Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-28


A writer in the New York EUening Post
has compiled from official sources full par
ticulaTs relative to the food, equipments
pay and general management of an regular
military establishment, by way of showing
what il costs TO make a soldier. Under the
caption of Subsistence Department" he
has the following summary. 1t will be read
with general interest:
Subsistence stores for the army, unless in
particular and urgent cases the Secretary of
War directs otherwise, are procured by con-
tract, made by the Commissary. General on
public notice, delivered on inspection in the
bulk, at such places as are stipulated, the in
spector giving duplicate inspection certif-
Gates according TO regular printed forms,
and being legal inspector when there is
such an officer. r.st t=., ..r#"
Whenever a deficiency of subsistence
stores makes it necessary to buy them, the
commissary, where they are needed, makes
requisition for that purpose on the proper
| purchasing commissary, or buys them him.
self, of good quality, corresponding with the
contract.
Pork, salt beef and -four is inspected be-
fore purchase by legal inspector, where
there is such an officer. Fresh beef when
it can be procured, is furnished as often as
luG OlHCtE LuuJ OIu6I, db ledsb
twice q week. When beef is taken on the
hoof (as it is technically termed) it is ac
counted for on the provision return by the
number of cattle and their estimated weight,
The ration is three-fourths of pound. Of
pork or bacon, or one ard fourth pounds
of fresh or salt beef; eighteen ounces Of
bread or -four, or twelve ounces of hard
bread, or one and fourth pounds corn-meal;
and at the rate, to one hundred rations, Of
1irYht nf Or haa I'll 1sa.,
thereof, ten pounds of rice; ten pounds
coffee; fifteen pounds sugar; four quarts of
vinegar; one and half pounds of tallow, or
one and a fourth pounds adamantiue, or
one pound sperm candles; four pounds of
soap, and two quarts of salt
On campaign, or on marches, or on board
of transports, the ration of hard bread is one
pound.
An extra issue Of fifteen pounds of tallow,
or ten of sperm candles, per month, may be
made to the principal guard of each camp
and garrison on the order Of the command
ing officer. Extra issues Of soap, candles and
vinegar are permitted to the hospital when
the surgeon does not avail himself of the
commutation of the hospital rations, or
when there is no hospital fund; salt in small
| quantities may be issued for public horses
and cattle. When the officers Of the Medical
| Department find anti-scorbutics necessary
| for the health of the troops, the commanding
! officer may order issues of fresh vegetables,
| picked onions, sour krout or molasses, with
an extra quantity of rice and vinegar. (Po-
tatoes are usually issued at the rate of one
| pound per ration, and unions at the rate of
three bushels in lieu Of one of beans. (0c-
sional issues (eXtra) of molasses are made
two quarts to one hundred rations-and of
| dried apples OF from one to one and half
| bushels TO one hundred rations.
| An officer NAV draw auhaiStaDca StOrag
| paying cash for them at contract or cost
| prices without including cost of transporta-
tion, on his certificate that they are for his
own use and the use of his family. These
certified lists the commanding officer COM
pares with the monthly abstracts of sales,
which he countersigns. The commissary
enters the sales on his monthly return, and
cIdits the money in his quarterly account
current.
AS soldiers are expected to preserve, dis
tribute and cook their own subsistence, the
hire of citizens for any of these duties is not
allowed, except in extreme cases. The ex-
| penses of bakeries are paid from the post
| fund, to which the profits accrue by regula-
tions, such as purchase of hops, yeast furni-
ture, as sieyes, cloths, &c, and the hire OF
| bakers. Ovens may be built OF paid for by
the Subsistence Department, but not bake
houses.
In camp or barracks the company officers
visit the kitchen daily and inspect the ket-
ties, and at all times carefully attend to the
messing and economy Of their respective
companies. The commanding officer OF the
post OF regiment makes frequent inspections
of the kitchens and messes.
The bread is thoroughly baked, and not
eaten until it is cold, The soup must be
boiled at least five hours, aud the vegetables
always cooked sufficiently 70 be perfectly
soft and digestible.
Messes are prepared by privates of squads
including private musicians each taking his
turn. The greatest care is taken in washing
and securing the cooking utensils; those
made of brass and copper are lined with
tin.
On marches and in the field, the only mess
furniture of the soldier is one tin plate, one
tin cup, one knife, fork and spoon to each
man, TO be carried by himself on the march
Four women are allowed to each company
as Washerwomen; and receive one ration pei
day each. v-vyIe -1.r..Y rs-
The price of washing soldiers clothing By
the month OF by the piece, is determined by
o council of administration, ys-. ,4
l. Debts due the laundress by soldiers TO
washing, are paid or collected at the pay
table. under the direction of the captain. /
90 The qovernneht will offer premium /,
| thecontraetorst 70 expedite the compilation Q
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