Middletown transcript., 1898-06-18


to each division, and as they could not
be allowed to fill up the roads which
the army marched, they were driven
in bee-line across country, through
swamps and forests TO the point which
their division was expected to occupy.
at the proper time the fresh meat,
still on four legs, is brought 10 the
company cook; a soldier with his gun
steps from the trenches or perhaps
from around the. campfire, and in a
short time the OK has been shot through
the head, skinned, dressed and roasted.
The meat is not excellent from an epi-
curian standpoint, but is wholesome.
The luxuries of s'anti-scorbutics," as
they are officially designated, are regu-
larly supplied to soldiers only when
they are in a permanent camp. But
during active operations and even when
rapid advance movement is going on.
the commissary department will fill
with fresh, green things as many wag-
ons as can be taken from other work
and hurry them from the point. Of
ten these wagons are seen rumbling
and iolting along the lines Of battle,
stopping every few yards to leave a
heap of onions and beets and turnips
and potatoes.
An idea of the quantity of food re-
quired by an army can be gained by
considering that $4,000 rations a day
mean $50 tons Of bread, meat and
beans. The wagon train of the army
of the Potomac during its last cam
paign, was long enough to extend in a
straight line from Richmond to Wash
ingtoE, distaace of 100 miles. Three
quarters of this train was composed
of ration wagons, the other wagons
held all the ammunition and clothing
and fodder for the horses and cattle.
A distinguished general suggested that
the cattle carry their own fodder, in
sacks around their neck, but be was
not practical COW puncher.
For the comparatively short time
that the army Of the Potomac was in
camp during the eleven months ending
December, 1864, its supply of anti-scor-
butics or scrrvey preventives, included
fifteen articles, like four. potatoes.
beets and dried peaches. There were
IA, 900, 900 rations of -four consumed
and 40, 600, 900 rations of potatoes. 1t
is estimated that the potatoes placed
end to end Wonld make a belt for the
earth giant from whose body the world
was made according to the Edda. The
rations Of the United States troops
are so generous that they are not all
consumed. At the end of each cam
paign the rations left over are turned
back by the commissaries to the coul-
missary-general at Washington and in
exchange for them fresh vegetables are
received, which are drawn by the
troops as luxuries that they have
"saved up'' to get.
The sutler system has been abolished
These people formerly followed troops
on the field and remained with them
In camp, selling at exorbitant prices
the many little ''extras" that were con
stanty in demand. Officers and meI
may now obtain at lowest cost from
the commissary department on the
field such delicacies as sardines, cheese
and even condensed milk. Perishabl'
goods, like butter and fresh fruits, arr
seldom handled by commissary de
partment. There are a hundred othe
articles, however. like tobacco, shoe
strings, note paper, matches and hand
kerchiefs, that the government sup
plies at cost price.
While the rules of our cemmissary
department have not been altered ma
terially since 1866, the peculiar climat
OF Cuba makes special regulations nee
essary for our army of invasion. Ke.
West will be the first base of supple
and base will be ma de probably il
the vicinity of Matanzas. Live cattl'
will be shipped at once to Cuba, for
is not considered advisable to feed sal
meat to the men there. Besides th
regular rations and anti-scorbutics lin
cluding fresh fruits and vegetables,
whenever practicable, a pound of can
ned tomatoes will be furnished ever
fourth day. Bakers will 60 with th
army and fresh bread will almost al
together take the place of the old bar
bread. All drinking water should b
boiled and no liquor will be allowed il
camp. This last is not concession t
the temperance agitators; it is sait
that system free from alcohol bes
resists the bacilli that infest tropica
marshes. Lime Juice and vinegar wi
be freely distributed and especial food'
have been prepared for the sick. Alto
gether the invaders Of Cuba will b
better catered for than il they had gon
] on pleasure trip.
There are times that, despite tn
greatest care Of the commissary, th
army gets separated from its food sur
ply. After their four days rations al
gone, every officer and soldier has t
constitute himself commissary de
partment of one. Something like thi
occurred in the Union army during it
rapid marches in following Lees re
treat. The chief commissary foun
that his trains were stuck in th
mud and were being left far behind
Gen. Grant was informed and, at th
commissary's suggestion, the Who'll
army was turned into great foragin
party from which men were detached {
all points to drive in every edib
creature that could be found. The n
D o,lt voa annfhnr Noah1s Ark whie