, 1861-10-29
How TO Have o Warm Tent.

The correspondent Of the Providence Press,
w1itizg from the Second Rhode Island rcgl-
Ecai's camp, gives the following account Of
the Kramer in which that regiment has pro
1ected itself from the cold and frost while in
tent:
We have been getting, for few nights, quite
touch Of winter. Indeed, the cold has pinch
I'd us "quite emartly," as our Southern neigh
warmer blankets and more Of them, but OF
good fires also Necessity Is the mother of
lnVeEtlun, and the need Of protection against
the sudden cold has set the inventive wits OF
our Yankee soldiers to work in good earnest.
Ap1an was Eoon hit upon which answers the
Purpose most perfectly. This is the descrip-
ncn CT it: A ho1o is dug in the center of tie
tent, about two feet in depth and diameter.
This is rallied With stones laid in soft clay,
and covered at the top with the exception Of
q Euan aperture fer the Introduction of fuel,
For this aperture there must be close fitting
door or cover, which can be opened and closed
81 pleasure Across one Side Of the tent q
trench is laid and covered with wood and earth
through which the cold sir is conveyed freely
to the 1ottoss part Of this subterranean fire
the opposite side Of the tent, another trench Is
laid and carefully covered with Honc and earth,
through which the smoke and surplus heat IS
carried of. This is the whole machine The
merits Of it are obvious. It is universally
practicable. 1t can be introduced easily
Of it: it costs only a few hours work
fer three or four men. The convenience of
II: being entirely under ground 1t takes
pp none OF the precious room OF our small
tents. The utility Ct it: it dries and warns
tie earth within, and even beyond the entire
circuit Of the tent, and thus prevents those
damp, cold, and unhealthy exhalations from
the eGlth which are probably the chief cxuse
of the i'll health among soldiers. The tenta
are also thus furnished with moist, genial
atmosphere, the heat Of which can be easily
increased SO IS to meet the cxigeucies Of the
co!dest par. Of the season. To realize the i'm
| portance Of this you must remember that the
! that they are 60 readily penetrated By cold, CT
heat or moisture, that the atmosphere within
| follows rapidly the changes in the condition
| Of the atmosphere without. Indeed. 60 far as
this is concerned, there is hut little difference
between living under the tents and in the open
| air.
| Without eome such continuance what, there.
fore, could ptrsons do, who, until within q
| short tlIAe, have beeE accustomed to live in
| close and warm houses I had rather, it il
true, take my chance fer long and healthy
lite in the open ali, both By day and By night,
rather than IN close room, and upon tie bare
earth Iather than upon woolen carpets: but
then wisdom must be eEercsed, and time must
be taken for gradual change, The effects oi
this expedient upon this regiment are easily
traced. The coses Of illness from severe colds
! and intermittent or bilious feye., which have
recently sprung up among Us, are believe,
all in the tents not thus protected. 1t must be
also, IN part, a: least, owing to this arrange
nent tha. our encampuent sill continues SO
healthy, while forms Of sickness incidental to
these cold snaps. are prevailing in eEcamp
nleut5 near to us.''