The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-07
an b;s head either fiat forage-cap with red
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|
band, OF the peaked hemet.i
His ennjprnents have much to recommend
man me knapsack is made 30 that 1t re.
taIns its shape, and never becomes baggy like
onr own, nor Is 1t filled with an undue quanti'
tv of articles. 1t Is sluDg as to fit closely to
the person, and Is not ourden TO tae solaler.
In fact. the men appear greatly attached to
their knapsacks, and are always careful OF
them. instead of throwing them away, as Is
invariably done by our troops on long
marches The flask canteen, in which is usu-
ally carried little brandy, is liable to break,
holds less than ours, and, should think, Is not
40 desirable; while their haversack is like
ours, except that 1t is never painted.
The use of the walst-bet for supporting the
cartridges is without doubt correct, as our
troops on long marches throw away the
shoulder-belts and sling the cartridge-box on
the waistkbelt This plan of placing one-half
the weight of the cartridges on either side is
too great an advantage over our own method
| to need comment. A leather pouch for money
| is hung about The neck, and also zinc plate
| attached to card, on which are engraved the
soldiers regiment, company and number.
The whole weight of the soldiers arms aud
equipments Is fifty pounds. His mess is
entirely different from the messes OF our
troops, and the cost Of it, on peace-fOoting,
comes out of his daily pay, which is three and
one-half silver groschen, or about eight cents.
rye bread.
Excepting the bread, the ration Is not fXe d
in kind, but Is determined by board OF OIL
GERS, and varies with the products and prices
of localities The companies are divided INTO
messes Of about twenty men, each OF which ss
under the charge OF a non-commlssloDed ouI-
Ger. Each company has It's mess-Doard, COM
posed of the captain, lieutenant, q non-con-
missioned officer and some privates, VINO oe-
cides all questions pertaining to themselves,
regulate the bills Of fare, and determine lne
daily cost to each soldier, and the hours VI
meals. The bill of fare varies greatly Win
localities. ,-c. ,o,,,,,,
Usually. In Germany, the breakfast consists
of thin flour soup, with some slices OF bread;
the dinner, of meat, generally mutton, OF
beef and vegetables; the supper, of what hap
pens to remain over. Coffee or tea is usually
had once day, although not considered
!. part of the ration. But while In active ser.
vice. each man receives good ration of bread
and meat, with coffee and wine, or whatever
the country supplies. The daily costs rarely
exceeds two silver groschen, and with this an
abundance OF vegetables is provided, in addl-
tIon To meat and bread. At stated Intervals,
saw once lii two or three days, the cost or
messes isi collected, and the little leather Dag
suspended about the neck is Inspected, to see
If the money has been fooishly expended.
{ The soldiers receive their pay every ten
,iays: and those who spend 1t and have no.
thing LEFT for their messing are paid daily.
Then. If they fail to save for their mess, the
pay Is given to non.commlssioned ofncer,
who uses enough for this purpose, and hands
the remainder to the soldier. Each soldier ls
allowed six cigars day, which cost him but
one silver groschen. He is responsible Tor his
arms and equipments, and If any are lost by
his fault the loss is made up by the company
If he has previously borne good character;
otherwise he must pay.
a broad line of demarcation exists between
the officer and soldler-broader, perhaps, than
In any service In Chrlstendom, and more ac-
curately defined by law, but have seen only
kindness at all times In the relations between
officers and soldiers. The men expect, and
receive, Justice, knowing their duties and the
laws that control them, and never seem for
moment to question them. On examining the
accoutre ment of soldier, sent 10 me for that
purpose, I desired him to give me needle
gun cartridge, that might examine 1t at my
leisure. He at once handed 1t 10 me, but Inc
next moment, remembering the orders against
parting with his cartridges, required 1t back
again: and do not believe that any brlbe
could have obtained 1t.