The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-02-14
ARMY HOUSEKEEPING 81 !
The Queer Partnerships Which Were
Often Found in the Army.
Inter Ocean.


The 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
TO present any one man as type of the army
housekeeper. In nearly all regiments the
plan OF employing company cook was
abandoned when active campaigning COM
menced. Mess cooks succeeded; but when the
interminable marches in Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Georgia and Alabama commenced, these
gave way to another arrangement. The
actual fighting strength of the company on
such 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
messes were formed of men who naturally as
ISOLATED together when this could be DONE
but they often had nothing in common.
The company sergeant, detailed for the
purpose, drew the rations for the companv
divided them into three parts, and calling a
representative of each mess assigned a part
to each. This was divided into sixteen or
thirteen parts, as there were sixteen or thir.
teen men, by the chief Of mess and some
man turning his back as each successive pile
was touched in answer to the question,
y" hose pile is this!" assigned it to some par
tcuiar man. Each man at once took charge
OF MS own crackers, meat, potatoes, coffee,
sugar. etc, and took care of them The men
IN cooking made up families of two, and
these families were as independent in their
individuality as families in village. and the
relationship between the two ''pardsn was
very close Sometimes for weeks the com
pany would not see the company wagon or
nave the use of camp kettle or other cooking
utensils provided by the government This
LED to the general adoption of little quart ket
Ties Tor coffee. canteen halves for skilets. and
the TWO partners carried always with them
their blankets, shelter tents, cooking utensils.
and provisions. By this arrangement the
army acquired that capacity for PROMPT
movement and long continued effort under
observation-disclosures circumstances that made i:
SO efficient in western campaigns.
These families of two were often queer
partnerships. One of the couple was often a
urunkard, while the other was strictly tenn
perate; one a hard swearer, while the other
nad horror for profanity; one an intelligent
man with literary tastes. while the other was
shallow, with contempt for books The
partners were rarely from the same neigh
oorhood. The relationship was entirely an
army one.
Inc 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
III time be a 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 and
form another. This reused the indignation
OF the company, and the men looked forward
anxiously to the time when the new partner
ship would bust up. Some men ALWAYS
pestered their partner A quiet fellow called
"Old Steer" had little Double" for partner
II the former was on guard, and came in
at midnight to turn in, he would find Double
curled up like dog in the middle of the bed
Punches and pulls elicitei only little snarls
and snaps, Double initiating little
dog to perfection. Finally the snarls
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 and dog
like indifference on the other Double would
always bring his partner down to a plea. and
then, taking his teeth from his ear, would
laugh and indulge in odd remarks. Old
ESrse would enter his tent like whirlwind
when coming off guard. and rouse the whole
company by Strike a light, strike light
there's bug in the babys ear" Bones would
come swearing up the company street about
some man snoring; swear about his boots
about his blouse, and, soliloquizng at the top
of his voice, order himself by sections into
bed. Other men woull GREEN into la.l along.
side their partners as quietly as a husband in
town slipping in after regular hours
Land Along the Canadian PaciGc.