3-Days of Marching Rations

[Paul Elliott]

What do you wrap your salt pork in to keep the fat from getting on everything around it? I know they didn't use Tupperware....

Normally I carry everything in authentic containers so I have no problems cooking and so on, in front of the public. Plus its part of the fun. But with meat I almost always carry it in foil and sealed plastic to keep it fresh and clean and stop it contaminating anything else. ON a long route march I did once carry the meat wrapped in a piece of goatskin, but obviously I wasn't keen to use it again and threw it away. Using linen is no go, I tried that, it just lets the meat juices through too quickly. If anyone has a better idea (a pot of some kind?) I'd love to hear it. Obviously some meat was handed out to soldiers, how did they carry it? How did Napaleonic soldiers or ECW soldiers carry theirs?

Looking at the hardtack I may be revising my portions! I'm not marching 20 miles, digging a stretch of ditch or fighting in a battle, so I won't be needing those 3,300 calories! Along with 380g of wholemeal flat bread I have (simulating 'cooking freshly made bread in the embers of the fire - Caracalla, or was it Hadrian? style') the hardtack will last me the 3 days I think.

The wine ration will certainly be supplemented in the evening around the camp fire! Although I will be drinking watered posca during the day.