Having lived in a number of southern states (AL, TN, LA, AR) as well as my native SE Texas, all my life I've heard the common expression, "...a mess of..." (as in a "mess of peas, a mess of greens, a mess of fish" etc.) Even today I frequently hear the term which refers to an unmeasurable or undefined amount of a specific food that will generally feed a family of 2, 3, or even a dozen for at least one meal. I am wondering if the origin may be related to the WBTS from the standpoint of the "mess" comprised of a group of soldiers from the same company?

Unlike modern armies with the "mess hall" or dining facilities familiar to WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc., vets, our g-g-grandfathers subsisted in a different way. The Confederate Army generally issued such rations as were available to the individual soldier leaving the preparation of his cornmeal, flour, bacon, beans, etc., up to him rather than a central cooking/feeding facility. Since most companies were raised in a town, or coutryside, and comprised of neighbors and friends, the soldiers, "mess mates" would come together in small groups of 3, 4, or a few more and pool their resources, plus whatever else they might have foraged along the march. Thus, the term "mess" came to mean enough food to feed the "mess" or "mess mates" of the group.

As a side note, "forage," or "foraging" did not disappear after Appomatox...it just changed its name. Ask any WWII vet who followed Patton across Europe and it's delightful wine cellars...where the term "liberate" came replaced the term "forage" on acquiring non-issue items for personal consumption. I also know for a fact, and personal experience, that the practice continued at least into Vietnam, where night visits to the officer's mess hall reefer (much better quality than what was eaten on the otherside of the wall in the enlisted mess) was referred to as "midnight requesition."

The more wars change, the more soldiers stay the same!