Where Maunsel White participated
in the celebrations as a
city official, it is not difficult to imagine, and certainly fits logically within the
time frame that Maunsel White sauce was first concocted (which is dated by two different accounts to have been either 1849 or 1850) that the alleged traveler from Central America story perpetuated
in McIlhenny family lore was actually a soldier returning through the port of New Orleans from the Mexican - American war to a
festive reception
in June of 1847, being honored and greeted by a prominent former military officer who was also a
city commissioner.