The fascinating part of a military diet during the Civil War is how they can eat hardtack. Although it is much better than having no food like the South sometimes, but just by looking at the video it really seems hard and not tasty. Hardtack is nutritious and last for a long time. It still needs to be stored properly or else it can get moldy. The dirty part is they still eat it. Either they cut off the mold or they dump it in coffee to kill the insects in it. It is known as a tooth breaker so coffee also helps with softening.
If I really have to choose a food I cannot live without it might be beef.
