Hard tack and coffee

How to make hardtack step by step with pics homestead. Jul 11, 2014 sailors and soldiers alike would remove any parasites by submerging the biscuits in coffee or water and then skimming the critters off when they floated to the surface. Billings died in belmont, massachusetts in 1933 at the age of ninety. Recruitment became conscription, provisions became rations, tents became bombproofs, and the muzzleloading rifle became breechloaded. Hardtack and coffee or, the unwritten story of army life by. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The unwritten story of army life 1887 is a memoir by john d. First published more than 100 years ago, hard tack and coffee is john billings absorbing account of the everyday life of a us army soldier during the civil war.

Hardtack or hard tack also called ships biscuit, sea biscuit, pilot bread, or sea bread is a simple type of cracker made from flour, water, and salt. Very good in and of itself but the name is misleading. Another option at the time was to fry salt pork, soak the hardtack in cold water, and then fry the softened hardtack in. Originally published in 1888, this is a firstperson account of everyday life for the footsoldier in the u. The name hardtack or hard tack is derived from the term tack, which is a slang used for food by british sailors. Originally published in 1888, hard tack and coffee is the fascinating account of the everyday life of a foot soldier in the u. Some maintain that the name derives from the biscuit being hard as tacks somewhat. The unwritten story of army life kindle edition by billings, john d download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. Originally published in 1888, hard tack and coffee quickly became a best seller, and is now considered one of the most important books written by a civil war veteran. This hard cracker is the food that is often used as sustenance when there is a shortage or absence of regular perishable foods.

Army combat infantryman who served two deployments to operation iraqi freedom. Send a great tasting gift to family and friends near and far. First published more than 100 years ago, hardtack and coffee is john. Even though it is all but impossible to get all of the coffee peanut butter smell out of the can, you can either store your hard tack in them as is and have some added flavor or seal them in a plastic bag and then into the can. Billings, a veteran of the 10th massachusetts volunteer light. Military life has usually been a unique and peculiar experience for. Price includes your choice of two of the following 10inch shoo fly, 10inch funny cake or 9inch hard tack, packaging of product and usps priority mail shipping. Throughout history, from antiquity to the present, service in the armed forces of ones country has provided an almost endless source of material to entertain and even enlighten listeners. Having gone so far, i know the reader will be interested to learn of the styles in which this particular article was served up by the soldiers. Buy a cheap copy of hardtack and coffee or, the unwritten. The hardest part is waiting for the sugar to reach the proper temperature. Turning flour into hardtack biscuits with over 100 year shelf. Hardtack and coffee or, the unwritten story of army life john d.

Hard tack and coffee, originally published in 1888, describes the everyday life of the foot soldier in great detail. Or, the unwritten story of army life, including chapters on enlisting, life in tents and log huts, jonahs and beats, offences and. Hardtack and coffee is one of the few to give a vivid, detailed picture of what ordinary soldiers. Originally published in 1888, hard tack and coffee quickly became a best seller, and is now considered one of the most important books. It is commonly used during military campaigns, land migrations, and sea voyages. John billings describes all aspects of a soldiers life, including living quarters, foraging, wagon trains, offenses and punishments, equipment, transportation, food, hospitals, and.

This recipe certainly sheds light on the monotonous palate afforded to soldiers in the civil war. Hardtack the best thing before sliced bread survival mom. Hardtack and coffee download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Soldiers life in the civil war by john billings 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Army soldier delivers new insight into the civil war. Hardtack and coffee or, the unwritten story of army life book. Hard tack and coffee was written about 23 years after the events in the civil war. The great thing about hardtack is that as long as you keep it dry, it will last for years. Hardtack is a type of hard, dry bread that was eaten by soldiers and sailors throughout history. The unwritten story of army life is a memoir by john d.

Unlike histories written of the civil war whose subjects are battles or the campaigns. You are fools to make yourselves slaves to a piece of fat bacon, some hard tack, and a little sugar and coffee. Jun 26, 20 this recipe certainly sheds light on the monotonous palate afforded to soldiers in the civil war. I was able to sock away many 5 gallon buckets and boxes of vacuum sealed hard tack. Billings not only presents his own experiences but also describes what he learns from other soldiers. Originally published in 1888, hard tack and coffee quickly became a best seller, and is now considered one of the most important books written by a civil. John billings describes all aspects of a soldiers life, including living quarters, foraging, wagon trains, offenses and punishments, equipment, transportation, food, hospitals, and much more. It is popular among campers and survivalists because it can last for years if stored properly.

Billings was a veteran of the 10th massachusetts volunteer artillery battery in the american civil war. His account is often full of humor as he describes soldiers rations, fights with lice, and camp songs. It is popular among campers and survivalists because it can last for years if stored. I learned a lot of things from them including about the food from that time. Others say the term originated during the american civil war. Hard tack and coffee proved to be a best seller and has been reprinted eight times, continuing to be one of the best books about the common soldier on that war. Learn more about hardtack and the benefits of adding them to your pantry. The nature of hard tack is its very long shelf time it is a survival food and emergency ration. Others preferred to simply dim the lights and try to choke down the hard tack weevils and all. Or, the unwritten story of army life, including chapters on enlisting, life in tents and log huts, jonahs and beats, offences and punishments, raw recruits, foraging, corps and corps badges, the wagon trains, the army mule, the engineering corps, the signal corps, etc. Billings, a veteran of the 10th massachusetts volunteer.

Some people have been known to soften hard tack and then fry it in grease or oil. Benners made from scratch shoo fly pies, funny cake and hard tack anywhere in the continental u. Benners famous scratch made bakery landis supermarket. Hardtack and coffee or, the unwritten story of army life. First published in 1887, billings gripping military memoir of the everyday life of a u. Hard tack and coffee fairfax county public library. Hard tack and coffee is the story of one of those minute men. Hard tack and coffee downloadable audiobook columbus. Feb 18, 2011 the hemlocks are reenactors who meet in hardwick every month. John davis billings first published more than 100 years ago, hard tack and coffee is john billings. Army coffee sucks is a compilation of essays written by the author, a u. Many argue that it stems from the texture of the item combined with british sailor slang for food, or tack.

The plastic coffee peanut butter cans can be great for storage as well. Billings was a veteran of the 10th massachusetts volunteer light. So one of the staple foods on these ships was a simple, dense, hard survival bread called hardtack. Hardtack and coffee here is the invaluable john billings again, giving us what appears to be a wholly faithful account of eatingand not eatingin the army of the potomac. Billings was a veteran of the 10th massachusetts volunteer light artillery battery in the american civil war. This is one of the tastier preparations of this food. He describes in rich detail the daily routine of a foot soldier as the civil war developed, from conscription and training through to camplife and discipline. Or, the unwritten story of army life audiobook by john davis billings. The whites may get me at last, as you say, but i will have good times till then. Military life has usually been a unique and peculiar experience for most civilians exposed to it. It can also be crumbled into bacon or sausage grease and fried. Librivox recording of hardtack and coffee by john billings.

Coffee was often used in the past to soak the hardtack in. Hardtack and coffee the unwritten story of army life by. Apr 03, 2015 the origin of hardtacks name itself is a source of some disagreement. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Or, the unwritten story of army life by john davis billings, charles w. See details hard tack and coffee by billings, john d. Jim roberts takes care to draw out billings characteristic humor in his. How to diy make hard tack survival off road food duration. Hardtack and coffee here is the invaluable john billings again, giving us what appears to be a wholly faithful account of eating and not eatingin the army of the potomac. Hard tack and coffee throughout history, from antiquity to the present, service in the armed forces of ones country has provided an almost endless source of material to entertain and even enlighten listeners.

I used to make a lot of hard tack, with peak production prey2k. This could be water, coffee, milk, vinegar, or any other liquid. Billings hard tack and coffee first hit the bestseller list way back in 1888, and has ever since been considered by historians to be a peerless source of information about the humdrum lives of soldiers fighting in one of the most brutal periods of conflict in us history. This recipe can easily be adjusted by using different flavored extracts and food colorings. Some sample chapter headings reveal the breadth of subjects covered. This version is illustrated with over two hundred original sketches. I have new appreciation for hard tack, boiled coffee, and salt pork. Most histories of the civil war focus on battles and top brass. It is used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyages, land migrations, and military campaigns. An illustration of a computer application window wayback machine an illustration of an open book. We loved to stir our cups of coffee with a piece and let it soak and soften, bite by bite and nibble away in the mornings. I will speak of the rations more in detail, beginning with the hard bread, or, to use the name by which it was known in the army of the potomac, hardtack. Hard tack and coffee is not about battles, but rather about how the common union soldiers of the civil war lived in camp and on the march. Billings, a veteran of the 10th massachusetts volunteer light artillery battery in the american civil war.

The writing of hard tack and coffee was the result of a reunion of civil war veterans at a white mountain resort in 1881. Basically, hardtack is a hard cracker made from flour, salt, and water. Click download or read online button to get hardtack and coffee book now. Jul 01, 2009 everybody in the unit did read this book and it was indeed a pleasure to read, at a few campfires for the reenactors the book was a topic of discussion. His unique and unbridled perspective gives life to the bittersweet experiences in war and reflections. Hardtack or hard tack is a simple type of biscuit or cracker, made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. The rank of colonel on his grave marker is an honorary rank bestowed on him for his books and contributions to. Below is the basic recipe for hardtack, along with some alternatives to hardtack. Hard to swallow a brief history of hardtack and ships. Hard tack and coffee fairfax county public library overdrive. Hardtack and coffee by billings, john davis, 1842publication date 1887 topics united states.

Of course, many of them were eaten just as they were received hardtack plain. Originally published in 1888, hard tack and coffee is the fascinating account of the everyday life of a footsoldier in the u. Hardtack and coffee in the civil war legends of america. A survival biscuit made with three simple ingredients. John d billings describes in rich detail the daily routine of a foot soldier as the civil war developed. It is written by a person who would know the material best, a genuine civil war soldier. Although far from complete, the topics of interest are more suggestive of reality. Hard tack and coffee by john davis billings alibris. A while back i mentioned hardtack in the article foods that last forever and several people have asked what it is and how to make it. Hardtack is a solid survival bread that held up well to rough transport and kept nearly indefinitely. As stated before, hardtack can be softened with liquids. There, the author entertained listeners with stories of his personal experiences of army life.