar.com

Confederate General John B. Gordon wrote the following account in his memoir about Georgia soldiers' "messing" on the Peninsula during 1862. While some of his claims must be taken with a grain of salt (or a heaping tablespoon depending the battle and story), this is a delightful glimpse into the campfire challenges of Civil War cooking:

A characteristic story is told of a mess that was formed, with the most remarkable regulations or by-laws. The men were to draw straws to ascertain who should be the cook. The by-laws further provided that the party thus designated should continue to cook for the mess until some one complained of his cooking, whereupon the man who made the first complaint should at once be initiated into the office and the former incumbent relieved. Of course, with this chance of escape before him, a cook had no great incentive to perfect himself in the culinary art. The first cook was not long in forcing a complaint. Calling his mess to supper spread on an oil-cloth in the little tent, he confidently awaited the result. One after another tasted and quickly withdrew from the repast. One member, who was very hungry and outraged at the character of the food, asked: "Joe, what do you call this stuff, anyhow?"

"That? Why, that's pie," said Joe.

"Well," replied the hungry member, "if you call that pie, all I've got to say is, it's the -----est pie I ever tasted." [exclusion original]

Then, suddenly remembering that the penalty for complaining was to take Joe's place, he quickly added, "But it's all right, Joe; I like, but I am not hungry tonight."This after-thought came too late, however. The by-laws were inflexible, and Joe's supper had won his freedom. The complainant whose indignant stomach had slaughtered his prudence was quietly but promptly inducted into the position of chef for the mess.[1]
Union Side - Cooking During the War, LoC

 

[Pollaco]

So the person cooking could deliberately make something taste awful in an attempt of getting a complaint therefore getting out of cooking?I see a flaw in that plan.

 

[Elliot Crumblemuffin]

So the person cooking could deliberately make something taste awful in an attempt of getting a complaint therefore getting out of cooking?I see a flaw in that plan.

That plan is not only limited to culinary responsibilities! Deliberately doing a bad job is how I skated from many unpleasant child-care duties. "I'm just NOT GOOD at it!" . Done AND Done.

 

[Kurtlg]

I would think very few were good cooks and doubt many even knew the basics. Many were from farm families where the mothers and sisters probably did all the cooking and baking.

 

[Pollaco]

That plan is not only limited to culinary responsibilities! Deliberately doing a bad job is how I skated from many unpleasant child-care duties. "I'm just NOT GOOD at it!" . Done AND Done.

Simple reply is that "you need more practice".