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le of the largest measure of physical effort； the soldier needs about three pounds gross of food per day； and the horse or mule about twenty pounds。 When a general first estimates the quantity of food and forage needed for an army of fifty or one hundred thousand men； he is apt to be dismayed； and here a good staff is indispensable； though the general cannot throw off on them the responsibility。 He must give the subject his personal attention； for the army reposes in him alone； and should never doubt the fact that their existence overrides in importance all other considerations。 Once satisfied of this； and that all has been done that can be； the soldiers are always willing to bear the largest measure of privation。 Probably no army ever had a more varied experience in this regard than the one I commanded in 1864'65。
Our base of supply was at Nashville； supplied by railways and the Cumberland River； thence by rail to Chattanooga； a 〃secondary base；〃 and thence forward a single…track railroad。 The stores came forward daily； but I endeavored to have on hand a full supply for twenty days in advance。 These stores were habitually in the wagon…trains； distributed to corps； divisions； and regiments； in charge of experienced quartermasters and commissaries； and became subject to the orders of the generals commanding these bodies。 They were generally issued on provision returns； but these had to be closely scrutinized； for too often the colonels would make requisitions for provisions for more men than they reported for battle。 Of course； there are always a good many non…combatants with an army； but； after careful study； I limited their amount to twenty…five per cent。 of the 〃effective strength；〃 and that was found to be liberal。 An ordinary army…wagon drawn by six mules may be counted on to carry three thousand pounds net； equal to the food of a full regiment for one day； but； by driving along beef…cattle； a commissary may safely count the contents of one wagon as sufficient for two days' food for a regiment of a thousand men； and as a corps should have food on hand for twenty days ready for detachment； it should have three hundred such wagons； as a provision…train； and for forage； ammunition； clothing； and other necessary stores； it was found necessary to have three hundred more wagons； or six hundred wagons in all； for a corps d'armee。
These should be absolutely under the immediate control of the corps commander； who will； however； find it economical to distribute them in due proportion to his divisions； brigades； and even regiments。 Each regiment ought usually to have at least one wagon for convenience to distribute stores； and each company two pack…mules； so that the regiment may always be certain of a meal on reaching camp without waiting for the larger trains。
On long marches the artillery and wagon…trains should always have the right of way； and the troops should improvise roads to one side； unless forced to use a bridge in common； and all trains should have escorts to protect them； and to assist them in bad places。 To this end there is nothing like actual experience； only； unless the officers in command give the subject their personal attention； they will find their wagon…trains loaded down with tents； personal baggage； and even the arms and knapsacks of the escort。 Each soldier should； if not actually 〃sick or wounded；〃 carry his musket and equipments containing from forty to sixty rounds of ammunition； his shelter…tent； a blanket or overcoat； and an extra pair of pants； socks； and drawers； in the form of a scarf； worn from the left shoulder to the right side in lieu of knapsack； and in his haversack he should carry some bread； cooked meat； salt； and coffee。 I do not believe a soldier should be loaded down too much； but； including his clothing； arms； and equipment； he can carry about fifty pounds without impairing his health or activity。 A simple calculation will show that by such a distribution a corps will…thus carry the equivalent of five hundred wagon…loadsan immense relief to the trains。
Where an army is near one of our many large navigable rivers； or has the safe use of a railway； it can usually be supplied with the full army ration； which is by far the best furnished to any army in America or Europe； but when it is compelled to operate away from such a base； and is dependent on its own train of wagons； the commanding officer must exercise a wise discretion in the selection of his stores。 In my opinion； there is no better food for man than beef…cattle driven on the hoof； issued liberally； with salt； bacon； and bread。 Coffee has also become almost indispensable； though many substitutes were found for it； such as Indian…corn； roasted； ground； and boiled as coffee； the sweet…potato； and the seed of the okra plant prepared in the same way。 All these were used by the people of the South； who for years could procure no coffee； but I noticed that the women always begged of us some real coffee； which seems to satisfy a natural yearning or craving more powerful than can be accounted for on the theory of habit。 Therefore I would always advise that the coffee and sugar ration be carried along； even at the expense of bread； for which there are many substitutes。 Of these； Indian…corn is the best and most abundant。 Parched in a frying…pan； it is excellent food； or if ground； or pounded and boiled with meat of any sort； it makes a most nutritious meal。 The potato； both Irish and sweet； forms an excellent substitute for bread； and at Savannah we found that rice also suitable； both for men and animals。 For the former it should be cleaned of its husk in a hominy block； easily prepared out of a log； and sifted with a coarse corn bag； but for horses it should be fed in the straw。 During the Atlanta campaign we were supplied by our regular commissaries with all sorts of patent compounds； such as desiccated vegetables； and concentrated milk； meat…biscuit； and sausages； but somehow the men preferred the simpler and more familiar forms of food； and usually styled these 〃desecrated vegetables and consecrated milk。〃 We were also supplied liberally with lime…juice； sauerkraut； and pickles； as an antidote to scurvy； and I now recall the extreme anxiety of my medical director； Dr。Kittoe； about the scurvy； which he reported at one time as spreading and imperiling the army。 This occurred at a crisis about Kenesaw； when the railroad was taxed to its utmost capacity to provide the necessary ammunition； food； and forage； and could not possibly bring us an adequate supply of potatoes and cabbage； the usual anti…scorbutics； when providentially the black berries ripened and proved an admirable antidote； and I have known the skirmish…line； without orders； to fight a respectable battle for the possession of some old fields that were full of blackberries。 Soon； thereafter； the green corn or roasting…ear came into season； and I heard no more of the scurvy。 Our country abounds with plants which can be utilized for a prevention to the scurvy； besides the above are the persimmon； the sassafras root and bud； the wild…mustard； the 〃agave；〃 turnip tops； the dandelion cooked as greens； and a decoction of the ordinary pine…leaf。
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