January 21, 2009

Henry “Harry” Heth was a Confederate Major General in Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, commanding a division in General A.P. Hill’s Third Corps.

Heth’s war record was solid but not outstanding, so  he’s not as well known as Lee, Jackson, Pickett and other Confederate icons. Heth’s main claim to fame was that he accidentally started the battle of Gettysburg when he sent some of his men into that sleepy Pennsylvania town to look for shoes.

According to the story that accompanies the recipe, General Heth made this drink in honor of president Grover Cleveland’s election in 1884, then bottled the remainder and served it again when Cleveland (who was the only president ever elected to two non-consecutive terms) returned to the presidency in 1892.

“For 1 gallon, bake well and crisp 8 well flavored apples of medium size. When cool, place in a bowl. Mix 1 qt. of brandy, 1 pt. of arrack, 1 pt. of maraschino; pour the mixture over the apples and add 2 qts. water. Sweeten to taste, grating a little nutmeg. Stir well, but try not to break the apples.”
—Jacquieine Harrison Smith and Sue Mason Maury Halsey, Famous Old Receipts Used A Hundred Years and More in the Kitchens of the North and the South, Contributed by Descendants. Philadelphia: John C. Winston and Co., 1906.

Related posts:

1. Apple Sweet Pickles A recipe for sweet pickles made from apples, taken from...
2. To make Apple-Fritters A recipe for apple fritters from the 1805 edition of...
3. Apple Snow A recipe for apple snow, an old Southern recipe made...

1 Comment »

1. 

   I had read this and followed the link to “ARRACK,” and so when Sis sent me pictures of her family at the Cotton Bowl, all wearing “Hotty Toddy” sweatshirts, I told her all about the derivation and the “Toddy Tappers.”

   She’s just AMAZED at the things I know. Thanks!!

   Comment by racheld — January 30, 2009 @ 10:23 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment