Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-11-28
How 10 Have a Warm Tent.

idence Press, writing from the
Second Rhode Island Regiments
camp, gives the following useful
account of the manner In which
that regiment has protected itself
from cold and frost while in tents:
We have been getting for few
nights quite a touch of the wealth
er; indeed, the cold has pinched
us quite smartly, SO that we not
only feel the need Of warmer
blankets and more of them, but of
good fires also. Necessity is the
mother of invention, and the need
Of protection against the sudden
cod has set the inventive wits
Of our Yankee soldiers to work
in good earnest. A plan was soon
hit upon which answers the pur-
pose most perfectly This is a de-
scription of it: A hole is dug in
the centre of the tent, about two
feet in depth and diameter This
is walled with stones laid in soft
clay, and covered at the top, with
the exception of small aperture
for the introduction of fuel. For
this aperture must be a close fit
ting door or cover, which can lie
opened and closed at pleasure.
/ Across one. side OF the tent a
trench is laid and covered with
wood ard earth, through which
the cold air is conveyed freely to
the bottom part of this sub.erra-
mean fire place. From the top Of
the same and across the opposite
side Of the tent, is another trench
inlaid and carefully covered with
stone and earth through which
the smoke and surplus heat is car
ried Off This is the whole ma
chine The merits of it are OBJ.
Ivious. 1t is universally practica
bic. It can be introduced easily
into any tent or dwelling. The
economy Of tit costs only. a few
hours work for three or four men
The convenience of it-being en-
tirel : under ground it takes up none
iof the precious room of our small
tents. The utility Of it: it dries
and warns the earth within, anC
even beyond the entire circuit O.
the tent, and thus prevents those
damp, cold, and unhealthy exhala.
lions from the earth, which are
probably the chief cause Of i'll
health among the soldiers. The
tents are thus also furnished with
q moist and genial atmosphere.
the heat of which can be easily
increased so as to meet the ext.
Ngencies Of the coolest part of the
season.
To realize the Importance of
this you must remember that the
walls of our house are only thin
canvas; that they are SO readily
penetrated by cold, or heat, OF
moisture, that the atmosphere
within follows rapidly the changes
in the condition of the atmosphere
without. Indeed, so far as this is
concerned there is but very little
difference between living under
the tents and in the open air
Without some such contrivance,
what, therefore, could persons do,
who, until within a short time,
have been accustomed to live in
close and warm houses? | had
rather, it is true, take my chance
for long and healthy life in the
Iopen air, both by day and by
might, than in close room, and up
ION the bare earth rather than
upon WOODEN carpets; but then wis
dom must be exercised, and time
must be taken fora gradual change.
The effects of this expedient upon
this regiment are easily traced.
The cases of illness from severe
colds and intermittent or bilious
fevers, which have recentlysprung
up among us, are, | believe, all in
the tents not thus protected. It
must be, also, in part, at least, ow-
ing to this arrangement that our
encampment still continues SO
healthy, while forms Of sickness
incidental to these cold snaps are
prevailing in encampments near to
us.
A Snpcial diSDatch from Wash