Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-27
BIRMINGHAM KNIGHTS.

In snort Wnlle our SoIuler poys
will probably note change for the better
in their food, as Commissary- General
Eagan has completed arrangements for
enisting a host of cooks. who will be dis
tributed at an early day to every COM
pany, troop, and battery in the American
army.
Just before the adjournment Of Congress
provision was made for these most well
come additions TO our military organiza-
lions, and General Orders, No. 81" are
the first steps in this direction. They
provide that cooks competent to prepare
the food for 106 men (Which is the pres
ent strength of our companies) Will be
taken for service and given the pay OF
corporal in that arm of the service to
which they belong This means that men
who are skilled in culinary methods may
procure for their knowledge something
like slS per month. But not every man
who has nosed around in the kitchen
when his wife was making pies or the
cook had absconded will serve the pur-
poses of the American army. The apph-
cant must thoroughly understand his bust
ness. and moreover his general charac-
ter must be good" Before passing mus
ter he will be carefully examined as to
his methods and his skill in preparing and
serving food, particularly as TO the degree
Of experience he has had in cooking for
large bodies Of men.
And something still more is required
The individual protesting menuistic ac-
complshments must, when occasion re-
aures. be a cook militant as well as a
cook for the satisfaction of martial appe-
tites. He must, according to the terms OF
his contract, be ready to dash aside the
dough-pan and the skillet and shoulder
a rifle. If need be. In other words, cooks
must fight, and when our army Is hard
pushed they are expected to jeopardize
the merits OF next days bill of bill of fare
by actual service. OF course, however,
they will be spared many of the irksome
duties of camp life, and will for the most
part escape the regular routine OF
soldier.
When the matter was first preached in |
Congress many old soldiers ridiculed the
idea of professional army cooks, but Gen
eral Eagan was enthusiastic over the
change, and made vigorous fight for
their enlistment. He has been begging
for army cooks for twenty-five years,
and now rejoices in his success. "There
are no soldiers in the world" says he,
"who know so little about cooking as the
soldiers OF the United States. especially
the volunteers. The men, who have come
from business offices and clerical pursuits
have little knowledge OF how their meals
should be prepared. Wives and servants
have performed such duties for them. In
European countries it is different for
the men from the peasant classes, who
make up the armies, are more accustomed
20 cooking"
Our armies In Cuba and Porto Rico will
probably have trained cooks nearly as
soon as the organizations now in camp
on American soil. Enlisted men already
in the service may be promoted 10 the
honored position. provided they come up
to the requirements.
AS the present strength of Uncle Sans
army is about 2s7,OO0 men, it will take
large number OF these culinary artists to
meet the requirements Of General Or
ders. No. o." Allowing one for every log
men. 2.707 cooks will be required. These
knights of the frying-pan, II assembled
together, would make more than two regl-
ments. The proposed change will in
crease the war expenses at least 5000 a
month.
The need Of a good cook, who thorough
~ understood the methods of preparing
food, was well exemplified at Camp Alger !
4 few days ago, when fifty men from
Kansas regiment were made i'll by eating
food which had been allowed to stand In
/ copper kettle.