Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-30
ARMY HOUSEKEEPING.
The Queer Partnerships Which Were
Often Found in the Army,
Inter Ocean.l

Inter Oceanl
Ire housekeeping arrangements OF soldiers
were subject to all sorts of variations. These
differed in different regiments, even as to the
general features, and it is extremely difficult
10 present any one man as 4 type of the army
housekeeper In nearly all regiments the
plan OF employing a company cook was
abandoned when active campaigning com
menced Mess cooks succeeded; but when the
ihIeIminabie marches in Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Georgia and Alabama commenced, these
gave way to another arrangement The
actual lighting strength of the company on
sach MARCHES was rarely more than fifty men.
For the sake OF convenience in issuing rations
the company was divided into three messes or
divisions, each with a recognized chief. These
nlesseS We're formed of men who naturally as
soclated together when this could be dorle.
but they often had nothing in common.
The company sergeant, detailed for the
purpose, drew the rations for the company.
divided them into three parts, ana calling a
representative of each Inesatassigned IA pa,4
TO each. This was divided into sixteen o..
thirteen parts, as there Were sixteen or thir-
teen men, by the chief of mess, and some
man turning his back as each successive bile
was touched in answer to the question.
Whose pile is this!n assigned it to some par-
ticular man. Each man at once took CHARGE
OF his own crackers, meat, potatoes, coffee,
sugar, etc, and took care CT them The men
Iii cooking made up families Of two. and
these families were as independent in their
individuality as families in a village, and the
relationship between the two s'pards" was
very close. Sometimes for weeks the COM
pany would not see the company wagon. or
have the use Of camp kettle or other cooking
utensils provided by the government. This
LED to the general adoption of little quart ket.
ties for coffee. canteen halves for skillets. and
the two partners carried always with them
their blankets, shelter tents, cooking utensils.
and provisions. By this arrangement thu
army acquired that capacity for prompt
movement and long continued effort under
dlsadvantageous circumstances, that made ii
so efflclent in western campaigns
These families of two were often queer
partnerships. One OF the couple was often a
orunkard, while the other was strictly tenn
perate; one hard Swearer, while the other
had a horror for profanity; one an intelligent
man with literary tastes, while the other was
shallow, with a contempt for books. The
partners We're rarely from the same neigh
oorhood. The relationship was entirely an
army one.
The domestic life was not ALWAYS pleasant
Sometimes there would be quarrels and fights
and temporary divorces. Both men would
then be lone Widows because no other
family would take them in, and there would
In time be reconciliation Some partners
never had any unpleasantness, and were held
up as models OF domestic happiness. Some
times a lone widow would coax another,
mans partner to dissolve a partnership aud
form another. This reused the INDIGNATION
OF the company, and the men looked forward
aHxlously TO the time when the new partnef.-
ship would bust up. Some men ALWAYS
pestered their partner. A quiet fellow called
"Old Steer" had little Double" for a partner.
Ii tAe former was Oh guard, and came in
az midnight to turn in, he would find Double
curled up Ike dog in the middle of the bed
Punches and pulls elected only little snarls
and snaps, Double initiating a little
dog to perfection. Finally the snarIs
would become forbidding growls.
and atlast up would spring Double, grab Old
Steer by the ear, and shake, and snarl and
growl until the company, now wide-awake.
would roar with laughter at the swearing and
pleadings and scolding on one side, aud dog
like Indifference on the other. Double void
always bring his partner down to a plea and
then, taking his teeth from his ear, would
laugh and indulge in odd remarks. Old
Horse would enter his tent like whirlwind
when coming'of guard, and rouse the whole
company by Strike light, strike light.
there's bug in the baby's ear" Bones would
come swearing up the company street about
some man snoring; swear about his boots.
about his blouse, and, soliloquizing at the top
OF his voice, order himself by sections into
bed. Other men would creep into bed along
side their partners as quietly as husband in
town slipping in after regular hours.