60 



MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUKOPK. 



hausse, and sword bayonet. The beak of the butt plate has a spiked projection some 5" or 6" 

 long, to assist the men in climbing hills, &c. 



The range of this rifle is about 600 metres. 



The screw driver is of the shape of a T ; at the end of one branch is a gimblet, so that the 

 screw driver may be screwed into a tree to afford a rest. 



Tlie infixntry cartridge box contains 30 rounds, and is attached to the waist belt by a loop of 

 sheet iron ; the bayonet scabbard is also attached to the waist belt ; the infantry wear no sabre. 



The box of the bersaglieri contains only balls and cleaning utensils, neither cartridges nor 

 patches being used ; the powder is carried in a rough wooden powder horn, suspended by a green 

 cord, and thrust into a pocket of the coat. 



There is a separate waist belt for tlie sword bayonet of the bersaglieri. 



COOKING UTENSILS. 



For every mess of 16 men there is a sheet iron camp kettle with a flat cover, and strong iron 

 liandle ; it is 12" deej), 11" in diameter at top, and 10" in diameter at bottom. Frying pans are 

 also used. 



Each man has a mess can, (little gamelle,) of the annexed shape and 

 J dimensions ; by the infantry it is carried strapped on top of the knap- 

 sack. 



The haversack is of linen, lined with muslin ; it is slung over the 

 shoulder by a leather straj), and contains 3 days' rations. 



The canteen is of wood, made of staves and hoops ; it is 6^" high, 4^" 



"A X 3i" at bottom, and 4'' X 3" at top ; the side which rests against the 



jbody is somewhat flattened, so that the bottom and top of the canteen 



are ellipses flattened on one side ; the opening is in the middle of the toj), 



and is closed by a screw plug of hard wood. 



CAMP EQUIPAGE, &c. 



The tents are conical ; they are 7' 6" high, and 16' 8" in diameter at the bottom. 



The men are all provided with shelter tents, which are the same as those described in the 

 report upon the French cavalry. 



In the Crimea the men were all hutted. 



Each hut was for 6 men ; a cellar 3' deej), 7' 4" wide, and 14' 8" long was first excavated, with 

 steps leading down to it in front ; the frame of the roof was formed by rafters, making an angle 

 of 90° with each other ; over these and at the ends hurdles were placed, which were then covered 

 with a thick plaster of clay and straw ; a window was left in one end and a door in the other. 

 In each hut there was a small fire place on one side, excavated in the side of the cellar, the 

 chimney passing under the eaves. 



The bunks -were made of hurdles ; shelves, racks, &c., were placed according to the fancy of 

 the inmates. 



The roof projected well beyond the gable ends. 



The organization, discipline, instruction, and personal appearance of the Sardinian infantry 

 are excellent ; they may be regarded as among the best troops of Europe. 



GEO. B. McCLELLAN, 



Philadelphia, Jamiary 15, 1857. Captain 1st cavalry. 



