Civil War Hardtack

Civil War Hardtack - Inventory Number: MIS 240

A wonderful and intact piece of the infamous Civil War soldier’s ration, hardtack. A plain flour and water biscuit, this example measures 3 ¼” square and is in very good condition with a period pencil inscription: “Guard House Cracker - Sept. 8, 1863”. Excellent condition original example.

As Union Army veteran John D. Billings noted in his book, “hardtack was not so bad an article of food, even when traversed by insects, as may be supposed. Eaten in the dark, no one could tell the difference between it and hardtack that was untenanted. It was no uncommon occurrence for a man to find the surface of his pot of coffee swimming with weevils, after breaking up hardtack in it, which had come out of the fragments only to drown; but they were easily skimmed off and left no distinctive flavor behind.

Comes housed in 8 x 12 riker display case with black velvet and descriptive card.

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Inventory Number: MIS 240