What Did Soldiers Eat In The Civil War?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The most common food given to soldiers was

bread, coffee, and salt pork

. The typical ration for every Union soldier was about a pound of meat and a pound of bread or flour. The Confederacy started out following the same rules. As the war went on, they weren’t able to keep up.

What were the food rations in the Civil War?

During the Civil War, the Union Army had two types of rations: “marching rations” and “camp rations.” Marching rations consisted of

sixteen ounces of hard bread

, also known as “hardtack”; twelve ounces of salt pork or twenty ounces of fresh meat; and sugar, coffee, and salt.

What kind of food did the Confederate soldiers eat during the Civil War?

The average Confederate subsisted on

bacon, cornmeal, molasses, peas, tobacco, vegetables and rice

. They also received a coffee substitute which was not as desirable as the real coffee northerners had. Trades of tobacco for coffee were quite common throughout the war when fighting was not underway.

What did Civil war soldiers drink?


Whiskey

the Drink of Choice for Most Soldiers

Whiskey was far and away the most popular drink in 1861. Often made from corn instead of grain, it was distilled at countless locations across the country. Popular nondistilled drinks included cider and beer.

How often did soldiers eat in the Civil War?

Union soldiers were issued

9 squares per day

, with conflicting reports as to whether this left a man still hungry. Sometimes infested with bugs, this was still the most reliable food source that the troops had from day to day and it kept in all but moist conditions.

How much did Confederate soldiers get paid?

Confederate Union First

Lieutenant


$90.00


$105.50

Captain


$130.00


$115.50
Major $150.00 $169.00 Lieutenant Colonel $170.00 $181.00

What the Confederate soldiers ate?

The most common food given to soldiers was

bread, coffee, and salt pork

. … Tintype of soldiers posed eating hardtack and coffee rations,Tennessee State Library and Archives. Confederate soldiers were more likely to get cornbread or cornmeal than flour or bread. Corn was a local crop and easier to get.

What did Civil War soldiers sleep on?

The soldiers slept on

straw

, wedged together on the floor of the tent like spoons. When one yelled “Spoon!” they all would roll over together. Six-man “wedge tents” and two-man “dog tents” were introduced later.

What are K rations and C rations?

World War II: The G.I.

For U.S. Troops, there were two major types of rations during the World War II: the C-Ration (for combat troops) and the K-Ration

(less bulky and initially developed for airborne regiments and messengers)

.

Did Civil War soldiers eat hardtack?

During the Civil War one of the most common meals for soldiers was

a cracker-like food

called hardtack. Hardtack is made from flour, water, and salt. It could last a long time- there is even hard tack from the Civil War in the museum at Manassas National Battlefield Park today!

Did Civil War soldiers drink coffee?

Coffee, a staple before the Civil War in most households, became a luxury, and a beverage soldiers craved. Trade continued throughout the North, with the allotted rations including 36 pounds of coffee

a year for every

Union soldier. …

How old was the youngest Civil War soldier?

The youngest soldier to fight in the Civil War was a boy named Edward Black. Edward was born on May 30 in 1853, making him just

8 years old

when he joined the Union army on July 24, 1861, as a drummer boy for the 21st Indiana volunteers.

What alcohol did soldiers drink?

The beverages provided from the army command were

beer, rum, gin and whisky

. Especially the ‘barbed wire whiskies’ were rolled out by the barrel. Whiskies like Old Orkney and 9th Hole and later Johnnie Walker were popular among the troops.

What do soldiers eat for breakfast?


Fresh or canned fruit in its own juice

; skim or 1 percent milk; low-fat or no-fat slices of cheese; low-fat, plain yogurt; low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese; dry/instant cereal; low-fat granola bars. Celery packed with 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or spread.

Why did the Confederacy choose GREY?

Gray was chosen for Confederate uniforms

because gray dye could be made relatively cheaply and it was the standard uniform color of the various State Militias

.

What did Civil War soldiers do for fun?

Types Civil War Games

Soldiers played all kinds of Civil War card games, they made

distinctive chess pieces

, played checkers, backgammon, dominoes, they read newspapers, books and played horseshoes. They also played whole team sports such as baseball and a very early often-brutal version of football.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.