How to Make Coffee on Campaign

It doesn’t matter whether you are at home in front of your computer in the 21st century or in a Civil War regimental camp in the 19th Century - Americans need coffee! Episode 15 shares a veteran’s memories of how he made coffee while on campaign and warns of the pitfalls awaiting the inexperienced soldier.
Join us and learn a great “field” way to make your coffee. In fact, our guest still makes his coffee in this manner at home everyday.
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#coffee #CWDD #livinghistory #preservehistory #history #civilwar

[@mickeyholding7970]

As a retired Army cook boiled coffee is how we still make coffee today exactly the same as then, same steps. The old sergeants were always at our field kitchen before sunrise for coffee as soon as we had it ready and of course a cigarette as well lol.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I recall reading somewhere that coffee beans were often issued green & had to be roasted in the field as well.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Yup. We have another episode on roasting beans in the field. Enjoy it! Will

[@RockinL7BuckingBulls]

Clifton have you read Hardtack and Coffee? If not I recommend you do it’s a classic by John Billings.

[@daveridding9645]

Just tried this along with dough gods and broiled steak,it tasted great far nicer than it sounds ..you must try these out don't just watch the videos..try them out...cheers guys keep the videos coming

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoyed and connected!

[@coltonregal1797]

I make my coffee this way every day. Always tastes better, no matter what beans I use.

[@robaldridge6505]

use a rice bag or other small ration sack as a 'tea bag' for your coffee, better flavor less mess...

[@rjohnson1690]

If you are worried about getting called to march before your coffee is boiled, use a poke as a giant teabag. If the drum rolls before the coffee is done, take the poke out, toss it in your haversack, and save it for your next pause. Silas taught me how to do laundry in my car. (Seriously)

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Another great trick! In the episode, we showed what that vet wrote. Thanks for the tip!

[@rjohnson1690]

Civil War Digital Digest I learned the bag trick from a letter from a member of the 20th Connecticut to his sister during the Atlanta Campaign.

[@badlandskid]

Amazing how hot beverages have been a staple of soldiers and sailors for years upon years. Such searingly insignificant items could make or break the moral of a company or the crew on a ship. It would be interesting to learn how much such items were hoarded and traded between soldiers.

[@RockinL7BuckingBulls]

I was threatened with bodily harm for grinding my coffee beans next to the fire pit at 2016 Perryville. Of course it was before reveille. Great video Will..... A DEAD WHALE!

[@Burkholder1994]

We were woken last weekend by the camp cook in the next company over chopping potatoes. the constant chopping sound at 530 was meh. lol

[@rvep3irv]

Good video, my father in law would describe what you just did. He grew up in a sheep ranch in New Zealand, where they would drink coffee in the outback.

[@TXCannoli]

Found your channel yesterday and am binge watching all the episode. Keep em coming!

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

We will do that! Enjoy!!

[@simonsobolewski7831]

That was a great idea to have a well-known and respected campaigner like Silas on the show. Very entertaining and educational as well.

[@rjohnson1690]

Simon Sobolewski “Respected” Oh come on Shorty, this is Silas we are talking about!

[@michaelalexander3828]

Post WNA, chuckwagon cooks would boil the water, add the coffee grounds(approximately four minutes) and add a little cold water to settle the grounds. Boiling removes the bitterness in the coffee. See Kent Rollins KZbin video on Cowboy Coffee. Deo Vindice !

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Rollins has a very fun series! We enjoy it!!

[@kinadafurry7353]

I do this on my stove it makes the absolute most potent coffee I’d imagine it’s great for a solder

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

We love it too! I use a French press at home. Same result. Will

[@kinadafurry7353]

@@CivilWarDigitalDigest cool! I want a real French press!

[@uncletom2962]

First you need a Sharps carbine with a coffee grinder in the back stock!

[@rc59191]

Think that was the Spencer if you're talking about the loading tube.

[@tomhenry897]

No One rifle came with a grinder in the stock

[@brianfuller5868]

Very good channel. The Civil War changed coffee habits in the United States.

[@brenwoodard9956]

If you aren't in the infantry I've found that a trail spike from a No.3 cannon carriage works well for grinding up roast beans.

[@danielburford1441]

Great channel I recently purchased a two-band musket. I plan on reenacting in the future if this coronavirus ever calms down. I will study and practice the manual of arms until we are able to reenact again.

[@michaelpthompson]

Great video! I'm glad I discovered your channel. Very informative. I've heard that sometimes a soldier would put the beans in a kerchief or even in the poke sack, lay it on a rock and smash it up with another rock or some kind of implement. Have you heard of this method of "grinding" coffee?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+Michael Thompson yes, and have done it. A log works as well. Just need to be cautious not to burst the bag (pop seams) and lose the beans!

[@michaelpthompson]

Seriously! Thanks for the reply.

[@blueduck9409]

Thats how i do it, fold it up in a rag or hankie, and grind it with a rock or sturdy stick. Smooth river rocks work better than rough rocks!

[@anonanonymous3456]

This is the coolest channel around!! I subscribed and hit that like AND notification button. Also I was drinking coffee while watchin this and it made it taste even better 👍👍

[@Caden_Doez_Fortnite]

Im going it for a class project… 🤞

[@jacknakash2677]

First Rate episode. One "issue" if you only have one cup/dipper I like to add a little amount of canteen water to my boiled coffee. It "drops" the grounds & I use my spoon to get the grounds out.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+Jack Nakash I have done the same at times as well. Thanks for watching.

[@jacknakash2677]

+Civil War Digital Digest Thank you for the video series, enjoying it. Jack Nakash 14th Tennessee Co. B (N. California)

[@billygowhoop]

Great video, I'm a big coffee enthusiast and I've always wondered how coffee was made during the 19th century. One suggestion I have is that four minutes is generally the amount of extraction time that is recommended for something like a French press which this process is similar too. Those extra three minutes add more bitterness although some extra time might be warranted given how coarse the grind is.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Thanks for the thoughts based on your experiences! Glad you enjoyed!!!

[@cameronherman-music3309]

Met Mr. Silas down in Vicksburg a few months ago.

[@patrickhenderson7788]

This was very helpful! I have my new way of making coffee.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Happy to hear!

[@brianfuller5868]

This was a great video. Thanks for the channel and for the useful information. Silas is incredible.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoyed! It was fun to shoot. Will

[@blueduck9409]

God bless the old campfire percolator!

[@robertolemos1069]

Vocês têm uma linda história. Admiro o povo americano. 🇧🇷

[@ScoJo277]

Excellent video

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@euanr.skinner6492]

Great video sirs... ! :-) ATB from Luxembourg , Rob

[@JohnnyButtons]

Very cool

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoy!

[@waynehuff3984]

An Army can not fight without Coffee...I know.

[@Beaguins]

Thanks for bringing up another excellent source! I've now read Oldroyd's Vicksburg memoir and enjoyed it very much.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Oldroyd will make another visit soon.

[@rjohnson1690]

You should have Silas do a Switchel episode.

[@johnfritz2944]

So was coffee readily available to the Confederates as well given the naval blockade? And I would imagine it became very scarce by 63/64??

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

No, it was not. There are many good stories of different forms of substitutes for coffee used by Confederates. There are also good stories of union and confederate soldiers trading between the lines and coffee was a prized item for Confederates to get in trade.

[@johnfritz2944]

@@CivilWarDigitalDigest Thank you for the update. Kind of like chocolate and cigarettes in WWII Europe..

[@harryasstruman3101]

If it was me I just hike through Starbucks

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Lol!!

[@xavierpaololedesmamandreza]

👍

[@FryingTiger]

You should put that mic closer to the cup. 😂

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

True! Lol

[@brianfuller5868]

💚💚

[@johnmort8438]

What kind of canteen do you have?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

An 1858 smooth side from Orchard Hill.

[@garrettmussett1022]

Say a fellow was in the Cavalry, and was not issued a bayonet. How do you think he would have ground his coffee?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

I show another method I use personally in the “Coffee a la Zouave” episode - Vol. I, Episode 7. Check that out. Will

[@garrettmussett1022]

Civil War Digital Digest Thank you sir.

[@reedbrookings1630]

Have seen it done with a butt of a rifle on a barrel head

[@Buffalo49]

Abou how many beans per person do you use?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Hard to say. We have never measured it that way. Sorry.

[@jasonrinaldo9300]

How much water?

[@omar90s91]

No sugar?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

If you have it - sure. This primary source veteran didn’t have it.

[@alexanderglisson3888]

Great video and which event was this?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

+Alexander Glisson thank you! We shot this at the end of the Picket Post event hosted by 40 Rounds Events in May 2016.

[@alexanderglisson3888]

Awesome I was with the 9th TN Mike Comers company for that event

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Mike is a good friend of both of ours! He provided some images of his historic site for Volume II, Episode 26 Christmas Gifts episode. Enjoy!

[@alexanderglisson3888]

Watched it this morning very well put together. Thank you for all your hard work on helping us living historians learn more about the war, and culture during that time.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

We are glad you enjoyed!

[@alantaylor3329]

excellent tutorial. One question, however if anybody can answer, is what do you carry the hot coffee in while you are marching? I guess your canteen because certainly your coffee pot or your tin mug or mucket would be spilling all over you and burning your legs thus being wasted.

[@1942Dreamer]

That's what I assumed. Your pard could have his canteen full of water, and yours full of coffee. Just take turns drinking on the march.