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| Apportioning coffee and sugar. |
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to which I will simply say that he is wrong, because coffee, being a stimulant, serves only a temporary purpose, while the bread has nearly or quite all the elements of nutrition necessary to build up the wasted tissues of the body, thus conferring a permanent benefit.
Whatever words of condemnation or criticism may have been bestowed on other government rations, there was but one opinion of the coffee which was served out, and that was of unqualified approval.
The rations may have been small, the commissary or quartermaster may have given us a short allowance, but what we
got was good.
And what a perfect Godsend it seemed to us at times!
How often, after being completely jaded by a night march,--and this is an experience common to thousands,--have I had a wash, if there was water to be had, made and drunk my pint or so of coffee, and felt as fresh and invigorated as if just arisen from a night's sound sleep!
At such times it could seem to have had no substitute.
It would have interested a civilian to observe the manner in which this ration was served out when the army was in active service.
It was usually brought to camp in an oat. sack, a regimental quartermaster receiving and apportioning
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