Friday, January 18, 2013

Salt in Memphis

One of the Memphis papers gives solemn warning that the people of that city, before they will surrender it to the Federal troops, “will demolish it and sow the site with salt.”  It is amusing to hear fellows talk this way who can’t get salt enough to cure their pork, or even to season their mush and boiled eggs. – {Louisville Journal.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 4

1 comment:

Sean McLachlan said...

Someone should write a study about the role of salt in the Civil War. It was essential to the war effort of both sides, and the rebels had a chronic shortage of it. The two battles of Saltville, Virginia, were fought over the local saltworks. I bet there were more such fights.