On coarse Flour, ^e. 233 



The Prussian discipline and tactics would have created 

 less discontent) than issuing coarse wheat meal or flour, 

 even under privations of other supplies; — to say nothing 

 about serving out ammunition bread. 



Habit is, according to the trite adage, a second na- 

 ture. A singular instance of this, occurred in 1776. 

 When our military systems were unfortunately calcu- 

 lated for temporary expedients; the objections to a 

 permanent army of our own, had nearly brought us 

 and our affairs, within the power of that of our enemy. 

 A body of troops, intended to consist of 10000 men, 

 was formed of a kind of militia, engaged for a few 

 months, composed chiefly of country people, unaccus- 

 tomed to a military life ; and collected in what was call- 

 ed '■'' the flying camp'''* in which they assembled \xvNew 

 Jersey. The police of a camp, including regulations 

 of diet, cooking, and cleanliness, were unknown, or lit- 

 tle attended to. Indeed before the department of in- 

 spector general was created, and placed under the di- 

 rection of the Baron Steuben^ more of our troops fell 

 by the filth, originating the diseases of the camp, than 

 by the swords of the enemy. On this part of our army, 

 the mortality was truly destructive. On the return of 

 the remnants of this corps, on their way to their homes 

 (where one half of them never arrived) the roads exhi- 

 bited frequent, and melancholy spectacles of the dying 

 and dead. They had indulged themselves on green 

 com ; and had been fed on fresh meat, with little or no 

 salt, and wheat flour. Many of them were from the 

 southern states, and not accustomed to this diet : these 

 took the route through Philadelphia; where the hospi- 

 tals were crowded with the sick. DiarrhaaSy dyssen- 



s s 



