Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-29
WAR BUDGET.

HINT TO soLD1ERs-How TO HAVE A WARM
TENT.
A soldier of the Second Rhode Island Reg
iment, now in service in Virginia, writes to
Providence paper the following account of
Yankee contrivance for adding to the COM
fort Of tent:
A hole is dug in the center of the tent
about two feet in depth and diameter. This
is walled with stones laid in soft clay and
covered at the top with the exception of a
small aperture for the introduction of fuel
For this aperture there must be close-ftting
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 bottom
part of this subterranean fire. place.
From the top of the same and across
the opposite 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 it are obvious.
1t is universally practicable. 1t can be in
troduced easily into any tent or dwelling.
The economy oft it costs only few hours
work for three or four men. The conven-
fence of it: being entirely under ground, it
takes up none of the precious room of our
small tents. The utility of it it 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 i'll health among soldiers. The
tents are thus also furnished with moist and
genial atmosphere, the heat of which can be
easily increased so as to meet the exigencies
of the coldest 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 30 readily
penetrated by cold, or heat or moisture, that
the atmosphere within follows rapidly the
chauges in the condition of the atmosphere
without. Indeed, 30 far as this is concerned,
there is very little difference between living
under the tents and in the open air. With
out some such cOntrivanCe what, therefore,
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 aud by night,
rather than in a close room, and upon the
bare earth rather than upon woolen carpets;
but then wisdom must be exercised, and time
must be taken for gradual change. The
effects of this expedient upon this regi-
ment are easily traced. The cases of illness
from severe cold and intermittent or bilious
fever which have recently sprung up among
us, are, believe, all in the tents not thus
protected.
PAYMENT OF PRISONERS FAMILIES.
The Adjutant- General has issued the fol-
lowing general order:
The following plan for paying the families
of the officers and soldiers in the service of
the United States, who are or may become
prisoners Of war, sums due them by the Gov
ernment, having been approved by the Pres
ident, it is published for the information of
all concerned.
Payment will be made to persons present.
ing a written authority from q prisoner to
draw his pay, or without such authority, to
his wife, the guardian of his minor children,
or bis widowed mother in the order named.
Applications for such pay must be made to
the senior Paymaster of the District in
which the regiment of the prisoner is serV-
ing, and must be accompanied by the certif.
cate of Judge of Court of the United
| States, of District Attorney of the United
| States, OF of some other party under the seal
| of Court OF Record of the State in which
| the applicant is resident, setting forth that
the said applicant is the wife Of the prisoner,
the guardian of his children, or his widowed
mother, and if occupying either Of the last
two relationships toward him, that there is
no one in existence more nearly related to
him, according TO the above classification.
Payment will be made TO parties thus
authorized and identified, on their receipts
made out in the manner that would be re-
quired of the prisoner himself. At least one
| months pay being in all cases retained by
the United States, the officer making the
payment will see that II is entered on the last
previous muster roll for the payment Of tbs
pTisnner's company, or will report 1t, 1
those rolls are not in his possession, to thu