New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-07
,UPERSISOES.
DESERTIOYS FROM THE IRuT

THE LOT OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FIFTY YEARS
AGO AND TODAY CoNTRAsTED.
I'm q communication 10 The army and Nary
P,gjscra writer draws the following contrast between
the lot Of the American soldier nifty even forty years
ago and his condition now:
rh,n private soldier received - MONTH his clothing
and his iatlons consisting of beef or pork mo"r n,u
beans or rice and gill Ol wlShey ever! mo! NM
ilcly after rycillc. All the posts on the western ron
Tier from Lake superior To the Gulf OF Mexico were pun
hy The soldiers Mechanics and men employed aI lauo
ri ON extra duty received fifteen cents day cIia anu
nm cxtrl gill of whscy per day Their companions MOI
employed in building barracks or 3thsr lelhiH,. ip
without any extra compensation f9id Il',ipnHT M,N
enforced and company Commlu'is TOOK "T,u ,n.
orcrs which soldiers committed, and there were some
ca,cs where punishment wac dictated t f by TuT
Out of their small piltancc Of pay soldiers naa 10
n'. In brushes. backing, etc. Instead ol COOK
ING ranges fully furnished, tncy h4d 'du hcl nm,
Tnt ln douhlc hunks two stories high. two men IN
bunk straw beds and Their c%JmnE ~'T N tb L%4
There we're no wash rooms or cohN chcce' OF Any NH"
Tor GamS ,as severe and arhtraly drunkenness was
made the rue by the morning gil OF WhIk! 'I lH
was very little to reconcile man TO army lli1 ruy
stcp toward lettering the Conllo oil Hc w., W
, mtnn of sugar and coffee for the Whiskcy part OF
the ration though 0t first the allowance "tI Uly N
pounds Of the one and tour pouhus OF It U'io w. J
hundred ratons. Then the pay was sugIly IHCt''',"
aud better kind of clothing was ISSUED, so" Icy 1
yrucnccs about the barracks were audtd uuu - ~ ~
hut very slowly, improvements nave zee. iHty ~
soldiers Ildt l'hNc lucH 'O ~
Lvn'I of %"mpiaiut Their pay Is nearly three times
Mat it was in those early times their clothing Is Deer
,I tcv have more of II; the ration l. improved ever!
,,n has hi. own bed,tead, with box for hlN clothing
and hey arc furnished with the necessary cie,IS any
is T6c barrncRs have convenient Kitchens WIN COON
@ r,n0,s and wash rooms, and broOlnS ana sclnhDHF
hrrH,lbrs are provided by the Quarterma'lc7 Depart
,,rnt There are post schools ana libraries anu h'
nnr that can be to amuse their leisure hours luhi7n
nt e. taken out Of the hands of company coianHuucIS
and piycn To courts-martdl whose proceedings are V"c
fully reviewed. -. ,,o ,,oo,, ,,,,n,,Ints
During all these years there have been COMPANY
NJ and II IL believed lUit u
% record were consulted the average would DO fouiu 10
hn ahnUt the same under like circumstance, year 10y
80 In coInnaucs and regiments. IL would help To SOY
ths difficult question II the records OF te army ior Cf
'ast dftv wears could be examined and statement
paJc NJ tle number of assertions from regiments rom
wear TO year the allowance Of pay ratlons Gloi. TI,
frou, tiync TO time and far as possible TAKING ho
nnaidrrotion all the contingencies or the service e 10
tInn of the posts climate and provision for the coo
Cut,u w. ,o1,nt Of rho men Such u statement would
obr one Ia decide whether dcscrtiOns should Dc all
uted Ia thing I'm the administration OF te army! pI
nm uncomfortable dissatisfaction WIN INC lc " "oP
~ advantage by leaving IT,