A Taste for War: The Culinary History of the Blue and the Gray

by William C. Davis

For soldiers in all wars, mealtime is a focal point of the day. Armies do indeed “march on their stomachs,” as Napoleon said. Soldiers of the Civil War armies, many away from home and mothers’ and wives’ cooking for the first time, were thrown back on their own resources both to prepare their own meals and often to stock their larders. No one in America, North or South, was prepared for the massive task of acquiring and distributing the uncountable tons of foodstuffs necessary to keep almost three million men fed. And yet food and mealtime were the dominant topics of interest and conversation, and the fodder for a great deal of the war lore. A Taste for War looks at what soldiers ate during the Civil War, where they got it, how they prepared it, and what they thought of it.



Leavened with first-person accounts of finding and preparing food, A Taste for War includes more than two hundred recipes drawn from soldiers’ letters and diaries and from the few cookery guides furnished them by their governments. The recipes are adapted with instructions for modern preparation that allow readers to recreate the distinctive flavors and aromas of the Civil War.

Genres: Civil War, History, Food, Cookbooks, Cooking, American Civil War

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Currently professor of history at Virginia Tech, William C. Davis has written over fifty books, most about the American Civil War. He has won the Jefferson Davis Prize for southern history three times, the Jules F. Landry Award for Southern history once, and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

For several years, he was the editor of the magazine Civil War Times Illustrated. He has also served as a consultant on the A&E television series Civil War Journal.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting read for those not familiar with the subject but for the real student of Civil War life, you've probably read the majority or the source documents already, so you won't find much new information here. The recipes are period correct but many would not have been used by the soldiers due to lack of ingredients, equipment, or time if they were on campaign.

If you don't already own copies of some of the source documents (such as "Hard Tack and Coffee" or "The Army Ration") this would make a good one-stop reference for your library.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic social history. How the two Armies tried-and often failed-to feed themselves.

[Dave Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good read for a beginning reader on the Civil War, this book does not not offer anything new two those who are well read in other Civil War book, especially memiors and letters.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and educational. Offers an inside look at the scanty, un-nutricious, moldy, spoiled, disgusting meals soldiers ate. Even gives "receipts" so you can try your own!

[Manray9 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A look into an interesting subject, but the book was dull.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I upgraded my rating on this, I was annoyed by the small typeset, but I enjoyed the read. I will probably try a few of the receipts in the book, I enjoy tasting the past in this way.