Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-20
whnt the Army .Eats.

The exact number of Union troops in and
about Washington 10 not known to the public,
and is not proper subject for speculation. IL
lis safe to say, however, that either the number
is very large, or the soldiers have prodigious
appetites, which, happily, leave no room to
doubt of their excellent bodily health. The
i furnishing of food for the enormous'stomach of
| the army, is not one of the least perplexing
problems of the campaign. Provisions are plen-
ty enough, but ii is not always easy TO get the
beat quality--and nothing else is now consider
ed it for our 'army-lhough, ln the hurry and
confusion which prevailed at the outset OF the
war, large lots of rotten beet and other worth
| less subsistence stores were palmed of on the
soldiers, Since the U, S. Government has TAX
en- sole charge Of the feeding department., there
has been no canseof complaint. VI course this
city, on account OF its situation, railroad ana
water connections, and commercial advantages,
is the principal depot for receiving and forward
Ing supplies to Washington, - ,e
The most ponderous item Of the supplies
weekly contracted for, inspected, and sent TO
the hungry mouths on, the Potomac, 10 meat, In
kind and proportion about ss follows; 1000 bbls.
mess pork, 1700 bbls. extra meas beel, "a tens
bacon sides, do. of smoked hams, and ia duly
priced delicacy} lbs bb|s. picked beef tongues
ALI of the first quality. OF suceulent and
nutritious miscelIanies there are 1900 bushels
of white beans (strongly suggestive of certain
Yankee dish), 1850 bushels Of split peas lpalat-
able in soup), go 900 pounds Of rice, and $4,000
pounds Of white flint corn homiDy. The fortify-
ing qualities Of coffee are recognized In the pur-
chase Of 70 600 pounds prime Rio, and l20, 900
pounds Of the same roasted and ground.--
"The drink that cheers but not inebriatesv is
provided for by 4500 pounds of tea, green,
oolong and souchoDg in equal proper tions. To
sweeten both these beverages. $50 900 pounds
of dry light yellow sugar are considered not too
liberal an allowance; and 5000 gallons more of
saccharine matter is furnished in the shape OF
good molasses or syrup, 90, o concomitant for
the rice, and toothsome and healthy in other re-
lations. a,;-T -, ,.,-,... ..,;;.t- ..4t.5.s
The soldier is regaled With only one species
OF preserved fruit, which, taken with little
water, is said to possess extraordinary fattening
properties. We alluje to dried apples, of
which l0, 600 pounds are, weekly forwarded
The formidable list concludes with 100000
pounds of first quality pilot bread Some Of
ihese mountainous stores are. sent by railroad,
but most of them by sailing vessels. From
one TO Eve achoopers, deeply laden, leave this
port for Washington daily. Such as are not
needed sfor Immediate use are packed in the
vast warehouses at the capital, against the oon-
tiDgencies of short supply and high prices at
some future time. There is large accumuls.
tion Of salt meats; for fresh meat to the extent
Of 100 or 200 beeves, is daily served out to the
army. Dry bread also accumulates rapidly;
for ever 100000 loaves are daily baked and
distributed. The Nation looks on fondly while
the army eats, grudgiDg nothing, but affection
ately hoping that "good digestion may wait on
appetite "-Jour. Of Commerce. .1.. 8;sa