Fitting for this time of Year!

[JWFilips]

The invaluable Joseph Plumb Martin ( Private Yankee Doodle) recalled that first thanksgiving more colorfully 1777:

“While we lay here there was a Continental thanksgiving ordered by Congress; and as the army had all the cause in the world to be particularly thankful, if not for being well off, at least, that it was no worse, we were ordered to participate in it. We had nothing to eat for two or three days previous, except what the trees of the fields and forests afforded us. But we must now have what Congress said—a sumptuous thanksgiving to close the year of high living, we had now nearly seen brought to a close. Well—to add something extraordinary to our present stock of provisions, our country, ever mindful of its suffering army, opened her sympathizing heart so wide, upon this occasion, as to give us something to make the world stare. And what do you think it was dear reader?—Guess.—You cannot guess, be you as much of a Yankee as you will. I will tell you: it gave each and every man a half a gill of rice, and a table spoon full of vinegar!! After we had made sure of this extraordinary superabundant donation, we were ordered out to attend a meeting, and hear a sermon delivered upon this happy occasion.”

So, this year, as we sit down to celebrate Thanksgiving, we would do well to remember those soldiers who went without, marched, and fought to establish a new country and perhaps include them in the list of people for whom we are thankful. If you’re in the mood, add a little bit of rice and vinegar to your menu.

 

[Bret4207]

For those wondering, a "gill" is about 1/2 cup. So they got a 1/4 cup of rice. And we think we have it hard if we can't our preferred brand of micro brewey beer...

 

[RBHarter]

As I recall there wasn't a mess or a chow line . Unless elaborated later it was probably a dry measure and medicinal vinegar more for the scurvy than food value ....... 2/3 cup of rice , a serious bounty feast indeed .

We can't even begin to imagine. The crossing of the Delaware may have been a bold strategy move but I'd be willing to bet hard money there was enough rage and desperation to make volunteers easy to find . If given salvage privileges half would have killed for a pair of boots , a mediocre blanket , and the cold pot of week old gruel .

Yeah a dry bed and full belly look pretty good .

 

[462]

To add to Rich's post: Making matters worse for Washington's miserly funded and poorly equipped army of rag-tag volunteers, was the winding down of an ice age that made the conditions of 1777's Winter far worse than a modern New England Winter.

 

[popper]

Rice expands and fills the belly so you feel like you had a meal but really, like corn, not much food value. Promise to get some pay if you win, our kids would quit.