Evening star., 1898-08-12
A WOMAN IN CAMP.
She Learns What the Soldiers Would
Like From Home.

From Les1ie's Weekly.
Last night 1 messed with Troop c OF
the fst Illinois Cavalry. I was not exactly
invited, but 1T was not my fault; did all
that 1 could to get an invitation, and then
failing. invited myself.
That stew was not bad. 1t was made OF
the stuff furnished by Uncle Sam There
was a bit of fresh beef two or three inches
square, a nicely peeled new potato, and
beans. II needed, to my taste, little more
salt, but the 'nOn-cOms" said my taste
was not military" that If / continued on
in the habit of liking too much salt when l
arrived in Cuba or where water was scarce
salt would demoralize my thirst appetite;
that / must cultivate a taste for low season
ing instead of high. The dust at Chicka-
mauga is white, fine and penetrating. My
thirst just then was Overpowering me- so
l reached for the coffee cup, which could
hold a quart. The coffee was without cream
or milk, but was hot, sugared and refresh
ing. 1 declared the coffee excellent.
On examination of the troop commiSsary
department afterward l found they were
getting real coffee. which they roast them
selves. The bread was white and light, and
the meal, when this troop gets into actual
service, will be remembered equal to a
first-class hotel one.
Each man washed his own dishes and
polished them off with leftover pieces of
bread and some clean sand. Down bey 1ad
the kitchen was water pipe coming from
the creek or river. which furnished water
for cooking, washing and bathing. Here,
too. a bath house, made of four poles
and a length of canvas running around.
one of the boys had loaned me for the meal
a combination knife. fork and spoon that
had been sent to him IN a home box 1t
was, when folded about three and Il half
inches long. He carried il In his pocket,
and he was. in the possession of it, the
envy of every man in the troop, and atso
the regiment. At the table. as We were dis
cussing the convenience of the combination
fr
home boxes, I asked them what, III their
opinion, were the things most needed, aside
from most wanted Here is the list as
voiced by every one within speaking dis
tance:
1. Towels and soap.
2 A housewife containing one pair of
scissors, 2 dozen large safety pins, a dozen
steel trouser buttons a dozen bone buttons,
six pairs black shoe iaces. q flannel pad for
needles, SIX large needles, six rnedium-siZed
ones, skein of heavy white cotton and one
of black linen or shoe thread. a tailor's
thimble, a small emery, court plaster and
denim or drilling-a fiat strip with flat
pockets stitched on, and stitched off into
compartments.
3. Handkerc hiefs. Handkerchiefs are a
positive necessity for any degree of comfort
in this dusty. sandy, perspirtng climate.
l. Dark blue regulation" percaiine or
sateen shirts The government furnishes
flannel ones, but a couple of the lighter
sateen ones-made exactly in the same way
sold at department stores for about 10 cents
apiece-would be a godsend.
3 Pajamas! 1t sounds bit strained, but
pajamas are having their day, as well as
their night, IL camp among those who can
AFFORD them In coming in from drill, hot
and dusty and tired, TO slip into these COM
Portable, loose .arments is luxury. These
too, made of Oark b!ue sateen or French
flannel, would be most servic cable
In sending things il must always be in
mind that soldier must carry his pos
sessions The underclOthing, shoes, stock
ings and uniforms that the government IS
furnishing are of the best quality, and as
the quartermasters are gradually learning
their duties our volunteers are being excel
lently clothed. In addition to these things
l would provide every soldier-and officer
also, for that matter-with a bottle of ia
maica ginger, some liver pills and some
three-grain qUinine pills. Sick call is once
days O'Clock in the morning. There is a
lot of time for pain between the attack and
sick call 1t is another story and a long
one, but our volunteer army does not know
now to take care of itself Individually 1t
Will learn, but homes will be broken forever
in the learning.