I have spun a little & reeled some after dinner. Atheline has nearly enough for her dresses #cw150

Wednesday 22nd April 1863

Aunt Patsey spent the day here. Betsey went home this evening. I have spun a little & reeled some after dinner. Atheline has nearly enough for her dresses. Mr. Henry & Matt intended to go to Asheville today but it rained. I wanted to send some things to Harrie but Mr. Linsey came over today & said he started today at 12 o’clock. I am sorry he did not get his things before he started. I wanted him to take some butter, brandy, candles & some soap but the soap was not done, at least it was not hard. Aunt Tena has been working at it yesterday & today.

Source: Diary of Cornelia Henry in Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journal and Letters of the Henry Family. Clinard, Karen L. and Russell, Richard, eds. (Asheville, NC: Reminiscing Books, 2008).

Read Full Post »

Instead of being appropriated to the formation of an interesting puddle on the kitchen floor, another use for dish water! #cw150

Dish Water and Soap Suds

Instead of being appropriated to the formation of an interesting puddle on the kitchen floor, they should be poured at the roots of young fruit trees, raspberry and currant bushes. This will accelerate growth and augment the size of the fruit.

** soap traditionally had lye as a major component (see an earlier receipt for Corn Shuck Soap) and the components that make up lye and the handmade soaps of the 1860s  include things that are also useful as fertilizers so this receipt may be on to something!

Source: Field and Fireside, November 5, 1862, as found in John Hammond Moore, ed., The Confederate Housewife (Columbia, SC: Summerhouse Press, 1997).

Read Full Post »

October 1862 Recipe for Tallow Candles From Charlotte

Tallow Candles Equal to Star

To two pounds of tallow add one tea cup full of good strongly from wood ashes, and simmer over a slow fire – when a greasy scum will float on top; skim this off for making soap (it is very near soap already,) as long as it continues to rise. Then mould your candles as usual, making the wicks a little smaller – and you have a pure, hard tallow candle, worth knowing how to make – and one that burns as long and gives a light equal to sperm. The chemistry demonstrates itself. An ounce or two of beeswax will make the candle some harder, and steeping the wicks in spirits of turpentine will make it burn some brighter.

Source: North Carolina Whig (Charlotte), NC October 21, 1862 as found in www.digitalnc.org.

Read Full Post »

1862 Advertisement for Good Hard and Soft Soap for sale in Fayetteville

Soap for Sale

I have now and will constantly keep on hand a large supply of GOOD SOFT and HARD SOAP at my Soap Factory on Person St., near the half-way bridge. Soft Soap 12 ½ cents per lb. The price of the hard will be fixed in a few days.

Hickory and Black-jack ashes wanted. 60 cents a bushel paid for them.

C.P. Jones

 

Source: Fayetteville Observer, October 2, 1862 as found in www.digitalnc.org.

 

Read Full Post »

I am tiard of the war & I want to be home with you all #cw150

Camp near Richmond

July the 24th 1862

Dear Wife I take the pleasur of writing you a few lines this eavning to in form you that I am well now and have bin since I left Ncarolina.  I have bin able to kepe up and help to cook tho I cant do any other duty.  I can hop that these few lines will come to hand and find you and the family enjoying the best of health.  I have nothing of importance to write.  Times is quite heer at this time tho I donte now how long the will remain so untill pease is mad.  Som is of the opinin that the most of the fighting is don as to my on parte I cant say tho I am in hospital is far I am tiard of the war & I want to be home with you all and am in hopes of so.

I can in form you that this is the forth letter that I sent to you and have never receive but one from you.  If you haint got enough money for the postage I will send you some then you can write me until you stop.

Dear Wife I want you to send me som soape and tobacco.  Tobaco is wirth one dollar and soape 2 dollars.  We have quite a desir if anything at all and whiskey is too much.  I want you to tell Mr. Plesent that I am in hopes that I will get home in time a nuff to help him drink som of his cider and Brandy.  So I will close nothing more and by remaining your affectionate Husband untill death.

G. A. Williams

Sources: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 2. (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2003).  Original in Williams-Womble Papers, NC State Archives, Raleigh.

Read Full Post »

Making do in 1862 – recipe for Corn Shuck Soap #civilwar150

Corn Shuck Soap

Take one gallon of strong lye. Add half a pound of shucks cut up fine. Let the shucks boil in the lye until they are reduced to shred. Then fish the shreds out and put in a half a pound of crackling grease, or six ounces of lard. Boil until sufficiently thick to make a good soap.

Source: Field and Fireside, March 6, 1862 as found in John Hammond Moore, ed., The Confederate Housewife (Columbia, SC: Summerhouse Press, 1997).

 

Read Full Post »