The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-15

Of every imaginable shape and kind. Each
cook was watching his own particular pot
or pan, and we betide the man who stepped
out OF The room for a moment; on his re-
turn he would be sure to find his own pan
removed and someone else's in its place
Then came the fun. Like little children,
their angry passions would rise: and al
though they did not exactly scratch ont
each others eyes on more than one occasion
these disputes came very near having seri-
ons ending, demonstrating thoroughly that
starvation would bring 10 the surface
ALL THE ANIMAL THERE is IN MAN.
well remember a Captain in our regiment
large. powerful man, very slow and deliberate
in action-washing the ration Of meat for our
mess OF % a piece weighing probably three
pounds mt the water-faucet, when young
Lieutenant Of the Regular Army suddenly
thrust his cup under the faucet. pushing away
thc meat, when the Captain slowly raised his
ewes. and seeing in the l.ientenant's face look
of contempt, like fash he raised the meat,
and the Lieutenant received "sockdoiager
back of the ear with il that struck him like a
solid shot. and a lively scrimmage followed.
In il all. however, you may be sure the meat
was carefully looked after and applied TO its
INTENDED use
oar wheatbrcad rations continued for two
months. when change was made TO solid corn
bread. made ont OF corn ground cob and all
and mixed with cold water, baked soliG. which
Supplied us with a very substantial article oi
diet.
The supply &c meat soon became very I'M
certain: sometimes a whole week would elapse
without any. and on three occasions TO my
personal knowledge, mule meat was issued 20
us and as a matter OF course lt WAS not a very
Fat mule either. for they did not kill that kind,
as they had hetier use for them; and. in fact,
We had serious donbts whether they had been
killed or had died 8 natural death. The officers
IN hospital at one time were As hours without
Tatiops. On one occasion meat was issued TO
us only once In I6 days; at another time once
in two weeks The rations furnished officers
We're always uncoOked. but those given 70 the
enlisted men were cooked, and consisted OF
weak sOup-as il is called; better say
WEAK WATER. IN Old DIRTY PALS
and about six ounces Of poor bread TO man.
When complaint was made TO the prison Off
cials IS 10 quantity and quality of the food
furnished, their reply would be that il was the
best they could do. and 1 presume there was
possibly grain Of truth 10 that. The daily
papers were constantly complaining sbout their
Government feeding 50 many Yankees, aud one
paper advised the authorities 10 cOnfiscate
boxes OF clothing and provisions sent us by
our friends In the North. As soon as we be-
came satisfied that immediate exchange was
very uncertain. we began 10 order provisions
and clothing from our Northern friends. At
first these supplies were delivered 10 rs quite
promptly, bat they soon suspected us Of SNUG
Cling IN letters and money in this way, and
they had good cause 10. The many different
ways used TO conceal these articles exhibited
tie ingenuity OF our friends at home As all
letters sent US in the regular way were read by
tie rebel officials before delivery to US. we did
NOT know where TO look for the concealed arti-