"A Pound of Meat" Soldier Food in the 18th Century

Amazon Affiliate link to Joseph Plumb Martin's Journal▶ amzn.to/2yGmP14 ▶▶ Great book!
This installment complements the previous video "Privations of an 18th Century Soldier." It examines a number of historical references and considers how soldiers of the time prepared their meat rations when supplies and equipment were scarce or unavailable. It also looks at the important role salt played in not only the preservation of meat but also in the strategies of war.
For more on the importance of salt • The War On Salt - 1776
#townsendssoldierfood
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[@townsends]

Tin Cook Pot www.townsends.us/products/cook-tp724-p-1057

[@Didymus20X6]

"What it was like for a soldier." For some reason, I hear that in the voice of Joakim Broden from "1916."

[@AtheniCuber]

This is surprisingly high quality of video for being 300 years ago

[@hankhill5622]

Nathan Deyak yeah was thinking the same thing?

[@saeedurrahman2056]

You guys are dumb those are actors

[@hankhill5622]

saeedur rahman no sh$t Sherlock. Lol

[@tyronicusmaximus4230]

@@saeedurrahman2056 woosshhhhhh

[@Southlondonrider92]

saeedur rahman I think you are the dumb one

[@josephbronson8632]

In many ways, it has always sucked to be a soldier. 99% boredom, 1% extreme anxiety: and that's just the food.

[@BukanSatyaAlfiSyahr]

lol

[@KingHalbatorix]

@Holden Mcgroine ｒ ａ ｗ

[@abelcheng2073]

In some ways, it is still true

[@mckenzie.latham91]

don’t forget the dysentery (deadly super diarrhea where you basically crap so much you die from dehydration) and scurvy (caused by a lack of vitamin c from fruit and etc, that can lead to death and severe scaring and health issues) Jesus it sucked back then.

[@pandakilla4757]

Just drink lemon juice! :D solve both issues

[@lucaspatrick542]

“...Just how unskilled the soldiers are. The ones that were put in charge of the cooking.” (Dude hangs pot on a stick That immediately collapses)

[@ProfX501]

Pretty sure the stick is just to keep the handle up

[@lucaspatrick542]

ProfX501 Yeah, it was just funny after what he said.

[@louisarius9672]

*Cue the whole platoon beating up the cook*

[@Walker_Bulldog]

@@louisarius9672 If you read "Swords Around a Throne" there's an episode where a cook is worried that the mess will whip his butt if breakfast is late.

[@DarkAlice]

Yeah, totally the fault of the cooks, rather than the people in charge of issuing equipment. How did they expect meat to get cooked with only a tin pot?

[@johnclarke6647]

If the French felt they had it bad - those of us in Vietnam in the 1960’s were given C Rats canned in 1942. The ham & Lima beans was my favorite but you could not tell where the Lima beans ended and the ham began. The worst were the 4 cigarettes that came with the meal. They were stronger than the rabbit tobacco we had smoked as kids. The one thing I have always wondered was why each meal came with toilet paper because after eating C Rats you would not need toilet paper for a week or so.😭

[@SpectateMe]

John Clarke

[@xSOSAx-TM]

Lmao wtf 😭🤣

[@snickle1980]

I heard stories of C rations from a friend back in the day. Captain B used to tell me about the "Green eggs and ham". Not his favorite. He also said they had an interesting time of it when the weaponry arrived on a second ship. The First ship had the troops. Little whoopsies. 😁

[@johnclarke6647]

@@snickle1980 my favorite was ham and Lima beans. You could not tell where the ham left off and the Lima beans started. I cannot stand Lima beans.

[@enderlinde3152]

Don't wanna kill the mood but, thousands of French starved to death because of it :(

[@djjodskins]

"We kindled some fires in the road; and some broiled their meat. As for myself, I ate mine raw." Coincidentally the last entry in the diary.

[@JuanHerrero]

Lies, it goes on.

[@davidmeyer6908]

+Juan Herrero Immediately afterwards: "We quickly started on and marched till evening, when we went into a wood for the night. We did not pitch our tents, and about midnight it began to rain very hard..." Indeed Mr. Martin survived eating raw salt pork.

[@JuanHerrero]

In Spain, salted, cured ham (jamón) is considered a delicacy.

[@michaelpaliden6660]

Coincidentally the last entry in the diary Butt just the start of the Diarrhea.

[@johndo3930]

@@JuanHerrero yes but i doubt that those are the worst cuts of the pig sitting in a barrel since the last war lol

[@Creezek]

**Hiker walks past these guys** **walks back to see if he's seeing stuff** **watches guy wear 1700s clothing and cooking talking to a camera**

[@edgyedgelordmcedgerson666]

*1700s

[@ethanbos08]

What I didn't see him

[@Shinigumi]

@@ethanbos08 He was making a joke. It wasn't part of the video.

[@dubbie17]

WHAT YEAR IS IT

[@Covey7342]

Lucid_Creezek It would actually be weirder if there wasn’t a camera. If he sees the camera then he knows he is just making a video.

[@BushSage]

This really helped with perspective, I was researching what revolutionary war soldiers ate and all I could find was "a pound of meat, a pound of bread, a quart of Beer" and my Dad was telling me "Sounds like they ate like kings". Knowing now that this was the type of meat and that the bread was sailors bread, it all makes sense now.

[@lookoutforchris]

Cows feet, hard tack, and swill... hardly a kings meal 😂

[@Ilethsamael]

Nutritionally wise though it was a kings meal.

[@Fredsperspective]

Don’t forget the salt

[@plaguepandemic5651]

And the beer was only because the water made them sick, the alcohol in beer killed pathogens like cholera and dysentary

[@paulde-logan9444]

Jeez now imagine the type of beer

[@makeminefreedom]

It is amazing how we take salt for granted. Especially when it was once worth it's weight in Gold. To be able to walk into a grocery store and purchase all the salt we want for a low price is a modern miracle.

[@mikearonicheese]

What's really amazing is that they never thought for a second that they could go to the ocean, take buckets of saltwater and dry them out to make salt.

[@Kiwippy]

@@mikearonicheese they did think about that and using their brain realised that its a stupid idea

[@mikearonicheese]

@@Kiwippy hmmm let's see....salty water evaporates into salt, but we can't possibly use it to flavor our food. Yeah, that makes total sense :-/

[@eyrie675]

@@mikearonicheese They did mine salt. The colonies had salt mines set up across the coast, the problem was that the quantity wasn't there, nor was there the right conditions. Have you ever tried making salt from seawater? It's a lot of work for very little amounts of salt.

[@pandasniper1]

when they say it was worth its weight it gold, it was more of a metaphor to its importance. Salt was extremely cheap but was beyond important to human life.

[@Keys879]

Thank god for the Standard MRE.

[@VaanBeast226]

you aren't joking!

[@Sevv9220]

Oberscharführer Schrödinger They don't understand anything outside of that rainbow bubble they call San Fransisco.

[@michaelhalejr516]

+Oberscharführer Schrödinger Wow, what an intelligent statement said by such an intelligent person with absolutely no condesention or bigotry

[@Sevv9220]

Michael Hale Jr What bigotry?

[@Crazywaffle5150]

Holy shit i'm liberal. wtf? You're going to war, you need calories. only 12 oz? That's retarded.

[@MovieJunkieOfficial]

Such a fantastic original series. I think I can say on the behalf of everyone watching your content, thank you for your tireless research and effort to educate us all.

[@townsends]

Thank you for the kind comments!

[@the_flawless_gun9213]

Movie Junkie why hello junkie didnt think ill see you here

[@MovieJunkieOfficial]

The_Flawless _Gun I do tend to roam every corner of the KZbins my friend.

[@the_flawless_gun9213]

Movie Junkie same i started from watching sabaton then gordan ramsey now here

[@ninetails6218]

Movie Junkie AND Larry Bundy Jr.? Well this sure is interesting comments section

[@briantneary2248]

Wow. 9 years ago. I didn't realize you've been doing this on KZbin so long. I'm 38 and consider myself somewhat of a history buff, so your channel instantly grabbed my attention. Always amazing content and extremely informative!

[@youngviet408]

Time flies…….

[@brrrrrr]

3 centuries ago, actually

[@Kamamura2]

1:33 Look out, John! There is a shady chap lurking behind you with an axe and a bucket, no doubt he is after your nutmeg and your salt!!!

[@5.7moy]

NOT THE NUTMEG!

[@markmower6507]

Uh Oh, for his next project he will have to make an 18th century rifle to keep them away from his nutmeg, and salt, Hahahahahahahaha 😀🌶️⚡!!!

[@boonbrazy338]

This is unrealistic, back in the 1700's they didn't have sticks.

[@MrMattmatters]

Columbus anal sticks

[@winterscaleb]

Indeed anal sticks were developed in the 1600s by sir Christian Longcock. This comment is historically inaccurate.

[@schwermetall666]

God damnit, the stick was already invented by Charles B. Stick in 1683.

[@ebinecksdee9872]

Stephan Barbarian hate to break it to you but Charles B. Stick actually stole the idea of the stick from Nathaniel J. Stickington. Stickington made the stick in 1658. Stickington and Stick held a duel and unfortunately Stick won and Stickington was forgotten and cast aside by history.

[@billul1]

The Romans came up with stick but it got lost during the dark ages. It was rediscovered during the renaissances after Da Vinci invented light.

[@Larry]

If salt wasn't available, did they ever smoke meat to preserve it?

[@Whoisthiskid1]

Youre everywhere

[@MrClarkisgod]

What you are talking about is called Cold Smoking... and that takes a long time. They were probably more interested in eating everything they were given because they were half starving many times. And that's just extra weight you had to carry on you all day long during a march.

[@Larry]

Altair Ibn-La Ahad I didn't mean the soldiers smoking them, I meant whoever was supplying the provisions. But you can smoke meat in anything as small as a shoebox.

[@Zaivos]

Larry Bundy Jr oh, hello, you!

[@trickznmix]

You would know aaaall about smoking the meat ammirite

[@zekeh.7299]

Saw a week old pizza slice on the fridge *ah, just have to boil this to remove the germs*

[@RayMak]

Your content has been so amazing since so many years ago

[@badwifi931]

Please go away

[@BourdeoixEterno]

Lmao see you everwhere

[@mandalorian3865]

@@badwifi931 why can't he express his views ? Who are you ?

[@mostafaahmedibrahim2541]

@@badwifi931 yes

[@purple00134]

stfu and go away

[@pt8208]

Give me liberty or give me salt!

[@henrykingfire6236]

Eh heh

[@JustinKoenigSilica]

>censored

[@mono_si]

*_S A L T_*_ IT IS, THEN!_

[@hugojuan218]

Salty 😏

[@jokyyang6032]

I would suggest overwatch playing hazo

[@TheMobster450]

Dude I thought that guy with the ship axe was gunna kill the guy talking

[@Wedelj]

It also reminded me of a horror movie. I had to keep telling myself that this wasn't that kind of video :)

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

TheMobster450 YEH!! HE WAS SNEAKIN UP!!! XD HAHAHA

[@lightning2436]

Yo girl what that axe do?

[@dickdurkin2895]

lol and hes got a pot to put his head in. "looks like meats back on the menu boys!"

[@josephbronson8632]

Me too ! Watching him with a bit of concern, actually... what was I thinking??

[@deadintraffic8011]

"you guys didnt have memes back in your day? what did you do for fun?" "prostitutes and war"

[@jdhill770]

Don't forget drinking.

[@Jonathan-ek7ky]

And twerking

[@noncompliant209cali]

I didn't realize this was over 11 years old. This wonderful man does not age

[@MrAkurvaeletbe]

You're not going to show it and eat it after its been cooked?

[@iStormUK]

Yeah, I was kind of hoping we'd get to see that. Still very interesting stuff

[@WoWjunkie005]

super let down I didn't get to see the end result

[@WoWjunkie005]

Natasel I wasn't talking to you. I just wanted to see the meat cooked.

[@hotlava777]

a "period mukbang" is always interesting

[@MrPiragon]

Yes

[@townsends]

@3mate1 Thank you for your compliments and comments, Yes, we are preparing our new series of videos and we do plan on adding more historic anecdotes and notes whenever possible. The music on these videos is done by Hillary and Rick Wagner aka Jim's Red Pants, I don't know about iTunes but some of their CD's are available on our website. Thanks! Jon

[@IARRCSim]

These videos are great for helping me appreciate my own mediocre cooking.

[@georgegore]

Guy: Soldiers were given cow feet. Other guy: (literally gagging).

[@antonhilado8021]

searched for "how to cook steak" 12 mins later im here

[@QuantumSnper]

Put hot stuff near it

[@MajorMalfunction]

+Anton Hilado Medium high heat, bit of oil in the pan, 4 minutes either side (depending on thickness). Timing is essential, so don't walk away. I like to splash in a bit of worcestershire, and a sprinkle of mixed Italian herbs when almost done. ;)

[@gino14]

You mustn't forget to wear your fancy hat. That is key.

[@ArtisChronicles]

+Major Malfunction Though it takes a lot longer, for some reason I find myself preferring to use low heat. Either method works fine though.

[@tainicon4639]

Take your meat out of the fridge 1 hour before cooking. Heat oil in your pan as hot as it can go. While heating, heavily salt and pepper your meat with a dash of spicy paprika. Place meat in the pan and cook for 45 second per side the remove the meat. Now remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for a minute while you mince some garlic and rosemary. Add 2 table spoons of cold butter to the pan and return your steak with the garlic and rosemary at medium heat. Cook for 45-60 second a side while pouring the butter over the steak. The perfect rare steak is now yours to enjoy.

[@CrashandTrash596]

Now I understand the expression. "They got their pound of flesh."

[@charlottesetsu]

The Merchant of Venice, to be precise.

[@CrashandTrash596]

interesting. I always liked Julius Caesar. I suppose I will have to find a recording of a production of The Merchant of Venice.

[@slayclownnmbt4614]

But it's nearly ton

[@wimbledonfc9576]

Your thinking of Shakespeare but I will award you a point for imagination

[@dynamo3059]

it comes from a play about a jewish dude that wasnt repaid by a guy he didnt like and tried to exact payment in the form of a pound of flesh from his debtors body. aka being able to kill his enemy for not paying him.

[@Cafe_TTV]

Imagine watching 5 minutes of this video, only to find that they never show you the finished product of what the food looks like

[@jackboisseau6932]

1:06 watch out! There’s a ghost right behind you

[@ErostheEpic]

The colonies lacked salt for the war, but after their victory, the salt from British tears continue to supply us to this day.

[@andy77246]

ErostheEpic 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Chaoticfulisade]

Nah lad, not with the state your country is in as of late. I'd rather not pay for healthcare, pay for education, be proud of the country with the largest imprisoned inmates per capita, largest amounts of diabetes, heart disease and obesity, gun crime, racism, religious beliefs still mixed into laws, and most importantly as of now, you're torn in half due to your new president, pretty sure britain doesn't want you back.

[@franksailor1894]

Kanarthasis yep we're living it up here in America, where are you from again?

[@Chaoticfulisade]

I was not saying the U.K is any better, (although I'd rather not live a country with an allowance of guns, or high accounts of racism etc, so for that it is, depending on the state) I was rather responding to the guy above, as you can seem who has some idea that we are still sore about our previous empire. Though again, as the facts are, or were atleast a few years ago, having 100 dollars in the bank and no debt makes you richer than 50% of americans, so it just further illustrates that really, is there any point at all to keep saying these kinds of things? I mean, are we going to talk about Germany losing WW1 now?

[@bifftannen8391]

Lol. The US has something around 40 million immigrants in it, more than half of the entire population of the UK. A very large percentage of those individuals come to the states with next to nothing to their name. So, yeah, that statistic would be true when you put things into perspective. Your arguments are pretty terrible, but you certainly were trying to state that the UK is better than the US by pointing out all of the negatives of the US, but it doesn't really matter as all of that is subjective to the person. You were trying to compare apples to oranges, but in actuality, all you were comparing were tangerines to clementines, as both countries are far more alike than they are different. The fact of the matter is, OP made a silly joke that you seem to have got your knickers in a bunch over for whatever reason. We can continue this argument if you want to, but as you previously stated, what's the point of saying these kinds of things when all of this is subjective? Again, thank you for the salt. Good day.

[@maxwilson3530]

they had really good video quality in the 18th century

[@michaeledwards7101]

XD

[@adude8424]

silly. He's a time traveller

[@Vospader21]

I really like this channel. I spend a lot of time watching channels dedicated to sci-fi and medieval fantasy nerds. It’s cool to know that there are also colonial era nerds too.

[@elf-lordsfriarofthemeadowl2039]

its more relatable to us Americans

[@Amanda-kw1vi]

I'm not a nerd, you're a nerd! :)

[@Levitz9]

This is the kind of show you'd see airing on PBS back in the 90s when they had funding. It's so cool people are able to make these kinds of recreations on KZbin.

[@tomhenry897]

Still get money busy making woke shows

[@aeronovus]

@@tomhenry897 ok boomer.

[@townsends]

They are usually made straight up, but they rotate over one eye without difficulty.

[@EthanDyTioco]

You know, I've always had a fun time trying to imagine how life was like way back then, with everyday details like food and such. Looks like I found a great channel to pursue my curiosity

[@joeking5679]

the series Turn : Washington's Spies is a pretty well done historical recreation I think, except they don't spend very much time on food like this channel

[@choochoomawpoker3125]

What game is this the graphics is so realistic

[@chrisbolland5634]

It's the Great Game of Life my friend. Play it well.

[@terminator572]

Holdfast 2 looks great ain't it

[@larapalma3744]

🤣

[@PeteZa92]

Assassin's Creed 9: Back to the Revolution

[@robgucci3390]

Chris Bolland r/woooosh

[@jaydenfarley6840]

Sir, I respect you as being one of the coolest people that I have ever seen. Not only do you show us historically accurate meals, you are an educator in a way. Your happy, and calm traits are something that should be portrayed by everyone. You are awesome, best wishes - Jayden

[@aaronpenrod2998]

I want more!!! It feels like you set us up for the perfect story, only to leave us hanging in the end. Fascinating work. You should do a special in the same style that lasts an hour or so.

[@stephenmiller9009]

THE RED COATS ARE COOKING THE RED COATS ARE COOKING

[@DjFulcrum]

Stephen Miller *erratic violins playing*

[@Matteus733]

Lol

[@stevenjohnson2273]

Blue coats = continental soldiers.

[@tylerwilson4951]

9 years and nothing has changed. Your content is top notch. Don’t ever change.

[@jackhuang3059]

thus come on my front page 10 years later, im surprised the high quality it was!

[@VinceVegas6]

Awesome video, love the camera angles, the narration is good and friendly and the environment really sets the mood.

[@kevinsullwold2388]

Just found this channel, awesome stuff! There's not enough material about food and cooking history.

[@istvanpeterporkolab7918]

The funny thing about this channel that it's so 'old' that these videos are double history now.

[@wavecutter69]

You are truly one of the best content on KZbin. Thank you for you and your crews effort.

[@artyom_zdanek]

Whoa, why haven't I ever searched for a channel like this, I mean instant subscribe, I am amazed that people still practice the art of field food cooking and preparation, I congratulate you sir on a job well done in preserving the old ways. Grace and glory to you, good sir. May the winds guide you and the spirits keep you from harm.

[@townsends]

Thanks for the great comment and the well wishes!

[@overzealousmaverik]

History and food! Two of my favorite things. I am so glad I stumbled across this channel.

[@theempress1104]

I love these videos. So informative, takes one back in time and very relaxing to listen to

[@Darqshadow]

It's interesting because the Romans gave their soldiers several means of cooking meat including iron spits for grilling meat as well as a small hand mill to grind their flour for bread.

[@overratedprogrammer]

Truly advanced for their time

[@Darqshadow]

@OverRatedProgrammer not just for the time. Soldiers' rations seemed to have devolved until the 19th century after Rome had long since been gone. It's almost like having a large supply network and a very good one is needed

[@itsmorowind]

High quality content here.

[@townsends]

+itsmorowind Thanks!

[@yotty97]

i dont understand...this whole episode was about the food that they cooked, yet you barely show the cooking and much less the tasting of the food. What sense does this possibly make? you spend all that time talking about it but don't even show us how it looks or how it tastes after you cook it?

[@Harrowed2TheMind]

He did in a few of his other videos, as this one is part of a series. Look up 'Simple Soldier Cooking Without Utensils', for instance ;)

[@Flufferz626]

piggy66 he has 100+ vidoes dedicated to specific recipes.

[@RSLtreecare]

Looks fascinating.

[@townsends]

Thanks!

[@Automedon2]

There are 300 hours of video content uploaded to KZbin EVERY MINUTE, yet I have found very few channels of this quality. This is the type of content that will put television out of business.

[@CooManTunes]

Too bad the video sharing industry is a monopoly, since this website sucks.

[@thendnjedi1388]

I love this channel so much, im a young historian and mainly i read battles, certain people and areas and regions. but this gives me a insight what would they have eat or preparations to store food back in the 18 century. my family has ton of history in it from the revolutionary war need more to battle of bighorn war of 1812 American civil war to world war one to world war two korea to Vietnam. they give me what my grandfathers would have eaten and equipment they would use. we need more channels like this!

[@boscopit]

Pretty interesting. Guy looks and sounds like Survivor man

[@bradleyhamilton4409]

Love that show.

[@michaeljs7704]

I thought he looked like somebody id seen before

[@Alolan.Vulpix.Getting.Railed]

Nathan Justice that IS les Stroud

[@thatdewd]

EXACTLY! Every time I see him, I go, "wow, that's Les Stroud!"

[@repent4christ541]

@@Alolan.Vulpix.Getting.Railed no its not

[@RangerRetribution]

Every episode makes me hungry! You guys are awesome. Glad I stumbled upon your channel!

[@user-rn2lj8kz1u]

Some boiled their meat. _As for myself.._ *I ate mine raw.*

[@Overlord99762]

*stern stare*

[@WmAHaynes]

WHERES THE LAMB SAUUUUCCCEEE

[@artificialavocado9652]

Joe Plum Martin, 18th century alpha.

[@taylor.rafferty]

And you died of trichinosis

[@sryukengod4705]

@5445121 yeah

[@johnavast5939]

Fantastic work! So amazing!! Thank you so much for such great information and entertainment!!

[@votehuss4833]

That was an intriguing historical insight into the daily lives of a soldier. And here I was just expecting a period themed cooking show.

[@Smedley60]

I really appreciate these perspective videos. Thanks for your work and research.

[@eogg25]

***** Are you Shure Americans don't understand how hard it was or could it be they do not care anymore, they have their minds on more important things like their cell phones.

[@Keklan572]

Respect to the cameraman for inventing Time Travel and giving us this amazing video.

[@chewher4171]

I can only imagine. Thanks for sharing....I go back to rewatch the older vids. They are still very, very good.

[@Tony13754]

you guy's do a wonderful job and the videos are so interesting...keep up the GREAT work and Thank you!

[@townsends]

CitySlicker Tony Thanks for sharing this video, thanks for your kind compliments and Thanks for Watching!

[@pinz2022]

Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. This may sound strange but there's a long-running discussion over on the KZbin entry concerning Russian MRE's. The current Russkie MRE has a can of straight-up pork fat, which they apparently cal "Salo", but I said it's the same thing we call "fatback" and that, while it's nowadays associated with the American South; in your era fatback was a universal staple in the colonies.

[@townsends]

pinz2022 Here is a little snippet from "Two Years Before the Mast" 1824 ---" like the antipodes of sailors and apparently dealt in nothing but grease They lived upon grease eat it drank it slept in the midst of it and their clothes were covered with it. To a Russian grease is the greatest luxury They looked with greedy eyes upon the tallow bags as they were taken into the vessel and no doubt would have eaten one up whole had not the officer kept watch over it."

[@TracyLoop]

Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. humm, makes me think, gravy for bread, or ships biskets.

[@aleramone23]

Your tale made me remember the Ferdinand Magellan expedition: when they enter the pacific from cape horn they miscalculated the lenght of pacific ocean until reaching asia eight times the actual distance, they almost starve to death, diaries tell how they boiled the masts leather and a live rat was paid one gold ducat.

[@markraffety3246]

My ancestors on my Dad's side of the family served in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. This is a fascinating look into my family's past. Thanks so much for your videos and history lessons.

[@Krisostomo25]

Most underrated history channel in youtube, honestly this channel has more history than history channel

[@Pieces_Of_Eight]

Fantastic opening shot! Thank you for inviting us around your fire, a what a thought-provoking reminder to never take salt for granted.

[@eogg25]

Roman soldiers were paid with salt, that's were the word salary comes from. (Sal) also places like Salzburg, Germany got their name from Salt production their. Salt just removes the moisture from the meat and dries it out to make it last longer.

[@pinz2022]

eogg25 Mid-twentieth-century health guru, Paul C. Bragg (who inspired the young Jack LaLanne) wrote about his turn-of-the-century Virginia upbringing. He wrote that chronic joint pain ("the misery") was endemic in the American South after the age of thirty or so. He wrote that it was because of the heavily salted diet. I know the ancient Romans also had that complaint and their diet was salty as well.

[@Lo127L]

Actually, a lot of towns and cities in middle Europe got their names from the local salt mines. Everytime you see a name with either "Salz", "sulz" or "hall", you can be certain that this location was once a salt production.

[@churck2267]

Ancient Rome is actually made of salt

[@niclasandersson7047]

Salzburg, Austria*

[@macksunnarborg33]

@@niclasandersson7047 thank you!!!!!!!

[@Alex-ce6it]

Really well produced video with interesting and high quality content. Thumbs up my friend!! Keep up the good work. Cheers. Alex.

[@townsends]

+Alex THanks!

[@Kampfwageneer]

I concur

[@dickdurkin2895]

yea why does this video have almost 1000 dislikes ?

[@MrTripcore]

People being salty

[@Not-So-Herman]

This video made really thankful for how plentiful salt is now

[@yellowgetbright]

This channel is both a cooking show and history lessons, love it!

[@CrustaceousAnnoyance]

Friend, I'm gonna level with you. I'm high as hell, it's 3:45am here and this was one of the most entertaining and filling videos I've ever seen.

[@tenou213]

I love how you guys go the extra mile in presentation. Quality work!

[@sampuckett8917]

I know this is an old video but i just found it and had to sub to it really fascinating. I'm a semi preper just waiting for the world to fall apart and this is very informative without all the bells and whistles. Nice info.

[@Mote.]

Love your channel. You guys are awesome. Thanks John for all that you do

[@SakuraVyn]

Glad you found this! I've been looking into an old Marine corps saying "a pound of meat and a pint of rum (or beer)". This apparently was their daily pay when the corps was first founded. I haven't found anything for this to be true but it's gotta be!

[@richarddietl3760]

Oi! You started boiling and roasting...were is the taste test?!

[@brandonrufus4411]

Thank you Townsends & Son ! Keep up the good work!

[@ezecreative]

your show is amazing... I love taking a few minutes from work and watching an episode.

[@bamaguy5000]

Man these soldiers had it so hard back then. We can start with them on helping pave the way to freedom in this beautiful country of ours. I am a US a marine combat veteran and I can’t count how many times we were so hungry after a heavy gun battle that we would boil certain leaves and vegetables that we swiped from empty battlefield ridden abandoned homes that once was. We always ran out of our MREs which lead to drastic measures similar to this episode. If u was hungry, and in the middle of a gun fight, well you stayed hunkered down until help came or finish off what taliban fighters we came upon and toughed it out. So much respect for our current and past soldiers, you would always think that there would be plentiful food rations for every single soldier. You would be surprised!

[@krispalermo8133]

Illinois country boy back in the early 1990's, one year during Christmas break us teenagers camp outdoors when we still had rough snow falls. Dress as the 1776 troops did, wrap our feet in rags, ate what they did, had Bible prayer meeting as they did for a week. None of us wanted to experience that for a full winter as they did. Since none of us boys were .. Christians, .. after four days in the cold we started chanting Metallica song lyrics " Searching: Seek & Destroy ! " in death metal vocals. Thank you for your service, and G*D bless.

[@rayblum458]

Thank you very much for a great series of programs. I am a storyteller, a musician, and a toymaker. Additionally I belong to a Dutch oven cooking club. I am going to add a colonial period school master / Revolutionary War veteran to my storytelling character to my repertoire. I'll name him Tobias Mumford. Time to do research. I'll cook, sing while playing my dulcimer and fiddle, whittle toys, give period school teaching demonstrations, and tell stories of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. I need to start buying clothes from you. Think I'll start with a hat, then a shirt and vest. I'm excited!

[@krispalermo8133]

I had a couple gallon Dutch oven, that I loaded full of potatoes, meat, and other great stuff and buried it under a foot of dirt to cook for about 13 hours as I did a 12 hr shift at work. The smell drove my step mom and neighbor nuts till I got home at 3:45am. Camp fire oven bake, dig a shallow pit and get your coals going then wrap your meal up in banana leaves or foil, place the Dutch oven on the coals, cover the top of the oven with coals and cover with about a foot of dirt. Then wait.

[@darrenjpeters]

It's not well documented, but being a good cook would solidify your place on a troop of soldiers, no matter what other disadvantages you might possess.

[@bajablaster1]

Your videos are amazing, great work

[@TheRealMrMultigrain]

wish you showed eating it and your thoughts

[@Zamolxes77]

Well he said that nowadays meat doesn't even compare with the shit that poor soldiers received back then, so it would have been pointless. He uses modern meat, so it would taste same like your own grilled meat :)

[@Thalanox]

Even boiled? I don't think so. I've never seen a pork cut like that with fat boiled to cook it. I also want to see a scene that shows them eating it. I want to know how many changes of water they had to make in order to remove enough salt to make the meat edible, and I want to see how much meat and fat was left in the food.

[@dynamo3059]

i boil meat all the time to cook it. usually using a pressure cooker. agreed though, how many water changes did it take? seems kind of impractical as im sure water is at least as precious as food for those away from home.

[@marybergquist8017]

4:40 Whoa, whoa whoa. Back up. "Draw off the muriatic acid"? As in HCl, hydrochloric, stomach acid, the kind they use to etch concrete? How'd that get in the meat?

[@townsends]

That's just what he wrote in the 19th century, it is hard to say exactly what he meant. Let's just say it was bad, really bad.

[@stochastic24]

Keep in mind this is probably an uneducated soldier. Muriatic just means 'salty' and when he calls it an acid that is probably not based on a chemical analysis but rather because the liquid that comes off it seems like acid to him.

[@manictiger9567]

Soldier 1: We have this meat that's too salty... Soldier 2: We have this meat that needs to be salted... Soldier 3: I have an idea!

[@billlupin8345]

They were probably pulling off ammonia. Yes, that's disgusting. The meat was probably rotting despite the salt (it probably got wet,) so they had to drain off some of the rot-goop.

[@johndo3930]

@@billlupin8345 🤢🤢🤢

[@johnhorton9637]

I've been watching your videos for awhile. It's interesting to know more than what is taught in school. Thank you sir for sharing.

[@GaudiaCertaminisGaming]

Not sure how I stumbled across this channel, but very glad I did.

[@VearonTheOwl]

they could have gotten all the salt they needed from their edgy teens.

[@communismwithgiggles2515]

Unfortunately back then teens were either thoughtful or soldiers alongside the adults

[@mikearonicheese]

OR they could go to the ocean, take buckets of saltwater and dry them out to make salt. DUH

[@markmower6507]

I was just thinking, these soldiers don't know how to cook, did they forget how to fish and hunt as well?! These soldiers sound an awful lot like teenagers from the year 2021, Hahahahahahahaha 😀🌶️⚡!!!

[@conanguard342]

I see what you did there. Well played Mr. Owl.

[@LegionStriker]

You should have shown what it looked like afterwards and what it tasted like.

[@Marqan]

Still one of my favourite videos from you guys! Very immersive..

[@jamest9592]

gotta say that pile of wood at 0:44 on your left is biblically perfect

[@Mr.Ford3350]

When you're exhausted and hungry as hell, anything can taste good!

[@simohayho8622]

Mmmm rotten flesh with big maggots :333

[@justincasubuan5860]

@@simohayho8622 mmmm my poop!!!

[@jdl6881]

So deer and beef jerky was the main ration when salt was available?

[@sportydude9337]

600 years later and this video still makes sense. Thanks historians.

[@Will-Parr]

Excellent reporting and video.

[@maryvalley4050]

Yes, boiling first. My father said their meat was salt pork in the winter. He said it glistened with salt when they got it out and they;d boil it twice, discarding the water each time before cooking it to eat and it was still so salty, they could hardly stomach it.

[@Dylankobe24]

How did I get here.

[@donaldtrump3310]

you click it! idiot

[@Panzer_Runner]

KZbin recommendation

[@sugarface88]

Love your videos!

[@1Up2Late]

The eye contact he can retain while reading is phenomenal

[@otakop67]

Videos like this give us a look into an aspect of history that textbooks don't cover anymore. Today, textbooks only say that 'times were tough' for the colonial soldiers whereas you give more insight into the daily struggles and hardships they faced. I think if the textbooks reflected their struggles and sacrifices more like you do in these videos, more people would have an appreciation of the freedom and independence they fought for and we enjoy today. Thank you for educating a generation!

[@tinaanderson5540]

This makes history come alive,i find these vids superb,dealing as it does with the day to day life of 18 cent. soldiers john anderson wifes facebook

[@townsends]

+Tina Anderson Thank you for your very kind comment.

[@Tenelia]

Agreed! Too much of history takes place without such powerful visuals. This really drives the point home, and compared to modern day armies, the contrast is huge.

[@hiijjh100]

This video is how i discovered your channel about 10 years ago. I just watched your ships biscuit video a few mins ago. Lol