Life of an 1812 Sailor Flashcards
What is Salt Junk?
Heavily Salted meats, 2lbs of Salt per 1lb of meat for preservation.
What is the Ships Biscuit?
A salt-less water and flour mix formed in a biscuit shape and baked twice to create a “hard tack.”
What were an 1812 sailors water rations like?
One gallon per day from the scuttle butt. They used the water whichever way they wanted. drinking, bathing, dishwashing etc.
What is Grog?
Grog is a diluted mix of water and spirits(whiskey or rum). It was issued to sailors twice daily(1200/1600) and sometimes would be infused with lemon juice to prevent scurvy.
What is a steep tub?
Steep tub was used to soak “Salt junk” 24 hours prior to cooking to wash off as much salt as possible.
What is a harness cask?
The harness cask was used to store meats that have already been steeped and is waiting to be cooked.
What is the Grog Tub?
The grog tub is where the Grog is kept. (Spirit Water) Drawn twice daily and sailors were forced to drink their ration at the Grog tub in front of the issuer.
What is a Scuttlebutt?
Scuttlebutts are where sailors would draw their daily rations from. Allowed 1 gallon per day for whatever uses they desired.
What times did the crew eat?
0800/1200/1600
Where did the crew eat?
Berth Deck
How did the crew eat?
In messing’s of 8-10 sailors, picnic style usually in crew assignments (i.e. Gun teams)
What health issues were experienced in the early days of Sail due to their diets?
Dehydration
Dysentery- Dirty water
Night Blindness-lack of vitamin A
Scurvy- Lack of Vitamin C
What were the sleeping arrangements on the Berth deck?
SIQ BAY
Enlisted
-Junior sailors would be inboard(less sea experience)
-Senior enlisted out board
Marines
Midshipmen
Commissioned officersDiscuss the issuance, storage and usage of the hammocks.
Each sailor was provided with TWO hammocks for steady rotation of clean sleeping. When not in use the sailor would roll and lash the hammocks and store them outboard against the bulkhead on the berth deck. If a hammock was being cleaned it would be hung on the Spar deck bulwarks for drying and also act as a damper for possible fragmentation during battle.
Who lived in the wardroom and why?
Commissioned officers. They were skilled in their trades and had more responsibility than the average sailor.
