The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-05
GENERAL OitDERS--No. l.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANr GENERALS OFFICE.
WAsIiINGTON, Jdauarv 8. 1851


l. To promote the health of the troops, and
to reduce the expense OF subsisling the army,
the commanding officer of every permanent post
and station where the pub c lands arc sufficient,
or private lands can be leased on reasonable
terms, will annually cultivate kitchen garden
with the soldiers under his command. TO enable
him 10 supply the hospital and men with neces-
sary vegetables throughout the year.
3. A system Of more extended cultivation
! will also be commenced as soon as possible, ut
such posts as may be designated by department
commanders, under instructions from General
Headquarters, in military departments Nos. 6
IL, 8, (rexas) o, New niexico) 10, California;
and IL, (Oregon.) This cultivation will be ca r.
ried on under the direction OF commanding OIL
GERS OF posts, by the troops, and at stations
within the Indian country by hired Indians to
be paid out of the proceeds of the farms. The
field or farm culture will embrace, as far as
practicable, grains for bread and forage, and
long forage.
g. Supplies for component parts of the ration,
and OF forage, not exceeding the quantity re-
quired for the garrison, will be delivered to, and
rcceipted for, by the Assistant Commissaries and
ASSISTANT Qunrternlnsters of posts, and be paid
for by them ut the following rates: At the posts
IN departments Nos. g. g. and IL, according to
the market price In 1t. Louis, and at the posts
in departments z, 8, and 10, according to the
market price in New Orleans.
A. From the proceeds of tho sales above d.
rected will DO deducted the expenditures on ac-
count OF seeds, farming Implements rent of land,
and hire of Indian lubor, and the surplus will be
equally distributed, quarterly, by the Assistant
Commissary OF Subsistence, under the direction
OF the commanding officer, among the enlisted
<,f
rolls prepared for this purpose.
8. The Assistant Commissaries of Subsis-
tence will make all necessary expenditures for
the farm cultivation, on the warrants OF the CON-
manding officers of their posts, and will render
a quarterly return Of all receipts and expendi-
lures on such accounts to the Adjutant General,
through the commanding officer of the post, ac
cording to the printed blanks which will be fur
nished for that purpose.
3. The commanders of departments will, i'm.
medlately on the receipt of this order, report
what portion Of land in the vicinity of the posts
within their departments, is adapted to cutiva-
ton, and also what changes may be made in the
present position OF the troops, which, without
lmpairing the defence Of the frontiers, will af-
ford more suitable locations with view to field
cultivation
Z. AS soon as farm cultivation has been or
d.red at rticulars posts, the commander there
OF will adopt all necessary measures 10 carry it
on successfully, and Immediately thereafter re-
port the measures adopted They will report
the state and prospect Of their corps in the
month OF July Of each year; and on the LIST of
October, of each year, the quantity of each ar.
ticle cultivated and actually gathered in.
9. Whenever an officer is transferred or re-
lieved from the command Of post where
grain, and long forage on hand, will be receipted
for by his successor. He will make state
ment of their condition, amount, &C., one copy
OF which will be forwarded to the Commissary
General of Subsistence, and duplicate entered
In the post-order book for the inspection of the
proper authority.
D. For any improper management or loss
not strictly unavoidable, the commanding officers
will be held responsible.
BY order of the Secretary of War.
r. JONES, AJutant General,