Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-28
@Ortester 9aiIp Syn.
From the New York Evening Post
OUR MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.

What 1t Costs to make a Soldier.
"Up to 1861" wrote the amented Major
Winthrop, in his brilliant article on camp.ife
in the Atlantic Monthly, "it seems that the
business of war compacts men best" That
the perfectng of this in the most economical
manner can only be attained by wholesale ex-
perience, such as is afforded by our United
States army, is a self:evident truth. A gov
ernment's soldering should achieve the maxi
mum of expenditure, and therefore afford pro-
fitable data for the instruction of those engaged
in the organization OF that vast volunteer
movement to which, after all, we are proud TO
confide our national safety. We have com.
piled from official sources full particulars rel
alive to the food, equipments, pay and gener-
al management OF our regular military estab.
lishment by way Of showing what it costs to
make soldier
SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT.
Subsistence stores for the army, are pro-
cured by contract, made by the commissary.
general on public notice, delivered on inspec.
ton in the bulk, at such places as are stipula.
ted. Salt beef and flour is inspected before
purchase by legal inspector, where there is
such an officer Fresh beet, when it can be
procured is furnished as often as the COM
handing officer may order, at least twice a
a week. When beef is taken on the hoof las
it is technically termed) it is accounted for on
the provision return by the number OF cattle
and their estimated weight Wastage from
evaporation or leakage, is ascertained quarter.
ly, and in some cases, when duly certified,
charged on the monthly return. Ordinary
waste on issues does not exceed ten per cent,
on pork, bacon, sugar. vinegar and soap, and
five per cent. on hard bread beans, rice coffee
and salt. No wastage is admitted OH fresh
beet furnished directly from the butcher. But
on beet on the hoof errors in the estimated
weight and loss on strayed or stolen cattle are
accounted for by certificate or other satislacto-
ry evidence.
THE RATION.
The ration is thTee-tourths of pound of
pork or bacon, or one and fourth pounds of
fresh or salt beef, eighteen ounces of bread or
flour, or twelves ounces of hard bread, or one
and a fourth pounds corn meal, and at the
rate, to one hundred rations, of eight quarts
of peas or beans, or, III lieu thereof, ten pounds
of rice, ten pounds coffee, fifteen pounds SUI
gar, four quarts of vinegar one and
half pounds of tallOw, or one and a fourth
pounds OF adamantine, or one pound sperm
candles four pounds of soap and two quarts
vi SAT- OH d Ut OH illdTCHeS, OF on
board oftransports, the ration of hard bread is
one pound
An extra issue of fifteen pounds of taow,
or ten of sperm candles, per month, may be
made to the principal guard of each camp and
garrison on the order OF the commanding Off
Ger. Extra issues OF soap, candles and vine
gar are permitted to the hospital when the
surgeon does not avail himself of the commu
tation of the hospital rations, or when there is
no hopital fund; salt in small quantities may
be issued for public horses and cattle. When
the officers of the medical department find an
ti-scorbutics necessary for the health of the
troops, the commanding officer may order is
sues of fresh vegetables, picked onions, sour
krout or molasses, with an extra quantity of
rice and vinegar. Potatoes are usually issued
at the rate OF one pound per ration, and onions
at the rate of three bushels in lieu of one OF
beans. Occasional 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
The ration of soldier stationed in city,
with no opportunity OF messing, is ordinarily
commuted at forty cents. The rations OF the
non-commissioned regimental staff and or
dnance sergeants, when they have no oppor-
tunity of messing, and of soldiers on furl0ugh
or stationed where rations cannot be issued in
kind, may be committed at the cost or value
OF the ration at the post. When soldier on
duty has necessarily paid for his own subss-
tence, he is refunded the cost of the ration
COOKING.
AS soldiers are expected to preserve, dis.
tribute and cook their own subsistence, the
hire of citizens for any Of those 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 regulations,
such as purchase OF hops, yeast, furniture as
sleeves, cloths, &C., and the hire of bakers
Ovens may be built or paid for by the subsist-
ence department, but not bake houses.
In camp or barracks the company officers
visit the kitchen daily and inspect the kettles,
and at all times carefully attend to the mess
ing and economy Of their respective com
panies. The commanding officer of the post
or regiment makes frequent inspections OF the
kitchens and messes. The bread is thorough.
ly baked, and not eaten until it is cold The
soup must be boiled at least five hours, and
the vegetables always cooked sufficiently TO
be perfectly soft and digestbe.
Messes are prepared by privates of squads,
including private musicians, each taking his
turn The greatest care is used 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 furni.
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.
PRICES OF FOOD.
Ofcourse these vary with circumstance and
locality. The detail of a hundred complete
hospital rations will afford an average