The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-03-25

WAS always upDernloSt IN a soldier
! niin,-'' internal improvements,
IS S.,;rc one has aptly styled it.
lie could make out with any Old
sort ui bed ii his comniSsarv ar
ra,lycnlcntS were in good shape.
. That was kept constantly in view,
and If The government failed at
any TIME to look after his interest
in that way he generally devised
WAYS and means himself to keep
the woli at a respectful distance.
! No one could enjoy a wholesome
meal more than himself. but he did
not let quality bluff him off. SO
! long as the quantity satisfied his
desires. and tie one day was all he
took thought OF. it didn't concern
him what the morrow might bring
; forth: he only hoped he would be
! provided ior, it mattcred not how.
! During the first YEAR OF the war the
! government was very good to us
! furnishing ample ration> OF flour,
meal. salt. bacon. moi 'eS, rice
fresh beef and, considering their
scarcity. good supplies OF sugar and
coffee. The beef was Of the finest
! uual!tv-far better than the aver
/ AGE article found in the markets to-
! ,lav-and there was no STINT, a
! quarter being allowed each COM
! panv at every iS>uc Tor the men to
cut from at their pleasure. During
! the ;irst winter stacks OF fine steaks
could be seen piled up outside
/ the cabins or tents to freeze. and
when wanted had to be separated
with a hatchet. But, alas! such
conditions did not continue long
and were probably not properly ap-
preciated at the time. The second
! YEAR of the war had dawned before
! the soldier really began to get IN
much of his fine work. and that he
was equal to the occasion no one
will gainSay.
i As a rule. in the meat line, bacon
not TOO lean. seemed TO suit the sol
der the best. He could broll ii
over a very small fire while resting
on a>march. or eat it raw II neces-
sarv. When in camp he preferred
to use a irving pan and use the
| grease for shortening his biscuits
or making the popular dish 'cush:
and it seemed to go further than
other kinds OF meats. 1t also oc-
cupied very little space in his haver-
! sack. which was quite all important
| 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 it,
and which could be spread like
butter on bread. Many good cooks
developed during those memorable
four years and many of the dishes
prepared would have done credit
to professional.
When the butcher killed beet
several men were detailed TO help
him. They usually fell heirs to the
! 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
thereirom and chopped up on a
new stump TO- sausages or Ham
burg steak. Sometimes they would
be boiled until the bones could be
easily removed, when with the adj
dition OF salt and red or black pep
per. very toothSonc souse was
produced.
In the article OF bread, flour was
more frequently issued, but often
crackers "raidtalk and corn
! meal iell to our lot. During the
seven DAYS battles around Rich
nlond. and On other occasions. we
used crackers chiefly. probably
from the fact our friends. the
enemy" kept us abundantly sup
piled. and also for the reason that
we hadn't the time to do much
cooking that week. The enemy