Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-09-06
"soNe OF TIE DIRT
b the finely written .
RATIoNs ISSUED TO THE ARMY.
CAEP MAR RIcHMOBD, !
August 81, 1854.
10 he Editor Of TIE WHO .

To ths Editor Of TIE Wig:
Is has been our lot TO have been for some months at
behed TO the military department known the "Ricb-
mOnd Deisnoes," during which time We have patiently,
silently, slmosl uncomplanngy, bcrue with the miser.
able Ood aud ram snt issued TO q; but there is point
at which patience ceases to be virtue. Were the
hardsbps of which We complain the result Of stern
esssity should not say word, bu4, knowing to the
vontraFy, II Tor a moment / thought the Government
was og1IAnt of such treatment, should consider it
Government disgraesd; disgraOsd in the lack of oil
those good qaaee, Justice Truth Gratitude, and this
like, which 20 10 make up Whatever recognise as
noble in an individual or nstiol; but do not believe
the army, while suffers aud ia dumb, is far from be-
ewing that these hardshps, supeEadded 10 the una
voidabls dspFVstiOns of the SOLDIER, are Imposed
Them by the Government they trua in so implicitly, but
We look to 1t to have the matter thoroughly inVestga
ted and set right.
The ratOas issued to troops In this department are
a. follows:
Corn meal, pound per day, almost invariably trashy
and mlsty
Peas, ! n of pound per day full of worms and
WeNVels.
Bacon, fh of pound pr dsy, rancid, and frequently
very much tainted.
Salt pounds for 100 men per day.
SNap-none ~
Take in conjunction With the shove bill of fare
which, when served up consists Of musty corn bread
and little rancid grease for breakfast aud little
cid grease aud musty bread for dnner-the fact
thal monthly pi.snce Of pay il withheld from
for four SIX and eight months at time, and you will
perceive that We obliged either to iced ourselves
10 some mys' eUous way, eat food unit almost for
sWine 60 hungry, besides remaining filthy from alb
Oluta lack of soap, or money to pay for washing
Wholesome food end strict cleanliness indispensable
20 the health and efficiency Of an army the first
cannot gator the latter We have trust to our Wits
for Mr. Editor homes ara not within the Oonfede
Inca therefore cannot supply ourselves bat
absolutely dependent Upol our ratOns
Some days AGO one Of our took some meal to
nsghbOrng house TO exchange for ts flour, for the
uze of sick eomrsds. Tee lady sad she would will
hney mske the exchange, as she wanted meal but her
negroes could not cat Slch as zoe had We have fire.
qlenuy lad throw away cur entire raions OF peas
their being full of worms and TeeVis; yet In the
ace Of this The Government agents. the other day, ad
vertised in the Richmond papers, afNge quantity Of
peas for sale guaranteed sound Thee we're, / pie
suRe bought by traders for seeing some, very good
exposed for sae in stors Main street, and being
asked price On q par with the enormous rates OF all
things Richmond inquired Of he s!orekesper where
re bought ttsm. H aasW red, From the Govern
mcut" s. Il would seem these agents, or whatsoever
you miShs plss.e them when, By mistake they
gee any army supplies which being sObRd are consid
cred By them too good Tor sOldere they sell them TO
sDecul tors and eAt3fuOnef5 BlM gh0Tdne5s Out rs
he private in the army has to grin and bear every
fraud and imposllion, they throw the rotten husks to
him without apology Some may ask, why lot have
these things cond mnedI We have tried that in the
case of zone rotten meat Alter tedious process,
uoscrbng 20 all the red tsps" forms for which this
department. Is famous, the meat condemned, and
ent back to the Coumisssry, who said 'If you dont
take that you will have 10 do without; for have noh
ne better 10 Hsle."
In regard clothing, although provided in she regu
atious that il shall be uniform IN quality and style
are the prices it is just the reverse. TIE clothing
bureaus are provided with very good and very bad
qualities and K is impossible for any company COM
Gander obtain from the quartermassers, who issue
Lbese things any tu' the worthless articles of all
shades ana shGpes yet for these, which last but few
weeks the prices charged as for the bet
40 tia, ffequesy the yearly stipend 81 owed the SOL
er for Cl0tniug has to be oVeFdrATn-the cost of
IRA issu-s bsing then deducted from lis monthly pay.
Yet IN Richmond you fad the Reserve forces, detailed
men, Quartermaster clerk and tho like dressed in the
fasst most serviceabe uniforms Confederate soldiers
are easily satsded they have become inued to priva-
,oHs and viii continue 70 confront oheerfuly, all hard
ships which are Necessary Had II been poss BILE 10
qlgneh their patriotism in any way, Confederate qsr-
rmlsleTs and es would pave done long age.
bany singular questions are asked sometimes about
these men many VI whom have, from poverty, sud-
denly grown rich, bu: it Wtud no doubt ofsnd them
20 har those queries sOd their answers We much
and az very hie bat there is thing DO say. and
say il emphRl cay II the ehort mnss In other re
specta OF these servan oS the people overlooked,
tbey should be compelled soeehoV furnish the army
nib food &. for nsH % eat and sach ether things s
entitled 90 a. 'sosp-Whioh cannot well be done With
ont ard little money occasionally A neglect Of ali
.htss duties do charge up0n the Qlarterrasters and
1onnisssrss OF tbs chmoad De.snces. aud am July
prepared OF any moment prove The justice Of the
Charge. Yours,
ITbis mater deserves investigation; snd il is the duty
of those who issue these rsOu that soldiers
o Lave b-ea Ia the forefront since the outbreak Of
the war, should rsosive better tseatmen.