The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-08-21
National Guard Rations.
WHAT THE STATE PAYs-CAMP sIGFRlED
"REMINISCENCES.

A complaint having been made by
some of the Philadelphia members of
the National Guard concerning the sub
sistence in camp and the pay for SER
vice,a reporter of the Harrisburg Potri-
OF made inquiry concerning the matter
of prominent officer of the Guard.
81 cant understand" said the gentle
man, "what is meant by the per capita
allowance for subsistence referred to by
tho Philadelphia complaint. He fixes
the sum fifteen cents day. Now,
there is no such thing as a per capita
allowance. Every soldier is allowed a
full ration. A full ration includes ham,
fresh beef, mess pork, potatoes, peas,
fresh onions, coffee, sugar, hard and soft
bread, canned tomatoes, and other veg
etables in ample quantity. If this can
be supplied for fifteen cents day that
is all it costs. If more is necessary the
State has to pay the bill But no Com.
missary is limited to fifteen cents a day
per man SO far as l have any know.
ledge OF the Guard encampments.
The ration as furnished to the Ma
tional Guard is practically the same as
that supplied to the regular army, ex-
cept that it is of better quality and in
greater abundance. During the recent
encampment of the Third Brigade, at
Mt. Gretna, Surgeon General Reed said
after examining the coffee and other
cOmmissary stores that the goods were
fully 25 per cent better than similar
articles sold by retail dealers to their
customers As to the quantity, that is
regulated by the Judgment of the most
experienced meD, and that it is ample
is proved by the fact that at Gettys-
burg last year some of the companies
had a surplus, which they sold at the
termination of the camp. OF course
some companies exhaust their supplies
and are compelled to make assessments
to renew them. But this is not by rea
son of an insufficient amount for the
soldiers. 1t is because visitors to the
camp are entertained from the common
store. In some cases this has been
carried on to such an extent that men
have had to invest the full amount of
their compensation to keep up the sup
ply. But even this year it proved in
the Third Brigade encampment that the
supply was sufficient,for the companies
that entertained no guests or only few
had surplus stores at the close of the
camp season.
Another reason that some companies
are compelled to pay assessments lies
in the fact that the boys think the
camps are intended for picnics, and
they want to indulge in the luxuries of
picnic occasions, For example, when
the Third brigade was going into camp
the other day squad from one of the
companies stopped at Lebanon, and
made arrangements to have ice cream,
cantaloupes, green tomatoes and other
kindred luxuries, supplied to them ev.
cry day. OF course the state will not
pay for such articles of diet as those
AS matter of fact the commanding
officers and medical officers of regi
ments are derelict in their duty if they
permit the men to indulge in such arti
cles of food. The rations chosen with
a view to strengthen the men agains
the arduous labors of the camp, and
give them force to resist the influence
of heat and other elements incident to
camp life. But ice cream, cantaloupes
watermelon and similar edibles, howey
er palatable, invite rather than resis
these influences, and the State is righ
in not providing them, but the officer
in charge should prohibit their intro
duction. Ice was supplied this year
each company being allowed fift!
pounds day. Fresh beef was furnish
ed, one ponnd and quarter to eacl
man two days in week. Ham of th
finest grade in the same quantity wa
furnished the other days, and coffee
sugar, beans, rice, bread, fish and hare
tack, salt, pepper, vinegar and candle
and soap in abundance all the time
1t seems that such commissariat ough
to have been sufficient for any set O
men. If their friends outside the guar,
came and ate them out of house an,
home, the state authorities are not re
sponsible for that. The state feeds tn
soldiers according as those charge,
with the work think it for their bes
comfort and health, and if their friend
come to camp and consume the proven
der there is nothing left for them bu
to supply the deficiency out of thei
own pockets.