Americans engaged in “e-mail jobs” and part of the “laptop class” often emphasize the amount of coffee they need to keep themselves going, drawing a curious parallel with Civil War soldiers. Union soldiers received 36 pounds of coffee per year from the government and brewed it wherever possible, even using water from canteens, puddles, and muddy sources, according to NPR’s Kitchen Sisters. On the other hand, the Confederacy had limited access to coffee due to the Union blockading Southern ports at the war’s start.
Smithsonian National Museum of American History curator Jon Grinspan recounts how Confederate soldiers resorted to making makeshift coffee substitutes using roasted rye, rice, sweet potatoes, or beets, offering warmth and solace in the absence of caffeine. The contrast in caffeination levels between the two sides likely contributed to the Union’s eventual victory, with coffee supplies maintained through imports from Liberia.
According to Smithsonian.com, the Union’s reliance on coffee imports from Liberia boosted army morale during the conflict. Soldiers acknowledged the vital role coffee played in their daily routine, with one soldier crediting coffee for keeping him alive. The Union’s dedication to providing coffee resulted in empowered soldiers, ensuring their readiness for battle.
Watch the informative video “The Civil War in Four Minutes” above for a detailed look into the coffee-drinking habits of Union soldiers during the era. The importance of coffee in their routine, from morning marches to halts along the way, showcases the significance of this beverage in their lives, even down to the use of meager sugar rations to enhance each cup.
After the Civil War, the era of the Wild West dawned, bringing with it the heyday of cowboy coffee. The legacy of coffee’s role in shaping history is evident, from battlefields to daily routines, leaving a lasting impact on American culture.
Related content:
How Humanity Got Hooked on Coffee: An Animated History
Watch an Exquisite 19th Century Coffee Maker in Action
The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World
Philosophers Drinking Coffee: The Excessive Habits of Kant, Voltaire & Kierkegaard
The History of the U.S. Civil War Visualized Month by Month and State by State, in an Infographic from 1897
Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the Substack newsletter Books on Cities and the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook.
