America at War : The Common Cup
videos concerning a variety of subjects . Most Civil War museums and many Civil War bloggers created a variety of videos that , cumulatively , brought the Civil War to the viewer at a time when it was impossible to travel to Civil War sites and museums . I watched many of these presentations and was inspired enough to choose coffee as a topic for this offering . Being a soldier is sort of like being in quarantine , after all . The links I am listing will inspire you as well , I am sure .
The first three are created by the Civil War Digital Digest blog , or vlog . Reenactors provide a look at handson demonstrations of how to make an authentic cup of Civil War coffee — no room for farbs in these presentations . “ Coffee on Campaign ” demonstrates how to make an individual cup of coffee while marching toward Georgia , or anywhere else . “ How to Roast Coffee ” shows how green coffee beans — which are what were often delivered to the camps — were cleaned , separated , and carefully roasted by the individual soldier . This is trickier than it sounds , and the viewer can almost smell the results through the computer screen . “ Coffee a la Zouave ” demonstrates how camp cooks and commissary workers made coffee in larger batches , tending the beans while the rest of the unit set up or cleaned camp . These are relatively short , beautifully filmed , and very accurate . Whether creating a personal living history impression or doing research into the common soldier , each of these offerings is first-rate .
The last two are videos of Zoom presentations created by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine , in Frederick , Maryland . These are excellent examples of how a museum can extend its influence beyond its walls . Hopefully the success of such offerings will start a trend . Jake Wynn and Kyle Dalton — young historians of great personality and presence — discuss a variety of topics , interacting with a computer audience at the same time . “ Coffee & the Civil War ” explains the history of coffee as a military brew , adding the unique perspective of the NMCWM and their own quirky personalities . One topic that comes up several times is the one of coffee substitutes used in the Confederacy . This lively exchange led to the second video , “ Confederate Coffee Substitutes .” This is a “ home-made ” offering shot in Kyle Dalton ’ s kitchen . Kyle , a coffee lover in real life , cooks up five types of coffees from Civil War recipes . Only one — the “ control ”— is actual coffee . There are four varieties of faux coffee : coffee with whipped egg creamer , “ Essence of Coffee ,” sweet potato coffee , and acorn / bacon coffee . Kyle ’ s long-suffering girlfriend is asked to try them all and rate them . Spoiler alert ! She survives .
Please , readers — brew up a cup of your favorite coffee , check these online offerings out , and enjoy them . And always remember those who drank their coffee out of tin cups while under fire . Huzzah !
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