New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-03

pared to receive it. On ech day, the Colonel or one
Of the Staff officers accompanied onr Inspections
in five days such improvement was effected in the
mode Of preparing their food, that not only
was the evidcrce furnished by the openly eA-
pressed satisfaction Of the sold er bat in the great and
marked dininution OF sickness and disease.
On The 10Th inst, his BScellcIcy Governor Morgan
and tic Surgeon-G General, DR.. Van1eip ell were re-
gaod by collation. composed exclusively Of soldiers
ruiions, cooked ii Canp kettles over camp fires, and
fally satisfied both TO the feasibility of my
plan and is practical results opinion fully iadorsed
by the principal officers Of tue regiment, as evinCed
by the letter addressed bthem your Resident Secre-
tafy.
s ihe following week, the cook who had previously
accom- panied me, and to whom was much indeb ed
for uaDy valuable sugpeefous and assistance, was
obliged TO return 70 New York but another being az
hand, commenced instIuctlng the company cooks Of
the oJd Regiment NewI oIk Volunteers and eIter i've
days constant ATTENDANCE succeeded in producing most
Satisfactory results.
In both Of those enenls received The hearty
OF alton Of The CHIEF occTs including tie Surgeons,
and bad the sawe regard been shown b. the Captains
and subordinate officers, greater results might have
been achieved. In the 18Th, some Of the Inc cicere
I'D frequently exhibit some concern for the health and
comfort of their respective commands but IN the 3d.
with perhaps single exception, but little thought OF
those matters apIe.r,d 10 trouble them.
In but one company OF either regiment Gid ina
tie material for company fund, al the Iest, II rot
entirely short, being very much siraiiened. la the
case rtioTre 10, The man IN charge had been pro-
.efs1d cooks home, and Was consequently moie pro-
hcicEf i!gn lie fellows.
Having thus fulfilled my engagements 20 the State
and proven the perfect feasibility % ny yr0l O8ed re-
form, mu,t rest on my iaugels, ard await inr-
Their acticn on the part OF those in authority. But
boforeauy beneficial effect be lastngly Produced
some glazing difficulties must lie eraGcNed and Io-
moved
First Of all, stIiet military discipline, both in the
officer md the private, must be Immediately introduced
Next tie gross Ignorance the Part Of the officers
commanding companies ne 10 the minor details of their
dutyn reference to the reception Of rations, detail
Ing Company cooks, and men to carry water Tor them
order and regularity 10 the distribution Of food, the
proger policing Of the kitchen and lis vicinity, and
Il cir personal attention in the inspection Of tie food
redre sing wrongs, ard the establishment OF order
must be reformed.
Tten the Ignorance and iuefieiency Of the quarter
masters in many cases unavoidable in others CLEARLY
criminal should be mtgated and checked. Suddenly
placed in positions OF great trust aud responsibility,
and labOrng under the idea that their fret duty Is TO
Themselves they find themselves embarrassed by the
multiplicity aud variety Of their employmen's, and
white striving 10 increase their profs, COmmen-
suratcly decrease the comfort of the soldier. few
examples Of stringent punishment would eiieetuhly
check the operations of these gentry.
And lastly, the inexpenence, improvidence, and
ignorance Of the private should be ameli)raed AID
removed. Al, With but few exceptions, totally nm
pectedlv charged with catering for company seldom
lees than seventy peTfons. Unacguanted with the
snplsst principles Of the art OF cookery and provided
with the most primitive utensils, and plmevgl means
for eUplOSiug item, they must necessarily find them
selves much paz2lcd in producing wholesome or even
palatable food from the material furnished them by
regulation. With the most sbiiliul COOKS 10 render
these greasy compounds beautiful and hutrciols Is d
f,ult aud even IN the regular army, grease and fat
predominant characteristics, IN spite 81 tLcir constant
expeIieIce and pracu,e.
In amount The atious Of the most liberal chaTac
tor and susceptible Of much variation in the hands OF
skiiifli cock i eXporisncod QUsrtermaster: bat
with Tho present organization cf The volunteers and
the imrrJvdeucc Of those engaged as COMPANY cook,
IL VIII lc found e affair Of gcd' labor 10 iust irto
them either economy or a knowledge Of their basuers
and the benefits 10 I've attained from a company fund
or Wholesome cooking, VIII hardly DO availble unll
the close # the war, if then.
IT, tho last report had the homer TO make 70 this
Commission sugg ested some changes ani maze some
recommendation tascd tie impression that a thor
ough and poritiye reform desired. Satisfied that
such is not the the pat Of any Of the constu
ted authorizes and quite convinced that nothing bat
the most insignificant changes viii be counteDauced b.
the powers Tat be ! would Low modify my former
views By gently ltnatng that tie engagement II one
good cook for each regiment mgh possibly be produe
live Of some benefit. With many thanks for your
powerful assistance and kindly cooperation, and trust
in that the great REFORMS you mediate may Ultimately
receive that appreciation they merit,
lam. very respectfully, yoor oseie n' servant
Be,liag.oa, D. c. Jolly %. 1861.