Old Crackers

[CeeBeeRebel]

While reading "Gray Ghosts and Rebel Raiders" by Virgil Carrington Jones I came upone the following paragraph that I found amusing:

On the edge of camp, toward the stables and supply wagons, teamsters lolled in the midst of a Babel of mules. Off in one corner portable forges sent out sprays of sparks, for blacksmiths had to work late to keep the horses shod and ready for any emergency the bands of guerrillas or Partisans lurking in the distance might take it upon themselves to create. At their backs were barrels of flour, crackers, and hard bread, boxes of soap and bags of oats and corn. The crackers were a source of much comment. Several barrels had stamped on their sides “T. Wild & Co., Boston 1810,” and one, set apart in plain view by a quartermaster with a sense of humor, bore the making, “B.C. 97.” Some of the soldiers who bit into the contents believed anything they read.

Brandon Sollars

[Chris Graham]

Re: Old Crackers

Oh. By the post title, I thought it was about my dad.

Chris Graham

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Old Crackers

Brandon:

the "1810" is a reference to when the company was founded not when the crackers were made.

Although a real soldier would undoubtably assume that is when the crackers were made. After all we all know how cheap the government can be.

[CeeBeeRebel]

Re: Old Crackers

Bob,

Very interesting. I just assumed as had the author and the men back then that the 1810 date was referring to a manufacture date. Do you have any records or ideas of any "army surplus" items coming into use outside the common areas of arms and accouterments? Considering the shelf life of crackers was there a possibility of old supplies being put forth such as perhaps Mexican War leftovers or would that have all been cleaned out well before the Civil War rolled around?