The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-08-29

some and very considerable supply OF
smoked herrings, and dried clans for
soup, had been provided as substitutes, in
part, for flesh. Many drums and flies
of the Pennsylvania line (on the first
on second issue of these articles) were
employed by the soldiers, in escorting
out of camp, under the rogue's march,
these parts of the ration suspended on
poles, in grotesque procession. If the
speckled flour had been furnished, it
would have accompanied them and
possibly the discontents would have
reached other lines. Yet many of the
Pennsylvania soldiers were lrishmen,
to whom in their own country herring
would have been treat, and a clam a
curiosity. Though convinced that the
measure suggested as to the flour would
have been beneficial and healthy sup
ply, this january hint was sufficient to
forbid the step. Any other kind of
grain prepared in the customary way
would have less violated the habits of
our people. From the commander in
chief (who never Toasted while others
suffered; though Indian bread was al
ways provided for him at his table, as
he preferred it to any other through
his life to the lowest follower of the
army, Indian corn, at one distressing
period, was the sole esculent they pos
sessed. The bad roads had interposed
difficulties to the transportation, and pre-
vented other supplies arriving at camp,
yet no serious evils ensued. A commit
tee Of field officers of one of the state
lines waited on the General, to repre-
sent the distress and discontents of their
troops. Dinner at headquarters was
nearly ready to serve up; and he, with
his usual complacency and politeness;
asked them to dine, before they receiy-
ed final opinion as to their mission,
whereof he had been apprized. Indian
corn in various preparations, much of it
parched, and nothing else, composed the
banquet for a large company; and the
liquor was as humble as the esculent.-
The committee partook, with cheerful
ness and admiration, and never renew
ed the subject of their mission. The
dinner was sufficient answer; and their
report OF the occurrence, on their return,
silenced every murmur The Prussian
discipline and tacticks would have Great
ed less discomfort than issuing coarse
wheat meal or flour, even under priya-
tons of other supplies; to say nothing
about serving out ammunition bread.
Habit is, according to the trite adage,
second nature. A singular instance
of this occurred in 1776. When our
military systems were unfortunately cal
cuiated for temporary expedients, the
objections to permanent army of our
own had nearly brought us and our af-
fairs within the power of that of our
enemy. A body of troops, intended to
consist of 10000 men, was formed of
kind of militia, engaged fer a few
months, composed chiefly of country
people, unaccustomed to a military life,
and collected in what was called - the
flying camp" in which they assembled
in New-Jersey. The police of camp,
including regulations of diet, cook
ing, and cleanliness, were unknown.
or little attended to. Indeed, before
the department of Inspector-General
eral was created, and placed under the
direction of the Baron Steuben, more
of our troops fell by the filth, originat-
ing the diseases of the camp, than by
the swords of the enemy. On this part
of our army, the mortality was truly
destructive. On the return of the rem
nants of this corps, on their way to their
homes (where one half of them never
arrived the roads exhibited frequent,
and melancholy spectacles of the dying
and dead. They had INDUCED them
selves on green corn; and had been fed
on fresh meat, with little or no salt,
and wheat flour. Many Of them were
from the Southern States, and not ac-
customed to this diet: these took the
route through Philadelphia, where the
hospitals were crowded with the sick.
Diarrh8as, dysenteries and fevers, car
ried them off in great numbers. Many
died in the streets and in the markets;
yet every medical aid and every posi-
BILE comfort were afforded to them
They loathed, and many refused, the
soups and provisions offered by the kind
ness of the citizens, or provided in the
hospitals. General Stevens, who had
been bred physician, and resided in
NirUinio naIlod NJ tho Wou OA,cn on