The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-21

cupy a mile of " 'front.'" but for strong
line-of of-battle 5000 men with two bat
teries should be allowed to each mile, OF
division would habitually constitute a
double line with skirmishers and re-
serve on mile of " front"
SCIENCE OF FEEDING AN ARMY.
The" feeding of an army is matter
of the most vital importance, and de-
mands the earliest attention of the Gen
eral intrusted with a campaign. To be
strong, healthy and capable Of the
largest measure of physical effort, the
soldier needs about three pounds gross
of food per dav, and the horse or mule
about 20 pounds.
When a General first estimates the
quantity of food and forage needed for
an army of fifty or one hundred thou
sand men, he is apt to be dismayed, and
here good staff is indispensable, though
the General cannot throw off on them
the responsibility. He must give the
subject his personal attention, for the
army reposes in him alone, and should
never doubt the fact that their existence
overrides in importance all other con-
! siderations.
Once satisfied of this, and that all has
been done that can be. the soldiers are
always willing to bear the largest meas
ure of privation. Probably no army
ever had a more varied experience in
this regard than the one | commanded
in 1S64-'65.
Our base of supply was at Nashville,
supplied by railways and the Cumber-
land River, thence by rail to Chatta-
nooga, a secondary base," and thence
forward a single-track railroad. The
stores came forward daily, but I en-
deavored to have on hand full supply
for 20 days in advance.
These stores were habitually in the
wagon-trai'ls distributed to corps, diyis-
ions and regiments, in charge of ex-
perienced Quartermasers and Commits
saries, and became subject to the orders
of the Generals commanding these
bodies. They were generally issued on
provision returns, but these had to be
closely scrutinized, for too often the
Colonels would make acquisitions for
provisions for more men than they re-
ported for battle.
OF course, there are always a good
many non-combatants with an army,
but, after careful study, limited their
amount to % per cent. of the effective "
strength" and that was found to be
liberal. An ordinary army-wagon
drawn by SIX mules may be counted on
to carry 5000 pounds net, equal to the
food of a full regiment for one day, but,
by driving along beefcattle, a Commits
sary may safely count the contents of
one wagon as sufficient for two days
food for regiment of a thousand men;
and as corps should have food on
hand for 20 days ready for detachment.
it should have 800 such wagons, as
proyision-train and for forage, ammu-
milton, clothing and other necessary
stores, it was found necessary to have
800 more wagons, or 600 wagons in all,
for corps d'0smee.
These should be absolutely under the
immediate control of the corps COM
mander, who will, however, find it eco
nomical to distribute them in due pro-
portion to his divisions, brigades and
even regiments. Each regiment ought
usually TO have at least one wagon for
convenience to distribute stores, and
each company two pack-mules, SO that
the regiment may always be certain Of a
meal on reaching camp without waiting
for the larger trains.
WHILE on THE MARCH
| On long marches the artillery and
wagon-trains should always have the
right of way, and the troops should inn
provise roads to one side, unless forced
to use bridge in common. and all trains
should have escorts to protect them, and
to assist them in bad places.
To this end there is nothing like actual
experience, only, unless the officers in
command give the subject their personal
attention, they will find their wagon
trains loaded down with tents, personal
baggage, and even the arms and KNAPP
sacks of escorts. Each soldier should,
if not actually "sick or wounded" carry
his musket and equipments containing
from forty to sixty rounds of ammuni-
ton, his shelter-tent, blanket OR over
coat, and an extra pair of pants, socks,
and drawers, in the form Of scarf, worn
from the left shoulder to the right side
in lieu of knapsack, and in his haver-
sack he should carry some bread, cooked
meat, salt, and coffee
| do not believe a soldier should be
loaded down too much, but, including
his clothing, arms, and equipment, he
can carry about fifty pounds without
impairing his health or activity. A
simple calculation will show that by
such distribution a corps will thus
carry the equivalent of FIVE hundred
wagon loads-and immense relief to the
trains.
Where an army is near one of our
many large navigable rivers, or has the