232 Oyi coarse Flour ^ ^c. 



sioii. — If the speckled fiourhsid been furnished, it would 

 have accompanied them; and possibly the discontents 

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

 sylvania soldiers were Irishmen, to whom, in their own 

 country, 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 janiza?'!/ 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, indiaji 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 nearly ready to serve up; and he, vAiki 

 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 various preparations, much of it parched^ and no- 

 thing else, composed the banquet for a large company ; 

 and the liquor was 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 

 occurrence, gn their return, silenced every murmur. 



