REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 81 



government, that is to say, always issued in kind ; tlie rest of tlie ration is purcliased by means 

 of the artel; the daily sum allowed to the artel for this purpose varies with circumstances. 



The Kussian soldier has, habitually, three meals per day : 1. Breakfast, simply of bread and 

 salt, with a little brandy. 2. Dinner, at 11 o'clock, of bread and soup, made of meat, 

 cabbage, &c. 3. Supper, at 4 o'clock, of bread and soup, or oatmeal porridge. The bread is 

 brown, both it and the soup are coarse and acid, but they are nutritious and plentiful ; the 

 acidity is agreeable to the taste of the Eussian. 



In permanent camps, and in barracks, the cooking is by company, in large boilers. The 

 baking is done by men detailed permanently. 



In barracks the men usually eat in their own rooms, but they sometimes have mess rooms ; 

 in permanent camps messing places are provided in rear of the kitchens, the seats and table 

 being sodded banks of earth, with a roof of boughs or thatching. 



Each man has a wooden spoon, and there is a soup bowl for every 6 men, out of which they 

 eat in common. 



No portable ovens are carried on the march. 



Where it is possible, bakers are sent on two days in advance to bake in the ordinary ovens of 

 the villages ; if this cannot be done, they either carry flour and bake it in temporary ovens, of 

 wattling, covered with clay, or else issue biscuit. 



In the field a small copper kettle, without cover, is carried for every three men. 



PAT. 



The circumstances in which the Eussian troops are placed are so totally different from those 

 of our own army as to render entirely useless any attempt at a comparison of the respective 

 amounts of pay. 



It will be suflScient to state that the pay of the Eussian army is very low, and that the prin- 

 ciple is recognised of increasing the pay, of both officers and men, in proportion to the 

 importance, difficidty, and danger of the service performed. 



The captains of squadrons, companies, &c., are responsible for the arms, accoutrements, 

 spare clothing, &c., of their commands. 



As the militia was a peculiar body, and not a part of the regular organization, but a new 

 feature called forth by the exigencies of the late war, it is deemed best not to include it in the 

 foregoing general description of the military establishment. 



It will be described in the chapter on the Eussian infantry, which seems to be its appropriate 



place. 



GEO. B. McCLELLAN, 



Captain \st Cavalry. 

 October 28, 1856. 



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