what are soldier beans?

After the failure of revolution in Germany in 1848 Marx and Engles were trying to analyze the reasons for the failure and a possible solution.  They feared that the peasantry had been enervated by a diet that relied too much on potatoes. One of them reportedly exclaimed: "It's beans that will nourish our peasantry to a vigorous and manly disposition!"  Alas, just so much gas.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."