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[213]

Commissary Department.

The big barracks of a mess-hall with such food as would make a soldier grumble in times of peace, would have seemed a veritable Mecca to a soldier of 1864 in Camp or on the march. The accompanying photographs show how the commissary department of the Army of the Potomac supplied the individual soldier with meat and water. Above is displayed a commissary at the front in full swing with a sentry to guard its precious stores. Below, soldiers can be seen filling their water cart at a well, and waiting while an attache of the commissary department cuts off rounds of beef and issues portions to the various messes. The photograph in the center shows the final result, witnessed by the savory-looking steam blown from the kettle on top of the charred timbers.

Commissary department at army of the Potomac headquarters, April, 1864

Waiting for supper on a chilly autumn evening of 1863

The soldiers' water cart

Serving out rations


 

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