cooking skillygalee

[Rifleman1776]

I am currently reading a fiction novel that has flashbacks to the Civil War and experiences of a Union soldier.
At one point he is cooking his dinner. He is cooking what is called “skillygalee”. It is considered a major treat for ordinary soldiers. Basically it is nothing more than hardtack crumbled into a frying pan with greasy salt pork cooked together over a fire.
Not much of a recipe but interesting.

 

[bpd303]

I have seen reference to it being served in the British Navy also. I tried it a long time ago after picking up some Hardtack at a reenactment. Not bad, but I wouldn't want to make a steady diet of it. http://loweryleather.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/civil-war-recipe-union-skillygalee/

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I found it very different and mentioned by Kephart though it was forty years after the Civil War. I found several more references to both being called the same..., I wonder how either got the name?

Skilligalee.- The best thing in a fixed camp is the stock-pot. A large covered pot or enameled pail is reserved for this and nothing else. Into it go all the clean ***-ends of game --heads, tails, wings, feet, giblets, large bones - also the leftovers of fish, flesh, and fowl, of any and all sorts of vegetables, rise, or other cereals, macaroni, stale bread, everything edible except fat and grease. This pot is always kept hot. Its flavors are forever changing, but ever welcome. It is always ready, day and night, for the hungry varlet who missed connections or who wants a bite between meals. No cook who values his peace of mind will fail to have skilly simmering at all hours.

LD

 

[tenngun]

I had it explained to me it was like a chicken fried steak...or pork chop. So I gave it a try. Use real salt pork, not the fat crap sold in stores. Freshen it in two or the washs of water. Crush hard tack to powder,mix with a little grease roll the pork in it and fry. To have it like a good British tar serve with lots of mustard.

 

[Ringel05]

What I'm finding is English Skilligalee was a weak, watery porridge and a drink made of oatmeal, water and sugar.
As for the American Civil War version(s), it's probably open to the cook's interpretation, probably what was called a hobo stew during the Great Depression, a mix of whatever you had on hand.