Culinary Considerations For Shiloh

[Charles Heath]

Fellers!

Once in a great while the kettle kickers come up with such legendary event menu busters as:

Farina Pucks
Bull Run Peach & Tomato Stew
Donelson Mule Feed
Gray Coffee a la McDowell
Solid Shot Biscuits
Ray House Punkin' & 'Tater Mash
Essence of the Green Bottle
Hoosier Roast Goat a la Bentonville
Shiloh Curry El Grande
Frozen Pears & Coffee
Comrade Schwarz' Biled Bacon
Sumter Nutmeg with Just a Hint of Rice
Horsecock & Cheese
McCarthy's "Gravy"
Watson's Ethiopian Tonic
Yoder's Bottomless Haversack O'Ribs
Pogue's Hot B*tch
Waverly's Blue Beans & Purple-Gray Stucco
Myzie's Condi-Kraut
Gouge's Cartridge Box Strap Soup

...ostensibly to warm the hearts of participants and stoke the boilers of that legendary fellow otherwise known as "the inner man." The upcoming SCAR Shiloh NPS LH is no exception, however, let's turn the tables on the particpants.

Yes, that would be you. Through that occult activity which begins with an "R," we have learned a few things about the vittles the lads at Pittsburg Landing were enjoying, and those items they'd truly like to have shipped in from Uncle Sam's larder. Fact is, the boys in blue sampled some of Jeff Davis' team's victuals, which boosted morale in more ways than one. So, we have more food references than we can possibly prepare for one two-day event. What to do? Or, more appropriately, what to do to you?

Nothing kills a thread like the phrase "let's start a discussion," so without further ado and wasted bandwidth, we know the federals lounging about Pittsburg Landing were enjoying:

apples
bacon
baked chicken
beans
biscuits
bread
butter
cakes
canned cherries
canned tomatoes
cheese
coffee
desiccated potatoes
flapjacks
flour
fruit
ham
hardtack
oysters
pickled oysters
potatoes
preserved meats
sorghum
switchel
vegetables
vinegar

Naturally, the enlisted folks were not enjoying all of these items, since some show up as officer fare, but if the lads had a chance to choose their vittles for this event, what items would you like to eat? How would you like them prepared? Burned? Raw? Medium rare? On the hoof? Fresh off the boat? Hominy in your hat?

Not that what you want will show up on the menu, and some are going to enjoy the Catfish Hotel's local and delicious offerings come Saturday evening, as highly recommended by the Hostile Third Party Mess. :p

WARNING: Certain combinations of foodstuffs and their after effects could prove deadly within the tightly sealed and highly populated confines of a Sibley tent.

[26th NC]

I got a chuckle out of this. For those of you who may have been there and remember the rain at the 1997 Shiloh national event, three of us in my mess had what we called swamp rat stew that night.

Layton Pennington

[huntdaw]

Well, if we really get to put in a request I would go with baked chicken, biscuit and butter, beans, cheese and some fruit. However, I won't be surprised if I only get bacon and hardtack and the chance to dream about the other.

[Chihuahua]

Charles,
I'll vote for a second helping of that Bull Run "Irish" Stew. It's been nearly ten months since I've had such.
Mark Warren
Bloomfield, Iowa
Hairy Nation Boys
Proud Ancestor of Emanuel Castleman, Co. C, 33rd Iowa and
John R. Castleman, 43rd Batt. VA Cavalry, "Mosby's Rangers"

[Spinster]

Hominy in your hat?

.

Charles! You told me I had until at least Vicksbug to get the worms going good in this 100pounds of hominey!:confused_

[henionjd]

Charles,

Let us not forget Coldfoots now legendary "food whose name cannot be spoken in polite company". Grey with a hint of blue is always good in the morning.

[JLHurst]

Mmmm Oysters. . .nice and raw, juicey.
Just a bit of hardtack and hotsauce and you've got a true meal. At least for this Louisianian ya' do!

Enjoy boys!

[Charles Heath]

Let us not forget Coldfoots now legendary "food whose name cannot be spoken in polite company". Grey with a hint of blue is always good in the morning.

Sparky,

Ah, Winter 1864 2006 seems as if only yesterday, yet CRS Syndrome has already beset us.

That being said, I was having trouble figuring out a way to politely name his dual purpose masterpiece of the culinary and concrete patching arts otherwise well known (and loudly at that) as "Fu--ing F--k F--k". Truly, it would seem as if Coldfoot and Erasmus had the same English teacher back in grammar school. It's a crying shame we didn't parody "Hardtack Come Again No More" with the moniker of that dish.

Jeremy,

Mmmm, oysters. Had 'em for supper with a spot of Crystal on 'em. No Trappey's Bull or Tabasco available this far north into the frozen tundra of Yankeedom. The bivalves probably came from the Gulf Coast, too. Didn't have any hardtack, but that would be a good addition. Mmmmm. I wonder if Corinth MS or Savannah TN has any bulk seafood sellers? This late in the season the prices are usually pretty good. I don't want to sound too much like Bubba Gump, but pickled oysters, pickled okra, pickled peaches, pickled beets, pickled cucumbers, pickled eggs, pickled farina, pickled potatoes, pickled beef tongue....well, you get the picture.

Terre,

Get them hominy worms fatted for Vicksburg. Those CS boys may not eat the other issued protein if they are a bit squeamish. Come to think of it, Holly_Mule has learned to say "Landrum is the debbil!" in three different languages.

[Spinster]

Terre,

Get them hominy worms fatted for Vicksburg. Those CS boys may not eat the other issued protein if they are a bit squeamish. Come to think of it, Holly_Mule has learned to say "Landrum is the debbil!" in three different languages.

Honey, a couple of Hardcore for Christmas ate rats and cowpeas the last time I served them. These boys will have no problems with the menu.

Come to think of it, I need to lay those leftover cowpeas out with the hominey....

[Charles Heath]

Honey, a couple of Hardcore for Christmas ate rats and cowpeas the last time I served them.

Rodents are not a problem. I've seen these lads eat some serious varietal rodentia, and I don't mean sanitized lab rats, either. Of course, mentioning the dreaded word vegetables" can, and will, send some of them hiding behind the Sibley tent looking on with horror as their comrades dine on leafy green stuff, carrots, 'taters, beans, etc. It's like a Civil War version of Fear Factor...."Today, some of these brave men will actually eat buttered parsnips, and live to tell about it. Stay tuned."

Already heard cries of "what, no pie?"

Okay, just one cry, but you know how those ONV fellers like their pie.

And the Vicksburg vittles will be yet another horrific subsistence thread. I'm enjoying the research thus far, and maybe little \../ in the pasture will get an executive pardon after all. Can you imagine good federal men tired of eating poultry, and demanding hardtack? My, Gawd, that flies in the face of conventional wisdom.

[Coatsy]

Heef, both of us know that Corbin loves fattened maggots. Keep them fed and ready for Vicksburg.


As for "What's on the Menu?" at Shiloh......well.....some pie would be nice.

[Rmhisteach]

Mr. Heath,

I would very much like to say that I trust you and your judgement for vittles for the event.

But I won't .

Might be because of the Mule Chow.

RM

[Charles Heath]

Rod,

I have the distinct feeling you are going to have one hate-filled Saturday morning, but you will be in good company. Now, this is just a little intuition based on what those boys were actually eating at that time of inadequate river transportation, poor subsistence planning, generally crappy logistics failures with reference to a large build-up of troops in the middle of nowhwere, and some other early war lessons learned considerations.

Finding a bulk quantity of low priced lard would help the pie situation immensely, and may relieve some of the gastronomic agony inflicted upon you by T.S.'s special Saturday evening alternative menu plan. I cannot say precisely what that is, but it has nothing to do with the piscatorial delights scant rods away. (Terrible pun, but it works.)

What a shame it is we can't drag Marse Woodburn down there with his fabulous Fort Granger tested bake ovens. NPS would probably flip out, but that's okay.

[Rmhisteach]

Charles,

The midwestern boys of the ONV will eat what is put in front of them.

But not Mule chow.

Rm

[Charles Heath]

But not Mule chow.

Boil up some stale mule feed for breakfast just one time, and they never forget. :rolleyes:

Well, I suppose when compared to that specific meal on a certain frosty Tennessee morning, maybe Saturday morning's planned offerings at Pittsburg Landing won't be but so bad, but you'll be glad to get paid and visit the nice sutler man. I mean y'all really had some hurt puppy dog eyes when that piping hot kettle of goo was served at Fort Donelson, complete with simulated mouse droppings.

[Jim of The SRR]

What a shame it is we can't drag Marse Woodburn down there with his fabulous Fort Granger tested bake ovens. NPS would probably flip out, but that's okay.

It is funny you say that. I actually asked the park if they would let me build a mud oven on the site and remove it afterwards. I was turned down. Mainly because you have to build it several weeks ahead of time for the mud or clay to cure. Wiley Sword talks about them hin his book "Shiloh, Bloody April". It seems that nearly every company street had their own mud oven. Sword even states that the oncoming Confederates delayed their assaults briefly upon reaching these Federal camps. At first, the Rebs thought the mud ovens were possible sniper nests.

Jim Butler

[Shotgun Messiah]

I vote for Oysters and Pheasant and Potatoes and Cornbread....Cold Beer and steamin Coffee .Maybe even a catfish and puppies!!

[Shotgun Messiah]

Boil up some stale mule feed for breakfast ......I mean y'all really had some hurt puppy dog eyes when that piping hot kettle of goo was served at Fort Donelson, complete with simulated mouse droppings.

Simulated my Arse, them was real!!!
I would stake half a pie on it....!!

[Becky Morgan]

With respect to mud ovens, is it not at all possible to transport one? I can well imagine that a real *mud* oven might crack, but a well-built, well-dried and fired clay oven could might make the trip (and save some of you folks from culinary disaster of unspeakable proportions.)

As for lard, such is often available at those little custom slaughterhouses, especially if you do the rendering yourself. I asked the one near here to hang onto some kidneys for our dogs once, and they came complete with a huge amount of lard. (The birds appreciated the seed cakes, but please don't feed THOSE to the soldiers!)

[Charles Heath]

"With respect to mud ovens, is it not at all possible to transport one? I can well imagine that a real *mud* oven might crack, but...."

Might just work, but the forklift rental on the destination end of the trip could be a bit of a budget buster for the event. On on the origination side of the trip, the front end loader could be used to lift the palletized mud oven over the side of the lowboy for shipment. At roughly 500 lbs. it would certainly have an impact on fuel consumption for sure, but the greatest wonderment would be the survival over a 797.02 mile one-way trip mostly over pothole filled interstate highways.

Fortunately, the hobby saw at least three brick bake ovens built and used for events during the 2006 season. The first at Winter 1864 at Newfane , NY, the second and largest at Fort Granger vic Franklin TN, and the third at White Oak Museum vic Falmouth, VA. The latter was the smallest of the three, and took about 30 minutes to construct from salvaged solid brick and sheet steel. If the raw materials are available, then it really doesn't take much time to build a bake oven.

"As for lard, such is often available...."

Definitely not in retail destitute Maryland, and certainly not $250 worth of the white creamy goodness. If I wanted beef tallow, then that would be easy; however, for environmental reasons, pork and pork products are virtually unknown here.

[huntdaw]

I ain't gonna get no baked chicken am I?

[Charles Heath]

I ain't gonna get no baked chicken am I?

That yardbird may be roasted or boiled, but baked or fried is looking mighty slim at this point, and we all know a lot of fellers like their chicken frying size. Those laying hens are much too wise.... :rolleyes:

Of course, a right smart feller might deduce the officer vittles may be a tad different from the enlisted fare.

Just a tad. By the way, have you ever seen desiccated chicken?

(No offense to Tad the "Mastiff" made famous at BGR.)

[Becky Morgan]

I'll do some asking around about the lard. I'd be glad to, er, render any assistance I can in that regard. Check your PMs.

As for the mud ovens, Maryland to Pittsburg Landing is quite a haul, but it should be possible to build one that weighs less than 500 pounds. I'll see what the people who still use them locally say and compare notes with the recent Mother Earth News article. (I was thinking about building one this summer anyhow.)

[12thTennPrvt]

Boil up some stale mule feed for breakfast just one time, and they never forget. :rolleyes:

Well, I suppose when compared to that specific meal on a certain frosty Tennessee morning, maybe Saturday morning's planned offerings at Pittsburg Landing won't be but so bad, but you'll be glad to get paid and visit the nice sutler man. I mean y'all really had some hurt puppy dog eyes when that piping hot kettle of goo was served at Fort Donelson, complete with simulated mouse droppings.

Charles,

The food was hot that frosty Tennessee morning. I think that was the most redeeming quality of that specific meal.

[Charles Heath]

At the food was hot that frosty Tennessee morning. I think that was the most redeeming quality of that specific meal.

Almost brings a tear to my eye....that quote above being the second nicest thing anyone has ever said about that particular meal. :)

[BenjaminLDavis]

Maybe we could get a bunch of starlings and make them into a pie! (Starlings being an
invasive species that have had way too much success since their introduction - are they
as strictly regulated as robins?)
We ran the gammit at Donelson, from the mule food to those startling, wonderful peaches -
at first we just looked at them, not even sure what they were, and I said, "Well, whatever it
is, I'm gonna try some!" followed by appreaciative grunts of pleasure, and requests for more!
It is only a shame that, when I busted a hole it the ice formed in that bucket on Sunday morn
and pretended to go Ice Fishing (of which Matt Woodburn said, "We never would have
thought of that!!"), I did not catch anything.
Fish, of the freshish variety, would be a grand addition as well.
But whatever it is, I am sure there will be one of two surprizes! I look forward to it.

[Charles Heath]

But whatever it is, I am sure there will be one of two surprizes!

James,

Over in that lofty CW Living History Non-Research & Tall Tale Development Think Tank also known as the OTB Forum, a wise old bird may look at the Shiloh victuals thread that has been dragging on since last autumn, or just take his chances. At this point, I'd like to point out flush toilets often have tanks, too.

Using the following quote from our Perfesser of Sawdust & Glue at Fudge-in-ya Tech, we trudged onward:

["Now what would be really neat is if we could connect this historical documentation to some activity that we are doing at Shiloh." - Dan "Bro. Yoder" Hindman

Keep in mind we were looking at the timeframe prior to that little fracas at Shiloh. Some of the troops were not enjoying a good supply of chow, and others were doing just fine. Since the 8th Illinois Infantry was in McClernand's division, which was encamped at Savannah until just one week before the battle, we'll condense some of the cruel culinary pleasures enjoyed by regiments near Pittsburgh Landing for those long and tedious weeks prior to the battle, or at least for our two days down by the river. Our fearless leader believes, "they intentionally stationed McClernand across the river as the other officers disliked his excessive, violent temper, impetuous and rude actions. Also, being a supporter of southern Democrats probably did not make him popular either."

In a discussion fraught with wild speculation and various hard to believe claims, first and foremost amongst these was the assertion Jimbo Butler could actually read; however, our glorious leader did cypher the following from Wiley Sword's Shiloh: Bloody April:

"The concentration of troops at Pittsburg landing had been so rapid that it had outstripped the capacity of the subsistence department to provide adequate food for the men. 'We had nothing in shape of [soft] bread since we left Paducah,' one private in Sherman's division complained as late as March 23. Until the 55th Illinois received potatoes and flour on the same date, they were compelled to eat only hardtack." - Sword.

This is letting us know the enlisted folks weren't eating, as if at Delmonico's or noshing at The Willard. We speculated just how much fun it would be to serve nothing but hardtack, coffee, and empty promises of flour and 'taters. Suddenly, as if by magic, clear visions of stout trees, strong ropes, nooses, and stretched necks persuaded the victuals research committee otherwise.

Since this event has at least a dozen intrepid officers on paper, we thought it a grand idea to feed them lest they stay behind in Savannah to play "quarters" and other popular drinking games with Gen. Grant. Again from Sword:

"Many of the officers at the same time, however, enjoyed delicacies from home. Colonel Lauman wrote of eating such savory treats as canned tomatoes and cherries, homemade cake, and wine, all shipped by friends and relatives at home. Combined with the regular fare of 'bacon & beans' the officers of Lauman's mess, at least, ate well."

With the way bacon and beans are mentioned as regular fare here there and elsewhere, it leads me to believe they were common for everyone, and not just the officer mess. Few things, other than boiled cabbage and wonderful sauerkraut, ramp up the olfactory pleasures of a commodious Sibley tent like the Good Old Army Bean, especially slightly undercooked beans with little or no seasoning. Methinks there will be a form of "field music" in some quarters approaching the legendary battle of the bands. That being said, we now have some idea the officers were faring much better than their enlisted counterparts. Shades of the fabled Potomac Legion Camp Curtin living history! Oh, my. Ah, but we are slightly tipping the hand here....

We know Hoosiers like pies. Specifically, half pies, but I digress. Evidently, Suckers like bacon (who doesn't like bacon?), and the lads sallied forth to fetch them some of that Confederate commissary ubermeat near the end of March 1862:

"Although many enlisted men went without such luxuries, they were soon treated to an ample ration of meat. Toward the end of March several local citizens came to Savannah and reported to Grant that a large quantity of Confederate bacon was stored on the Tennessee near Nichols Landing, forty miles downriver. Grant quickly ordered one of McClernand's officers, Major Melancthon Smith of the 45th Illinois, to go and get it. Smith put two companies each of infantry and cavalry aboard a steamboat and sailed for Nichols Landing on March 24th." - Sword.

"Enlisting the aid of a Union sympathizer, Major Smith uncovered 'from 100,000 to 120,000 pounds' of pork, loaded it aboard his steamer and returned to Savannah about the twenty-seventh, all without incident. Grant had the pork distributed among the division commissaries, and for the next few weeks the aroma of frying bacon wafted about the Federal camps, courtesy of the Confederates." - Sword

At this point, most of us believed Jimbo owned but one book, but he continued quoting from Shiloh: Bloody April in spite of our most vocal protestations that poor old Ibid (good name for a mule) was slam worn out:

"The woods surrounding the Union camps were filled with 'Johnny-jump-ups,' as the men termed the familiar wildflowers, and hunting for wild onions and 'turkey peas' was a favorite pasttime." - Sword

"Prentiss's men found camp life 'kind of loose'. In contrast to Sherman's camps guard duty was light, drills were not yet regular routine, and food was excellent-one soldier found plenty of 'fried sowbelly,' steaming 'flapjacks,' and good strong coffee to satisfy his appetite." - Sword

Flapjacks!

Sowbelly!

Regularity!

Who wouldn't want to be a soldier? :)

Thus far, not one word about "coffee as gray and thin as well used Kisatchie dishwater...." Such a disappointment can hardly be expressed in words.

Fast forwarding to that fateful morning wake-up call, courtesy of A. S. Johnston:

This quote is in regards to Colonel Madison Miller of the 18th Missouri, commanding the 2nd brigade. At the time of the initial Confederate attack...

"Miller at the time was breakfasting with his regiment's field and staff officers on cold sliced beef, baked chicken, hot biscuits, butter, and coffee."....

"One officer hastily stuffed breakfast meat inside his shirt as he dashed off, reasoning with a good amount of common sense that it might be a long while before he had another meal."

Esteemed scholar, and roustabout Rick Gath contributed the following article describing the spoils captured by the Confederates (before the halftime show and the Union rally in the 3rd and 4th quarters) on that tremendous trend-setting first day:



Daily Morning News (Savannah, GA) Issue 96 col B
April 28th 1862

“The Victory and the Spoils”

“They had no care but for their own restoration and comfort, and the realization of the rich spoils of war. Such were the predominant feelings of the great majority of the soldiers. Under their influence they scattered through the enemy’s camp, examining with curious and exultant interest the abundance and variety of luxuries and comforts they contained”.

“But how vain the attempt to restrain our hungry, exhausted, and over-confident young men amid such unfounded resources of comfort luxury and gratification. Having marched, bivouacked and fought for three days, almost without food, they suddenly found themselves in the possession of everything that could minister to the appetite, or give refreshment and comfort to the body and soul”.

“Here were clothes of the most substantial and comfortable character, arms of every variety of the most ingenious and expensive construction, fine blankets, shawls, and every description of food, including rare luxuries and dainties such as preserved meats, oysters, vegetables and fruit, cheese, fine ripe apples, fresh butter etc. Of intoxicating liquors and wines there was fortunately a small quantity but a vast amount of medicine and hospital stores. It was quite apparent that our enemy enjoyed an abundance of all the comforts and luxuries of life.”

“Bake ovens, the greatest need of our soldiers, were plenty”.

“Many of these canteens contained a liquor, which our thirsty men mistook for wine, but on examination it proved to be that peculiar beverage of the Yankees known as switchel, composed of molasses, vinegar and water, making really a pleasant and refreshing drink”.

“Enormous quantities of cooked hams, of cheese, bread, fruit, pickled oysters and preserves disappeared before the voracious appetites of our wearied soldiers.”

Rick's newspaper find includes a reference to bake ovens. Again, beating Wiley into plowshares, we have this quote:

"Yet the enemy had hesitated briefly on approaching Peabody's camp. A private of the 25th Missouri thought this was due to sight of their Dutch ovens, fashioned of mud and used by the cooks to bake bread, which the enemy seemed to fear were masked batteries." - Sword]

Masked batteries? Hmmmm. While I'm not sure this proves Neal Sexton can be confused with a bake oven, it does say something about the lack of Union earthworks in April 1862. Eventually, but not in the austere environment we'll be portraying, the Federals were getting their share of freshly baked soft bread. One of the other items mentioned, albeit in a post-war account, is something readily available these days:

"Of course, it is desiccated potato - whatever that means and I wish you would write to the quartermaster general for a supply of it. I know it would tickle the boys to death. Say, it is the slickest thing you ever put in your mouth, just heavenly, you bet. And it is no trouble at all to prepare it. You just put a handful in a cup like this. I picked up this cup on purpose for the business, pour on a little water and when it comes to a boil let it cook about two minutes, then stir in a little pepper and salt; let it cool off a little and there you have it." - David Cornwell, Co. K, 8th Ill. Inf. - post-war

So, with a nod to In Hell Before Night and Bloody Shiloh, and some ramblings in the ORs on CD, the list of potential vittles expands a little here and there, and looks like this as a starting point: pie, potatoes, pie, flour, pie, hardtack, pie, flapjacks, pie, chees, pie, fruit, sorghum, pie, coffee, pie, canned tomatoes, pie, canned cherries, pie, cakes, pie, biscuits, pie, baked chicken, pie, ham, pickles, pie, butter, pie, bacon, pie, and beans. :D

What, no campaigner pizza? :eek:

I sure hope the sutler brings something worth eating. Hope springs eternal.

[Shotgun Messiah]

OH Buggar!! I thought My pie, oysters ,Pie ,pheasant ,pie ,Cold Beer ,pie, Taters,Pie and Catfish, Pie and puppies and of course Pie would make the cut....
Grumble grumble

[Charles Heath]

"... and puppies and of course...."

Fido? No references to kagogi, or for that matter soju, or makali were found in the documentation. :p

I'm curious as to whether the "turkey peas" mentioned in the collection of wild foodstuffs was Astragalus nuttallianus, Tephrosia virginiana, or Corydalis Formosa, of which the latter two are more likely than the first. In any case, we won't be allowed to harvest vegetation on NPS lands, but it would be nice to kn ow for sure. Perhaps one of the herbalists can chime in.

[Matt Woodburn]

If there is really any pie this time, I'm going to see that some lucky officer is dealt my Donelson hand. And I expect a fine speech!

[12thTennPrvt]

If there is really any pie this time, I'm going to see that some lucky officer is dealt my Donelson hand. And I expect a fine speech!

It would be awfully hard to top your speech at Donelson Matt, that was one the things that stuck me and my comrades for quite a while at that.

[BenjaminLDavis]

Charles,

Chastisement noted.

Gray, thin coffee and underdone beans sounds like a winner.

And should there be pie, and some goes missing, Eric Tipton should give the speech.

[Spinster]

Chawls,

I think you should make a tomato pie. This might cut down on the pie thievery. Except for one feller that is....

We are still all awonder at the feller who begged us to see did we have any 'maters. We said we did not. "Not even in a can?" said he.

Carefully painted and labeled can was produced for the pitiful soul and I assume he opened it with his bayonet. At any rate, he was eating whole stewed tomatoes right out of the can.

A man that would do that would steal a whole pie....

[Shotgun Messiah]

I don't know lady, I wasn't pilfering from you in Louisiana, but I damned near would take a mater pie from someone in Tennessee

[Becky Morgan]

Shavin's, if you had whole stewed tomatoes I'd eat them right out of a can...even if I wasn't out in the field! When my granddad was small, his mother would send him to the store after canned tomatoes. She knew to give him enough money for two cans, because one would evaporate on the way home.