The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-02
FEEDING THE ARMY.

To THE SANITARY COMMISSION OF TIE UNITED SrArys:-
GESrIKxxN:--In obedience to your orders, proceeded
the 18th instant the camp Of the Fifteenth regiment
New York Volunteers Colonel Mcleod Murphy, by whom
WAS courte0asy received and the culinary
OF the command at once placed under my direction The
various companies found to I've in organza
tioA quite favorable for instruction. and MS general
thing the cooks quite prepared TO receive it, On each
day the Colonel OF the s,a ofcers accompanied
our inspection, and in Eve days such Improvement
Effected in the mode Of preparing food that not
Only the evidence furnished by The openly expressed
satisfaction OF the soldier but in the great marked
diininution Of sickness and disease.
On the 10th inst his Exceency Governor Morgan and
the Surgeon General DR. yaAderpoei we're regaed by
collation. composed exclusively Of soldiers ratlons
cooked in camp kettles over camp fres, and fay
satisfied, both to the feasibility VI my plan aud lis
practical resulssau opinion fully endorsed hy The prime
pal officers Of the regimenas evnced by the letter ad-
dressed by them to your Resident Secretary.
The following week the cook who had previously ass
companed me, and 10 whom ] was much indebted for
many valuable suggestions and assistance obliged
return 70 New York; but another being at hand
menced instrncng the company cooks Of the Thirty third
regiment New York Volunteers, and. after i've days
constant attendance succeeded in producing sasfac
tory results.
In both of those regiments received The hearty co
operation Of the chief officers including he Surgeons
and and anb ss 9sos s ss sS
been achieved. In the fifteenth some Of the line
officers did frequently exhibit s5it t0ncs for the health
Thirty third with perhaps single cxcepiAor bui little
thought of those matters appeared to trouble hem
In but one company Of either regiment did find the
material Tor company fund 81 the rest, if entirely
short being very much srseea In tue case referred 10
the nun ~ charge had been protested COOK home
and was consequently mere proficient Tran his fellows
Hs5iif thus fuhlied my engagements to the State and
proven the perfect feasibility Of my proposed reform
must now rest on my ares, and swa, further action
the part of those IN authority. B1 beore any beie-
fetal effect can be astrgiy produced. garug diff
oultes must be ersdesiei and removed.
First of all strict military discipline both in the officer
aud the private, must be immediately introduced
Next the gross ignorance the part OF the officers
commanding companies, 10 the minor details Of their
dayn reference 10 the reception of raons, detailing
company COOKS and men to carry water for thcm, order
aud regularity in the distribution of food the proper
cng OF the kitchen and vicinity and their personal
Nen,on in the inspection OF the food fedressng wrongs
! and the establishment Of order-n,st te reformed
Then, the ignorance and inetacency Of the quarter
masters IN many cases unavoidable. IN others clearly
! criminal, should he mtgacd and checked. Suddenly
placed in positions OF great trust and respons bty and
aborng uuder the idea that their frs, duty 10 them
selves, they find themselves embarrassed by The multi
riicity and variety Of their employmcnts. and while
STRIVING 70 Increase ,nelr own profits commensarste'y
stringent punshneni would efecuay check the opera
tions OF these gentry.
And lastly The iDexperience mprovidence and ieuo
Of the private shoud be ameoraed and removed
All with but few exceptions totally unused TO the prepa
ration Of food FIND themselves unexpectedly charged with
catering for company Of seldom less than seventy per
sons. tnscquaiued with the simplest principles OF the
art o. cooking, and provided with The ,aost primitive
must necessarily Ind them elves much puzzled produc
ing wholesome or paatsbe food from the material
furnished Them 10y regulation. With the most skilliu
cooks, TO render these greasy compounds heahful anu
nutricous Is difficult; aud even in the regular army
grease and fat are predominant characteristics spite of
their constant experience aud practice
IN amount the faIops cf ihe most liberal cha
raccr and susceptible o. much variation IN the hands
Of a sSiltul COOK and experienced quarternaser:
bit with the present organization OF the volunteers
and The HnproyiucBCe 81 those engaged as company
cooks IL VIII he found affair of great labor 10 ns
into them either economy a knowledge OF their
bostuess and the benehS ~ be attained from a company
tnd or wholesome cooking VIII hardly be available
untii the close of the war, il then.
H. the lat report bad the honor 10 make 60 this Com
mission suggested changes. aud made some re
ohmuendaion based on the impression that q thorough
"l' ls'llYc rtiorm was desired satisfied that such
ho me ra' oH jhc part at any Of the constituted anhor
bs ana quite need that nothing but the ,nsig
hAht changes wiU be couuteranced by the powers that
oe, would noV medity my former views by gently init
ha.iht ua vac engagement Of one good cook for each
| reRneht Hgh possibly be productive OF benefit
Wlth many tulpks for ycpr powerful assistance ami
kndp cocpeiaru aud tnsting that the great reforms
you mediate may ultimately receive that snprecip; o..
they merit, am, very respectfully your obeden ser
| want. JAMES NJ SANDFPSoN
| WASHINGTON, n c, July 90 1861.