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Someone asked what it was and my reply was "They were still serving the leftovers during Vietnam."
"Hardtack, pilot bread, hardbread-all the same product issued by the army in the North or South as a staple for men
on the march. It was often accompanied by beef jerky. Alternately known as "tooth-dullers," "sheet iron,"
and "crown-breakers," hardtack was more something to be sucked on than chewed. Eaten straight, it was often broken
on the top of a fence post or corner of a box to make smaller pieces. Dipped in hot coffee, it was more edible. Soaked well
in water and fried in salt pork fat, it was almost tasty.
The men of both Union and Confederate regiments sometimes referred to hardtack as worm castles. After being carried in
hot, humid weather, it not only absorbed moisture from humidity but also from the sweat of the men carrying it. It sometimes
became just plain wet when carried in a rainstorm or camping in a swamp. Cloth, even tarred cloth, did little to protect the
hardtack from moisture and humidity. When the hardtack became inhabited, men often boiled it in their coffee so as to make
the worms rise to the surface where they could be skimmed off the liquid."
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Mix well with a fork
4 cups flour, see note
2 tablespoons fat, see note
2 tablespoons cream of tartar, see note
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Saleratus, see note
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1. Flour: preferably not white.
2. Fat: Lard, Crisco will do but be FARB.
3. Cream of Tartar: a powder which, mixed with baking soda, makes baking powder. Should be in the baking section or
spices.
4. Saleratus is baking soda. This was the term used for 1 tsp baking soda. It read 1 tsp saleratus -- sort of. Measurements
were different. Everyone knew what size an eggs sized lump of butter was or a handful of flour.
5. Mix well with a fork the flour, fat and cream of tartar. Set aside. Dissolve the saleratus and salt in the water.
6. Combine liquid and dry ingredients; mix well. Roll out dough 3/8" thick (up to a half-inch is okay too) with
a rolling pin. Cut into 3" x 3" squares. Use a 1/8" dowel to put 16 holes in each cracker in a 4 x 4 pattern.
7. Bake 20-25 minutes at 450°F When done, let air-dry for minimum of 24 hours (preferably more) before you put in a
bag or sealed container.
I knew it was a mistake --.
Farb: not authentic. "as in those who, no matter how often they are told, seem oblivious to major errors in their
dress and equipment. For example: percussion cap weapons on an 1812 field; "furtrade" types with a mixture of clothing
dating from mid-18th Century to ACW" OR "would you take those Hushpuppies off before muster please.".
That and more definitions found here:
http://www.historicgames.com/glossary.html.
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