The Photographic History of The Civil War: in ten volumes, Thousands of Scenes Photographed 1861-65, with Text by many Special Authorities, Volume 8: Soldier Life and Secret Service.
Francis Trevelyan Miller, Ed.

[212] salt. A three days supply of bread and bacon was issued at intervals to last the soldier ten days, the ‘foragers,’ of whom more anon, being his dependence for all else. Coffee, the greatest of all necessities to the soldier, was liberally provided, and the supply seldom failed. The soldier's personal effects were generally limited to his blanket, a pair of socks, and a piece of shelter tent, though many discarded the latter with contempt. In addition to his gun and cartridge-box with its forty rounds, the soldier carried his haversack, which with his food contained one hundred and sixty rounds of cartridges. After every occasion calling for expenditure of ammunition, his first concern was to restock, so as constantly to have two hundred rounds upon his person.

The train with each corps had been reduced to the lowest possible number of wagons. Nothing was transported but ammunition, commissary supplies, and grain for the animals —the latter only to be used when the country would not afford animal subsistence. In addition, to each regiment was allowed a single wagon to carry ammunition, a single tent-fly to shelter the field-desks of the adjutant and quartermaster, a small mess-kit for the officers in common, and an ordinary valise for each of them. In case of necessity (not an uncommon occurrence on account of crippled horses and bad roads), some or all of these personal belongings were thrown out and destroyed.

The army marched in four columns, usually ten to fifteen miles apart, on practically parallel roads. The skirmishers and flankers of each corps extended right and left until they met those of the next corps, thus giving a frontage of forty to fifty miles. As a consequence, the widely dispersed forces were soon ready for handling as a unit. At a river, two or more corps met, to utilize a pontoon train in common.

The day's itinerary was much the same throughout the march. Soon after daybreak the bugle sounded the reveille, and the men rolled their blankets and prepared their meal. An