The Nevada Democrat., 1861-06-06
How an ARMY ls snhalsted.

The subjoined, concerning 'the subsist-
anee Of an army from the Cincinnati Ga
zette, gives some facts which are not gene.
rally known. and which are Interesting at
the present time
Since so large body Of men have been
called into military service, and many Of
the ordinary channels Of the produce trade
have been interrupted, il becomes interest.
ing, Ia commercial point Of view, 10 know
what will be the demand for food by the
army. The nnit of the Commissariai De-
partment is the ration. The amount and
quantity of ration is calculated on the la.
sis Of the full. healthy and comfortable sup.
port Of an able-bodied man with como al
lowance for wastage. The kind of food is
selected (after due allowance for the means
of supply with reference TO the greatest
amount of healthy nutrition in the smallest
space. In this. long observation has taught
that meat and bread are the main articles.
But few vegetables are used in the army on
account of their bulky and perishable ma
ture. But men must have something OF
vegetable and acid kind in their food,
10 order to avoid scurvy and cuia-
neous diseases. In the British army q
free use is made Of vinegar, rice and raisins
These generally make o component part Of
the ration in the European armies and in
our own. OF course, when an army is en-
camped in the country, where vegetables
and fruit are abundant, these will be pro-
cured. bnt they seldom make part Of the
regular ration, which. as we have remarked
Is the unit on which the food supply Of an
army Is based.
The ratioDs of Great Britain and the
United States armies are as follows;
Bread Meat 7taI
Great Britain. lib IIb 18Th
United States. i ID 2Oz 90 OF beef 2lb . 6oz or
IL OF pork ] lb IA OF.
Thus the ration of the United States Is
considerably larger than that Of Great
Britain. Ia case of beef It is 10 ounces
more, and In case Of pork. ounces The
regular ration of Great Britain gives I9G
ounces per week. The beef ration of the
United States is 226 ounces per week. and
the pork ration, 2l0. With these are al
lowed weekly, in addition to the ratlone. a
certain amount of soup, vinegar aud rice.
In the navy, and when possible, we presume
in the army, raisin pudding is allowed
twice week.
Assuming the pork ration as the basis Of
supply. we have this result for six months,
thus: la
Bread for one soldier during six months. .2oa lbs.
A regiment of ! 900 men will require for
6 months, 203, 900 lbs. Of -four aud 1877 900
lbs Of pork. There are, including regulars
and marines 100000 men under arms, sup.
posing no more 20 be called out than the
Presidents proclamation requires. The
regular rations for six months will amount
to 10l 800 barrels of -four, and 54,S00 Lar.
rels of pork. Should the army be in the
field for year, IL will require double ih
amount. The demand for -four will not e
very much more than usual, since these
men must have been fed In any place. Bet
II is quite evident, the demand for pork
so far as II may be used 10 the army-is an
unusual one. In situations where II can lie
readily obtained, no doubt beef will be
commonly used.
The subsistence of an army is the very
first thing to be considered by a wise gene
raj. The army might as well be without
arms as 10 be without healthy food The
great Napoleon. (wbo, in the art Of war,
was almost perfect) looked into the COM
missary and quartermaster's department be.
fore he marched company. Whoever ex.
amines his arrangements will flnd that the
ablest officers OF the French army were at
the head Of these departments which made
part Of the staff. The dangers Of bad liv-
IDg and unhealthy climate are ten times
greater than those of positive war. When.
therefore, a volunteer goes 10 the army, he
should be we'll provided for and he should
also learn what we fear few do. how TO take
care Of his health. The preservation Of an
army 10 health is the very first thing TO be
cared for.