Confederate Rations

Lt. John Dooley, 1st Virginia, Co. H

We are getting our regular rations now, boiled beef and pones of wheaten bread. You may also by good management continue to purchase extras at a neighboring farmhouse, but provisions are very scarce and it is not often the people have anything to sell.

Private Rice C. Bull, 123rd New York, Ross' Brigade, XII Corps

April 24^th, 1863

During the day there were issued to each of us 80 rounds of rifle ammunition. As our cartridge boxes would only hold 40, the extra had to be put in our knapsacks. We were issued eight days' field rations consisting of hardtack, coffee, pork and sugar. Since our haversacks only had capacity for three days, the extra rations also had to be stowed in our knapsacks. .... By close packing we succeeded in getting the additional rations and ammunition in our knapsacks which after they were strapped in the usual way presented a very inflated look.

Private William B. Southerton 75th Ohio Infantry, McLean's Brigade, XI Corps

April 27^th, 1863

Usual utensils; eight days' rations; crackers or hard bread; bacon and raw pickled pork wrapped up in paper; coffee, flour, brown sugar, salt, each tied up in a small cloth bag like a marble bag. Cartridge belts and boxes were loaded, twenty or more rounds of ammunition carried in clothing pockets. At daybreak pup tents were unbuttoned from the roof of one's shack, rolled with the gum blanket and the bundles strapped across the shoulders above the haversack.

Corporal J. Ansel Booth, 140th New York Infantry, O'Rorke's Brigade, V Corps

May 1^st, 1863

[The pickets] were driven in so furiously that the most of them lost everything ... ... I was minus, knapsack, overcoat, blanket, poncho, shirt, stockings, towel, housewife, 5 days rations, hard tack, sugar, meat - the only friends I had left were one day's rations in my haversack, gun, 60 rounds of cartridges, and my revolver. For the first time I found myself in light marching order.

Stephen W. Gordon, Army of the Potomac

Feb 9, 1863. Dried apples and onions was issued to the brigade today.

Feb 15, 1863. Fresh bread was issued to the first and second regiments today from the ovens.

April 21, 1863. Supply train went to the landing and brought pork, bacon, sugar, hard bread and one day's issue of potatoes.

April 25, 1863. The supply train went to the landing and brought up sugar, coffee, candles, soap, carrots and turnips.

April 28 1863. Supply trains went to the landing and brought hams and pork.

May 1, 1863. This morning went over the river with eight wagons and issued two days rations of pork, sugar, coffee, and one day's of soft bread.

May 6, 1863. Whiskey was issued twice today.

Sgt. Thomas Lewis Ware, 15^th Georgia, Benning's Brigade

June the 6th. "Saturday." 1863 - ... we have 3 days rations of flour to cook & no cooking utensils.

June 20th. "Saturday." 1863 - Several the boys went out & bought butter which is very plentiful at 50c. ... At 3 P.M. orders came to leave immediately. (Our cooking detail was cooking) we marched down the Mt. & in the pike leading to the river; (our rations was not half cooked & we had to carry 2 days rations of beef in our hands & wade the river, our flour was hauled). ...We waded the river (orders not to take off our clothes, few obeyed it) the river was quite deep from the heavy rains. ... We were up half the night cooking

June 22nd. "Monday." 1863 - ... So the 3 Brigades left the ford marching up the pike towards "Winchester" marched 4 miles & encamped at a village called "Millwood" at 5 P.M. & drew 2 days rations & cooked, we were up late cooking, no salt, lard or soda. Slept very well Water some distance.

June 25th. "Thursday." 1863 - We marched 6 miles from "M" & encamped at 5 P.M. it drizling rain, having marched 21 miles the men were very tired & had to cook 1 days rations of beef. Raining slowly most the night.

June 29th. "Monday." 1863 - ... A great many cherries brought to Camps. Q Masters are gathering all the horses around, beeves &c. Several the boys have seen fine hourses tied out in the woods. I eat a great many cherries today. Cooking up 3 days rations of flour.