The soldier's pocket-book for field service / by General Viscount Wolseley.

  • Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The soldier's pocket-book for field service / by General Viscount Wolseley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    88] FOOD SUPPLIES FOR MEN. [part ] Phe Hay cake is made of compressed hay-chaff, and it is said that g lbs of it may be safely substituted for the ordinary 12lbs. ration of hay. One to- ol this cake measures only about 45 cub. ft. Lately it has been made up ii So in °f n7 bS- (? raVons> : 3cakes 2° t0 a bale whose gross t- is abou »3 ids. On service this hay cake can be advantageously mixed with thi forage cake, but to obviate the excessive waste from feeding from th! ground in the manner usual in the field, especially in windy weather, whei quantities of the common hay ration are blown away from the picket lines, it will be necessary to use a large, roomy nose-bag of a new patterr instead of the old pattern corn nose-bag. With this forage cake it wi! be possible for cavly. to be sent away on detached duties, each hors'- carrying 37-, lbs. of it in the corn bag, which, supplemented by whateve straw or hay or grass is to be found in the country itself, will enable thi detached party to be independent of all commissariat supplies of forage lor 4 days. 11 , f,UP^IES 0F Fo?n F0R Men.—It may be accepted as a fact that th. be er the men are fed, the more you will be able to get out of them, th. ett« will be their health and strength, the more contented they will be, ant the better will be their discipline. The two great necessities in 'the food tin are bread and meat. Biscuit may be used in lieu of bread, and preserver meat m lieu of fresh meat, when, comparatively speaking, only a smal supply of fuel will be necessary ; but, as a general rule, we may sav that : liberal supply of fuel is also a necessity for an army in the field. ‘ It was the want of fuel more than of any other supply from which we suffered most ii he Cnmea during the winter of 1854-55. Our existing regulations direc, that on set vice each man shall always carry about him “ the iron ration'i lor i clays consumption, and when on the march should also carrv i dav’: ordinary rations meat excepted, which is to be carried regimentally ‘ir carts provided f0!- that purpose, and that each horse and transport anima should carry 1 day s forage complete. (See details of regtl. establishments. J he Commissary attached to each Brigd. and Divn. and to Army Corn Details, is to have with him in his wagons 1 day's supply for every mat for whose feeding he is responsible, of biscuit, preserved meat, &c together Ith o^s/or every horse and transport animal belonging to his brigade Kc. I he C. G of each division will, in addition, have in a like manner complett supplies of provisions and oats for another day for every man or horse unde, lus charge. That is, in addition to the iron ration carried by the men 3 days provision for the men, 1 day's hay and 3 days' oats for all horse* and baggage animals, will accompany the troops 011 the march. These supplies are only to be used upon emergent occasions, the daily requirement' of men and animals being daily provided for by the C. G., independent oi these reserves. W hen it is necessary to draw upon them, the amount expended must be leplaced as soon as possible from the advanced magazine,
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