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10 Civil War Foods Every Prepper Should Know And Try
by Tracy Nawara

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f you’d like to put yourselves in 1880s soldier’s shoes, here are 10 Civil War foods from both sides that every prepper should try once.
Beef Jerky

10 Civil War Foods Every Prepper Should Know And TryChances are, you have had beef jerky at some point in time. Store-bought varieties are found all over the supermarket in many different flavors.

By making beef jerky at home, you will get a better idea of what exactly Civil War soldiers were eating.

Related: How To Make Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is a dried product that allowed it to last a long time in a soldier’s satchel.

By removing the moisture from the meat, bacteria cannot multiply as quickly, thus ensuring a long last ability.

There are tons of simple recipes out there for drying beef without the use of special equipment, giving you the best idea of what 1880s soldiers ate on the move.
Beef or Chicken Tea

10 Civil War Foods Every Prepper Should Know And TryYes, meat tea is a thing. It was an important drink that provided Civil War soldiers with nutrients and protein without much effort.

Beef tea is a flavorful, concentrated beef stock made with organs, bones, meat, and connective tissue leftover from farming cattle.

Solders either made this recipe their own or drink provided beef tea.

Related: How to Safely Store Homemade Broth for 6 Months (No Canning or Freezing Required)

Soldiers were always on the move, so cooking something in one place for long periods was not always an option. However, once they received their meat tea, it could be drunk while walking from one battle to another.

Meat tea provided tons of protein and energy to the men and is still healthfully enjoyed today in the form of bone broth.
Captured Cattle

Disclaimer: I am not advocating for the theft of other farmer’s animals in today’s world!

10 Civil War Foods Every Prepper Should Know And TryHowever, during Civil War times, it was common for soldiers, especially Confederates, to steal cattle from local farms.

Confederate soldiers were not provided with food on as regular of a basis as Union soldiers, so they had to get thrifty to survive.

Pigs, goats, sheep, and chickens were all “borrowed” during this time to feed famished fighters of the war.

Soldiers could also rely on the kindness of farmers to give animals, if they were on the same side of the war, that is.
Cornbread

CornbreadCornmeal mixed with water and baked over an open fire was about as homemade as food got during the Civil War.

Cornbread would be consumed long after its freshness and moisture evaporated just so the soldiers did not work on an empty stomach.

Some Confederate soldiers even cooked their cornbread on their muskets.

They turned cornmeal into a dough then wrapped it around the ramrod for grilling. The results were charred but completely edible.

Continues:

https://www.askaprepper.com/10-civil-war-foods-every-prepper-should-know-and-try/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=AAP

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