The California Column
article | notes | ration / day |
Salt Pork / Bacon | 1 | 12 ozs |
Beef, fresh | 1 | 16 ozs |
Flour | 2 | 18 ozs |
Beans | 3 | 2.5 ozs |
Rice | 4 | 1.6 ozs |
Coffee / green or rosted | 5 | 1.6 ozs / 1.3 ozs |
Sugar | 6 | 2.4 ozs |
Salt | 7 | .6 ozs |
Vinegar | 8 | 1.6 ozs |
Candles | 9 | - - - |
Notes:
1
Carleton's letter to the A.G.'s office (20 Dec 1861) states that for the
estimated 20
days of marching (Camp Latham to Ft. Yuma), he planned on feeding fresh beef -
"off the hoof" - 18 days. His supply memoranda, attached to the letter, allowed for
3 days issue
of salt pork. The extra day of salt pork, plus cans of pemmican
(supplied under contract) were
clearly intended as emergency rations.
2
Although Carleton's letter says he was allowing for "only" one pound of
flour per
ration (the regulation garrison ration being 1 lb. 6 ozs.), in fact his attached
memorandum states the flour ration at 18 ounces and is calculated on that basis.
3
Carleton's supply memorandum allowed for a ration of beans one day out of
every
two (10 rations of beans per man at 2.48 ozs. per ration).
4 Carleton's supply memorandum also allowed for a ration of rice one day
out of
every two (10 rations of rice per man at 1.6 ozs. per ration).
5
Carleton's supply memorandum allowed for 1/10 pound ration of coffee per
man
per day. Roasted ground coffee at 1.3 ozs per day may, however, be substituded.
6
Carlton allowed for one ration of sugar per man per day. Based on gross weight
(product plus packaging) a ration was 2.6 ozs. Adjusted to remove the weight of
packaging,
the ration for the march will be 2.4 ozs. per man, per day.
7
Carlton included salt in the marching ration, but not pepper. Carlton's
letter to the
A.G. asked for pepper to be shipped ahead to Fort Yuma.
8
Vinegar was used by the Army as an anti-scorbutic (wards off scurvy). In practice
soldiers would have been forced to drink their ration of vinegar (diluted with water),
under
the close observation of company officers and NCOs
9
Candles were issued at 1 pound, 4 ounces, per 100 men, per day (or about
.2
ounces per man per day).