The 2010 Hardtack Market

I mentioned in a post down below that hardtack can be difficult to find these days. One or two readers wrote in to ask if that meant the US military was still serving hardtack to the troops. The answer is no. Virtually all the hardtack that’s made in the US today is sold to Civil War re-enactor groups. If you don’t know what they are, they’re a subculture of history buffs who spend their weekends and vacations literally re-enacting famous (and even not-so-famous) battles of the Civil War. Notorious sticklers for detail, they’re known for spending entire days lying in fields feigning death, and nights spooning with four or five of their tent mates to keep warm. For a hugely entertaining read on the subject, grab a copy of Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz.