What was cooking like during the Civil War?
Detail from “Confederate Camp” lithograph based on painting b Conrad Wise Chapman in 1861. (14) Camp cooking was not always done over an open fire. Civil War camps also display a variety of ovens and stoves. When possible, the Army often sought to issue soldiers fresh bread, even providing mobile ovens for the purpose.
What kind of cooking equipment did field cooks use?
The most common cook fire seen was made using forked sticks and a crossbar spanning the fire. Sanderson may have been disappointed by their inefficiency, but most field cooks did not bother with a pit or chimney. Pots often hung by their handles or ‘S’ shaped hooks.
What kind of ovens were used in the Civil War?
An article titled “‘Shiras ovens’ used during the War for the Rebellion” from a February 5, 1881 edition of the “Army and Navy Journal” provides more detail. (19) The ovens are described:
What did cooks use to hang their pots on?
Long “S” hooks were used by these cooks to hang the pots closer to the fire: The remnants of a cook fire and a coffee pot are depicted in this August 1863 sketch by Edwin Forbes. Various kettles, wash tubs and a pair of frying pans are also shown.
How big was a civil war coffee pot?
A Fine Civil War Coffee Pot that will Look Great in Any Mess Display ! Here is a Wonderful Civil War or Pre-Civil War Period Hand Soldered Tin Storage Container ! It measures right at 6 inches diameter by 3.5 inches tall. It shows somewhat sloppy, all hand soldered construction with overlap seams, and all the tin has a nice grayish patina.
Detail from “Confederate Camp” lithograph based on painting b Conrad Wise Chapman in 1861. (14) Camp cooking was not always done over an open fire. Civil War camps also display a variety of ovens and stoves. When possible, the Army often sought to issue soldiers fresh bread, even providing mobile ovens for the purpose.
How big was a civil war Tin Pan?
At first glance, it has the form of a large tin dipper, but the inordinate large size is convincing that its intended use may have been as a sauce pan or cooking pot. The pan itself measures 5 inches tall, by 5 inches diameter at the base, and 7 inches diameter at the top.
What are the characteristics of a civil war pot?
There are remnants of the black paint, mostly on the solder seams, and a small bit of the flower pattern, that still show, while the bottom has several solder repairs. It has all the characteristics of Civil War Period pots, including a completely flat bottom, and all soldered construction.
