The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-20

raw if necessary. When in camp he pre- ferred to use frying pan and use the grease for shortening his biscuit or mak- ing the popular dish "cush;" and 1t seem ed to go further than other kinds of meat. It also occupied very little space in his haversaok, which was quite an im- portant consideration. He could eat any kind of bacon, from the sweetest country cured article to the thick Nassau" which was rank and fat, without ghost of lean about 1t. and which could be spread like butter on bread Many good cooks developed during those memorable four years and many of the dishes pre- pared would have done credit to pro- fessional.
 When the butcher killed beef several men were detailed to assist him. They usually fell heirs to shins, heart liver, etc., and were always glad to be called on. The liver they would fry. the heart would be stuffed and baked. and the shins would go into the soup kettle. or the lean meat taken therefrom and chop ped up on a new stump for sausages or Hamburg steak Sometimes they would be boiled until the bones could easily be removed, when with the addition of salt and red or black pepper, very tooth some souse was produced
 In the article of bread. flour was more frequently issued, but often crackers ("raidtalk'O and cornmeal fell to our lot. During the seven days battles around Richmond and on other like occasions, we used crackers chiefly, probably from the fact "our friends. the enemy" kept us abundantly supplied. and also for the reason that we hadn't the time to do much cooking that week. The enemy were very generous too. with coffee leaving it by the bushel for cur bencht.
 It was, however, during the latter years of the war that the soldier made ms reputation as a provider. If there wSS anything to eat in the region through which he was passing, or within ten miles of his camp, he generally got his share and the yarns he told when on foraging expedition were often marvel lous. When he had money he was willing to pay for what he got but when he was short on currency his ingenuity was exercised to accomplish his purpose. In some localities. notably in East Tennes- sec, Confederate "shins' were N. G., and when we went out on grub hunt we provided ourselves with carbonate of so- da and chewing tobacco to barter for ba- con, beans, onions, dried fruit, sorghum, etc. Cooking soda was scarce and in great demand, plug tobacco was also sought after; almost every man, woman and child in the mountains of East Tennessee used 1t. The soda we obtained from the suffers and the government supplied us with the plug" When we had these arr ticles we found little difficulty in pre- vaillng on the people to exchange their produce for them.
 At the beginning of the war most of the soldiers wore nice gray uniforms, with brass buttons and caps of the same color but when those clothes were worn out the government supplied the men with Jackets and pants of homespun. gray or something like 1t in color. and shirts of -unblcached cotton. Socks of cot ton and wool were sometimes furnished, but most of the supply came from the individual homes. as likewise did tho hats. which were made of cloth. several ply being quilted together so as to give them shape. When carefully made of good material they were quite dressy. Nice colored shirts from home were also worn by many. Some of them were taste fully trimmed and very stylish. These cam. in very handy when a visit was to be made,
 omitted to say that shoes also were furnished by the Government, but have seen men wearing moccasins made of OK ri6es when new shoes were not to be ? hsd. I have also known men to appro- i prIatc shoes from tho feet of dead Fed | erals after q battle. but that was not l inc custom by any means. Tho suits and shoes did not always it the person who
 got them They were apt to be too large,