Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-02
JUST WHAT THE SOLDIERS WANT.

for the preparation Of rations given TO me by
q soldier who has had some experience may be
Of service 10 th e large number Of troops now
In the field; and they are now published with
the hope that they may add something to the
comfort and health of our large army. If they
add in the slightest degree to that most impor-
tant matter, the art Of cooking for soldiers,
the object Of the writer Of this win have been
attained.
SOLDIERS BILL OF FARE FOR ONE WEEK
SEnday-Roast beef and boiled potatoes for
seventy-fve men.
Drive two forksd stakes in front of and op-
posits the end Of the cooking trench, place q
pole across them; cat IS pounds Of beef in
small pieces Of six pounds each, and suspend
each peice from the pole by q string, place
some mess pans beneath to catch the drippings
Season the beef before suspending it before
the IRE. Keep a moderate fre-two hours is
sufficient to cock it. Just before the meat is
done, take one quart of -four, previously
scorched in mess pan, and mix it with Geld
water TO the consistency of milk, pour into il
the drippings from the meat, chop an onion
fne, put the whole into q camp kettle, season
to taste, and boil it slightly; serve with the
meat The potatoes may be boiled (while the
meat is roasting) with the skins on.
MondGy.-Pea soup. Put four quarts of
peas or beans in ten gallons of cold water;
let them boil slowly for two hours, then
add the vegetables-which, If dessicated,
should be soaked half an hour in warm
wster-season to taste, put in q small piece of
bacon, and boil all together for another hour,
when 1t Is done. The meat should be bacon or
psrk cooked the day before. About one quart
of -four, mixed TO Q thin batter, should always
be added to pea or bean soup; 1t serves to
thicken the soup, and Is great preventive of
dysentery, 30 apt to be contracted by men
from change of water while marching. The
camp kettles should be perfectly clear from
AAn~ Ill Al
water in which they are boiled is greasy
THeSdGy.-Roast beef as on Sunday, with
boiled rice as follows: quarter pint for each
man. Put on the water ia which the rice is to
be cooked, and let it boil, there should be
twice the quantity Of water, in bulk, as of
rieel. When the water bOtks put in the rice,
let it boil briskly until nearly dry, take il
from the FIRE, cover it close, and let it steam.
When it is done every grain will stand out
clear. II may be eaten either with the gravy
from the meat, or with molasses.
WsdHesdGy.-Beef soup and potatoes
Cut the beef in pieces Of six pounds, put
them in the pot with plenty Of cold tcatsr,
pepper and salt, sufficient to season the soup.
About half an hour before il is taken out put
in the vegetables. (The beef should be taken
cut three-quarters of an hour before serving,
and kept Warm.) When the beef is taken out
add four pounds Of rice, and let it boil three.
quarters Of an hour, then serve with potatoes
ThHrsGGy.-Beef-stew and boiled hominy
Cut the beef in small pieces Of about an
ounce; put them in the pot, cut up some onions
and potatoes and put with it; add one quart of
-four, pepper and salt to taste; mix the ingre-
dients well, then cover the whole with water,
and let it boil slowly for two hours, then serve.
Boil hominy same as rice and serve.
FrsdGy.-Bean soup and boiled bacon.
Made same as pea soup.
Saturday Beef soup and potatoes.
A portion Of the meat, intended for break
fast, should always be cooked the day before
a very nice breakfast is made by taking the
beef, cutting il in small pieces, adding an
onion, some -four, pepper and salt, a very lit
tie water, and if the beef is not fat, q few
small pieces Of pork or bacon, should be put
with It
HOminy, also, should be cooked in sufficient
quantity the day before, to leave enough for
breakfast, when it may be eaten cold or sliced
and fried
Coffee for IS men. 5Oquarts of water, let il
bell; take 2quarts of coffee, well roasted and
ground, mix it with water until il tforms kind
OF paste, then pour it in the water, which in
all cases mast be boiling let it boil five min
utes, when it is it for use
IrIpoTtGnt.-TaEe NOttce.-Beans or peas
should never be soaked over night, as it rem
ders them tough, and they will not break to
pieces without the use Of saleratus, which
should never be used. No grease or salt
should be put with peas or beans until they
are cooked TO pieces.
Beans, peas or beef should always be put
into cold water, that they may heat through
gradually, with the water, which makes them
much easier to cook.
Meat to be carried in haversacks should be
wrapped in clean cloth or piece of paper.
Men should always have small bag of salt in
their hayersacks.
Coffaa ahould navar h. ;,sr.l --x.- - 1T
to parties going on detached service, and if the
party be small, let each man carry his own ra.
ton OF coffee and sugar, and make it in his tin
cup.
Above all things cleanliness must be OBJ
served-the kettles and pans be kept free
from grease. The want Of cleanliness sends
more men TO hospitals than any other cause.
Pepper and articles for seasoning should be
purchased from the company fund; which is
made by sales Of rations not eaten by the
men.
Coffee should always be made in a vessel of
tin, or lined with tin. Coffee made in an iron
camp kettle has dark, muddy color, and is
snpsiatable, If not unhealthy. A kettle or
two lined with tin can be purchased from the
company fund, and If the receipt for making
coffee is strictly followed you will have clear
wholesome beverage.
The above receipts have the value of expe.
rience, and if closely followed cannot fail to
produce good, wholesome, and palatable food
Breakfast for soldiers, consists Of coffee and
bread, cold meat from the dinner of the day
before, or stew; made as above directed.
Bsiled pork should be permitted to drain and
be thoroughly cold, before cut and eaten.
Dinner-any one Of the above receipts Sup
per-bresd and coffee.
On the march two meals per day are ordins-
rily prepared: breakfast sf bread, coffee and
cold meat, piece Of bread and meat carried
In the haversack, to be eaten at midday, and
after getting into camp q good substantial
meal Of bread, coffee, soup, &c If practiea-
bic, pork and bacon should be boiled the day
before il is required 10 be eaten IL the water Is
thoroughly drained of from it, it Is then firm
and palatsble. CIV.
FIsHTINs FEMININE SEcKssIoNIsTs-The Bos.
ton Transcript says that Lieut. Fairfax when be
arrested Messrs Slidell and Mason was gro..Iv