Diet of the 7th Cavalry

[chris]

I've read hardtack and salt pork were a staple in the field.  Scouts brought  game to the table as I understand.  Officer's may have had some tinned fruit (not sure if this is correct).  Coffee was available, as was whiskey if a suttler was patronized.

Anyone have more info on this?

Thanks.
c.

[tubman13]

This may be more than you need, but if you are taking the little lady camping this spring you may find some bad, some good, some to do and some not.

The principle of soldier-acceptance of foods-now a cardinal requirement for Army rations-was given recognition during the Civil War. Coffee extract, preserved meats, and desiccated vegetables were authorized for procurement if they were "not more expensive" and were "acceptable to the men." 7 Much of the canned food, however, was found to be defective and subsequently became the target of investigations of suppliers and the supply system. Condiments and flavorings were sanctioned in the Act of March 3, 1863, which stated that "the Army ration shall hereafter include pepper, in the proportion of four ounces to every hundred rations." 8 At the close of the Civil War, the basic ration for the soldier included ¾ -pound of pork or bacon, 1 ¼ pounds of fresh or salt beef, and 18 ounces of flour. In varying proportions based on 100 rations, he was provided with potatoes, peas, beans or rice; coffee or tea; sugar; vinegar; salt and pepper; candles; and soap. On campaigns or marches, corn meal and hard bread were issued.9 For those items not officially approved nor always available, it was expected that the soldier would resort to forage to augment the food supplied to him.

During the Indian campaigns of the period 1865-1890, the rations, still based on the pattern inherited from the Civil War, were described as monotonous, unpalatable, and clumsy. The generally good health of the frontier soldier was attributed less to the ration than to vigorous life in the open, hard work and physical exercise, and ability to adapt the bounty of the countryside to his needs. When fresh foods were not available, the nutritional inadequacy of the ration could and did result in scurvy and other ailments. In some instances, permanent garrisons made attempts at gardening and farming in order to supplement the ration with fresh vegetables. Desiccated and dehydrated vegetables also were supplied to troops on the frontier and the items-dried onions, cabbage, beets, turnips, carrots, and green peppers-generally were well received. Dehydrated items were adapted as "trail rations" to be eaten by the troops as they rode or trudged along. "Pemmican" was another trail-type ration in use during this period. An historical account described the process of making pemmican as follows:

This food [pemmican], called wasna by the Dakota Sioux, was made by pounding buffalo meat into shreds, mixing dried berries or wild choke cherries into the meat, stuffing it into a hide bag, and sealing the bag with melted tallow. The choke cherries were usually pounded, stones and all, into the dried buffalo meat. Wild plums, gooseberries, and currants were also used in the pemmican and it has been asserted that grasshoppers were included in some recipes-probably to increase the range of amino acids available or otherwise fortify the product.10

Jerked beef and pinole were other Indian items adopted for Army use on the frontier during this era. Their manufacture was described in the following fashion:

Jerked beef is simply strips of lean beef hung out in the air of dry climate until nearly all of the moisture disappears, while the nutritive parts remain. . . . "Pinole" is parched and ground wheat or corn; the packing renders the grain tender, easily masticated and digestible. Like the jerked beef, it is deprived of most of its moisture

[chris]

Thanks Tom,

Good stuff. As for the little lady - camping is equal to Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel!

Best,
c.

[AZ Ranger]

Ranger Camping

[tubman13]

Ummm!

[AZ Ranger]

When I started I threw a can of pork and beans in the fire and it always burned outside next a little warm and center cold. Then I got exposed to those that knew how to cook outdoors and the menu has changed.

Posole



7th Ranch

Green Chile enchilada

[Yan Taylor]

Steve, is that plate of food for one person? that chicken would do me with some salad and good bread plus a few cold lagers.

Ian.

[AZ Ranger]

Feb 3, 2015 10:04:56 GMT -6 Yan Taylor said:

Steve, is that plate of food for one person? that chicken would do me with some salad and good bread plus a few cold lagers.

Ian.

Yes but that is a Cornish Game Hen.

Here is what they look like when we put them on the ground.




Steve

[Yan Taylor]

Steve here is a few of its cousins;

link

I bet you would enjoy the ride around the coast line of the beautiful county of Cornwall.

P.S. But not at this time of the year, its freezing over here.

Ian.

[mac]

Interesting topic!
If the hunting had been good much of modern science would say that the Indian diet was far superior and likely to build much bigger, stronger and healthier bodies. My understanding is that one reason why they did not want to go to reservations was that the food was rubbish. They were right.
A study here once showed that when Europeans arrived in Australia the average Aboriginal Australian had a far superior lifestyle and diet than an average inhabitant of Britain. Sadly for them they had a lower level of technology.
Makes you think about hand to hand fighting at LBH and who had a physical advantage.
Cheers

[chris]

Mac, the physical advantage is something I've never considered with regard to hand to hand fighting. Thanks!

Best,
c.

[mac]

We need to remember here too that cavalry had a height restriction as I understand it, officers excepted. Looking at Fred's Participants you can see that cavalry were built for lightness, understandably.
Hunter gatherer populations (read plains Indians) were generally of robust build due to their diet and lifestyle. Perhaps they camped with AZ. I will do that anytime. In fact some recent data points to such populations having superior bone density and strength to modern people. You can't beat a natural diet high in fat and good protein with lots of exercise and heavy lifting to build healthy bodies.
I tried to find some data on Plains Indians stature but was not able to get much, however the expression "big Injun" probably is an indicator.
Cheers

[Yan Taylor]

Mac is it true though that your average warrior would sit on his backside all day while his good women(s) did all the work? I would think though that most of them would be pretty lean, have a look at what this guy thinks;

link

Ian.

[mac]

Thanks Ian..you are a genius at finding stuff.
They would have had lots of free time when the hunting was good but remember equipment does not make and repair itself and men often use recreation time to do competitive things.
Interestingly I saw recently that one other thing Indians hated about resevations was that reservations had the effect of destroying their women by removing their purpose in society (statement attributed to Sitting Bull from memory).
Note in the article that Australians were also robust then. Diet rich in meat (mainly lamb) and vegetables low levels of sugar and processed starch lots of exercise. During WW1 Anzacs were often bigger and stronger than their opposition hence their high level of performance.
When LBH goes to hand to hand I have no doubt that the Indians hold all the aces physically and in tems of weapons. Game over.
Cheers

[Beth]

Did the 7th even have hand weapons beyond handguns? Were knives issued?

Beth