The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-01-30
What the Army Eats.

The exact number of Union troops in and
about Washington is not known to the public.
and Is not a proper subject for speculation. Ii is
sale TO say, however, that either Ihe number is
very large, or the soldiers have prodigious appe-
ttes, which happily, leaves no room to doubt of
their excellent bodily health. The furnishing
OF food for the enormous stomach of the ARMY,
Is not one OF the least perplexing problems of the
campaign. Provisions are plenty enough, but il
Is not always easy TO get the best ouality-and
nothing else Is now considered fit for our Army
though, in the hurry and confusion which
prevailed at the outset of the war, large lots of
rotten beef and other worthless subsistence stores
were palmed off on the soldiers. Since the
United States Government has taken charge of
the feeding department, there has been no cause
oil complaint. Of course this city, on account of
It's situation, railroad and water connections, and
commercial advantages, is the principal depot
Tor receiving and forwarding supplies 10 wash
inSton. The most ponderous item of the sup
pies weekly contracted for, inspected and sent
to the hungry mouths on the Potomac, is meat,
IN KIND and proportion about as follows Il 900
oois. mess pork, LOO bbls. extra mess beef, 81
tons bacon sides, do. of smoked hams, and "a
duly priced delicaey) l25 bbls. picked beef
tongues-all of the first quality. Of succulent
and nutricious miscellanies there are 500 bush
els OF white beans, (strongly suggestive of a
certain Yankee DISH $50 bushels of split peas,
lpalatable in soup,) 10000 pounds of rice, and
81, 900 pounds of white flint corn hominy. The
~ Hi ILN-
purchase of 10000 pounds Rio, and 100. 900
pounds of the same roasted and ground. . The
drink that cheers and not inebriates,'' is pro-
vided for by 4.500 pounds of tea, green, Oolong
and s%ouchong in equal proportions. To sweeten
both OF these beverages, $50 900 pounds of dry
light yellow sugars are considered not too liberal
an allowance and 5000 gallons more of sac
matter is furnished in the shape of good
or syrup, as u concomitant, for the
nee, and toothsome and healthy in other rela-
tons The soldier is RECALLED with only one
species OF preserved fruit, which, taken with n
little water, is said to possess extraordinary fat
tening properties. We allude to dried apples, of
which 10000 pounds are weekly forwarded.
The formidable list concludes with 400 900 lbs of
irst quality pilot bread. Some of these noun
ainous stores are sent by railroad, but most of
hem by sailing vessels. From one to five schoon-
RS, deeply laden, leave this port for Washing
on daily. Such rs are not needed for immedi-
tie use, are packed in the vast warehouses at
he capital against the contingencies Of short
upply and high prices at some future time
here is a large accumulation Of salt meats for
resh meats to the extent of 100 or 200 beeyes, is
ally served out to the army. Dry bread also
ccumulates rapidly; for over 100, 900 loaves are
baked and distributed. The Nation looks
n fondly while the army eats, g~rudging nothing,
ut atfectionately hoping that . good digestion
Jay wait on appetite.-N. Y. Paper.