Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-10


How TO HAVE WARM TENT.-The cores
pendent of the Providence. Press, writing
from the Second Rhode Island Regiments
camp, gives the following useful account Of
the manner in which that regiment has pro-
tected itself from cold and frost while in
tents:
CAMP BRIGHTwooD, Oct. 10, 1S61.-We
have been getting for few nights quite a
touch of the weather. indeed, the cold has
pinched us 'quite smartlg," as our Southern
neighbours say, so that We not only feel 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 cold has set the inventive arts of
our Yankee soldiers tc work in good earnest
a plan was soon hit upon which answers the
purpose most perfectly. This Is description
of it: a hole is dug in the cehtre of the tent,
about two feet in depth and diameter. This
is walled with stones laid in soft clay, and
coved at the top, with the exception of a
small Aperture for the Introduction of fuel.
For this aperture there must be close fitting
door or cover, which can be opened and
closed at pleasure.
Across one side of the tent trench is laid
and covered with wood and earth, through
which the cold air is conveyed freely to the
Fottons part of this subterranean fireplace.
From the top of the same, and across the OPP
pOSite side of the tent, another trench is laid
and carefully covered with stone and earth,
through which the smoke and surplus heat is
carried off. This is the whole machine. The
merits of il are obvious. It is universally
practicable. 1t can be introduced easily into
any tent or dwelling. The economy of it,.
it costs only few hours work for three or
four men. The convenience of it being EN-
tirely under ground, il takes up none Sof the
precious room Of our small tents. The utili-
| ty of it: 1t dries and warns the earth within,
and even beyond the entire circuit of the
tent, and thus prevents those damp. cold and
unhealthy exhalations from the earth, which
are probably the chief cause of the ill-health
among soldiers. The tents are thus also
furnished with moist and genial atmos-
phere, the heat of which can be easily in.
creased so as to meet the exigencies of the
coolest part of the season.
TO realize, the Importance of this you must
remember that the walls of our houses are
only thin canvas; that they are so readily
penetrated by cold, or heat, or 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 Iiv-
ing under the tents aud in the open air
Without some such contrivance, what, there
fore, 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 open air, both by day and by night,
than in close room. aud upon the bare earth
rather than upon wooden carpets: but then
wisdom must be exercised and time must be
taken for gradual change. The effects of
this ekpedient upon this regiment are easily
traced.
The cases OF illness from severe colds and
intermittent or bilious fever, which have re.
Gently sprung up among US, are, I believe,
all in The tents not thus protected. 1t must be
also, In part, at least, owing to this arrange
ment that our eneampment still continues so
healthy, while forms of sickness incidental
to these cold snaps are prevailing in encamp-
ments near to us. have been thus particu
lar in describing this arrangement and its
advantages for two reasons: First, because
am certain it viii be comfort to our friends
to- know about it, and TO be assured that, with
this and few additional blankets, and which
we haze no doubt will be sent to US, we shall
get along very well. Secondly. there may
be others WHO will find it to their advantage
to adopt this method of warming their tents
OF dweIings-with the hope that my letter
may thus do good to some one.