232 0)1 coarse Flour, ti;V, 



sion. — If the speckled flour hdid been fumished, it would 

 have accompanied them ; and possibly the discontents 

 would have reached other lines. Ypt many of the Penn- 

 sylvania soldiers were Irishmen, to whom, in their own 

 countrv, a herring would have been a treat, and a clam 

 a curiosity. Though convinced that the measure sug- 

 gested as to the flour, would have been a beneficial and 

 healthy supply, this Jamzar?/ hint was sufficient to forbid 

 the step. Any other kind of grain, prepared in the cus- 

 tomary way, would have less violated the habits of our 

 people. — From the commander in chief (who never 

 feasted while others suffered; though indian bread was 

 always provided for him at his table, as he preferred it 

 to any other, through his life,) to the lowest follower of 

 the army, indian corn, at one distressing period, was the 

 ■sole esculent they possessed. The bad roads had in- 

 terposed difficulties to the transportation, and prevent- 

 ed other supplies arriving at camp ; yet no serious evils 

 ensued. A committee of field officers of one of the 

 state lines, waited on the general, to represent the dis- 

 tress and discontents of their troops. Dinner at head 

 quarters was neai'ly ready to serv'e up; and he, with 

 his usual complacency and politeness, asked them to 

 dine, before they received a final opinion as to their 

 mission ; whereof he had been apprized. Indian corn 

 in vaiious preparations, much of it parched, and no- 

 thing else, composed the banquet for a large company; 

 and the liquor v/as as humble as the esculent. The 

 committee partook, with cheerfulness and admiration ; 

 and never renewed the subject of their mission. The 

 dinner was a sufficient answer ; and their report of the 

 occun'cnce, en their return, silenced every murmur. 



