My thanks to this group for posting this in an effort to learn about our forefathers and foremothers. I hope you learn as much from this information that has been so generously shared by the living history group mentioned, as I have. This information was collected as a part of the research done by the 25th Continental Regiment, a living history group. The regiment re-creates an American unit from 1776 that fought in the American Revolution. THE ISSUE RATION approved by the Continental Congress appears generous. The "General Orders" issued by General George Washington state what was supposed to be issued to the Continental soldier. Subsequent orders and journal entries indicate what was actually received as time went on. In general, the soldiers' diet appears monotonous. Their diet does not appear to meet today's dietary guidelines as depicted in a comparison of the modern "food pyramid": By order of his Excellency General Washington, a Board of General Officers sat yesterday in Cambridge, and unanimously recommended the following Rations to be delivered in the manner hereby directed - Viz: Corn'd Beef and Pork, four days in a week. Salt Fish one day, and fresh Beef two days. As Milk cannot be procured during the Winter Season, the Men are to have one pound and a half of Beef, or eighteen Ounces of Pork pr. day. Half pint of Rice, or pint of Indian Meal pr Week - One Quart of Spruce Beer pr day, or nine Gallons of Molasses to one hundred Men pr week. Six pounds of Candles to one hundred Men pr week, for guards. Six Ounces of Butter, or nine Ounces of Hogs-Lard pr week. Three pints of Pease, or Beans pr man pr week, or Vegetables equivalent, allowing Six Shillings pr Bushel for Beans, or Pease - two and eight pence pr Bushel for Onions - One and four pence pr Bushel for Potatoes and Turnips - One pound of Flour pr man each day - Hard Bread to be dealt out one day in a week, in lieu of Flour. General George Washington, General Orders Headquarters at Cambridge Mass., December 24, 1775. we wenent down the river Sorrel to Shambalee Fort, where we tried to get baked bread (no other provisions to be had hear) Lt. Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, Journal Entry Fort Chambly, Canada, May 14, 1776. they [the workmen] had only 12 ozs of pork 1 1/2 lb of Flower pr Day Lt. Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, Journal Entry Mount Independence VT, July 18, 1776. The Weather being so wet and Stormy all Last Night, the Commisary is to Issue one gil of Rum to Every non Commisioned Officer and Soldier now in Camp. [Note: this order repeats frequently throughout the summer and into the fall.] 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 19, 1776. As Live Cattle increce, the Commisary will Issue five Days Fresh and two Days Salt a Week. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 26, 1776. The Troops are to Receive 1 lb. Flower Beef or 1 lb. of pork per Man a Day Till further Orders. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, August 5, 1776. When there is not Beef, the Commisary will Isue a half a Pound of Porke 1 1/2 lb. Flour to each man Per Day til further Orders. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, September 1, 1776. The Commissary will issue three Sheep to each Regt. and two to the Corps of Artillery tomorrow Morning at 10 o'clock. The Commanding Officers of Regts. will see that the sick weak Soldiers of Regts. are supplyed with this Refreshment. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, September 27, 1776. Mr. Commissary Avery has orders to send directly from Saratoga one thousand Bushels of Turnips Potatoes, which will be served out to the Troops in due proportion upon their arrival at the Commissary Store. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders FortTiconderoga NY, September 29, 1776. It having been represented to the General that many regiments would at this season choose to lesson their ration of meat and supply it with vegetables if they could be permitted, is concerned for the health of the troops, and desires to gratify them in every reasonable request, induces him to direct that Cols. of such regiments as choose to adopt that plan signify to the Commy. Gen. and in two days afterwards the Quartermasters of such regiments be allowed to draw one quarter part of the usual rations in money to be laid out in vegetables. Orderly Book, General Orders Martin's Regiment - New Jersey Militia, July 22, 1776. ************* The PURCHASE of liquor from suttlers (people who traveled with the army to sell liquor to the soldeirs) and food from markets established in camp or nearby, supplemented the issue diet. Fruits and vegetables as well as liquor were purchased: Pine apples as large as a quart Mug, for 6d [d = penny, s= shilling] each. ... A vessel came in on the 19th loaded with the above. She brought 300 dozen of Pine apples - I went on board her this morning (23d) and chose two out of several Cartloads, for which I gave only 1s/ 5 1/2d - The most beautiful fruit I ever saw, and in flavour much superior to any in England. Lt. Mackenzie (British Army), Royal Welch Fusiliers Upon Arrival in New York City, June 29, 1773. No Person is for the future to presume to sell any Stores, or Liquor to the troops, unless he be first appointed Sutler to some Regiment, by the Colonel or Officer commanding the same... General George Washington, General Orders Headquarters at Cambridge, September 6, 1775. bought 50 lemmons Lt. Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, Journal Entry Camp at Cambridge, February 15, 1776. No Suttler is to Sell Liquor to a Soldier after Sunset or Suffer them to be about their Huts after that time. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Camp at Crown Point, July 5, 1776. Various frauds, impositions and abuses being every day committed, by traders, and huksters, coming to this camp, the Quarter Master Gen. and his Assistant are immediately to regulate the prices to be paid for the several commodities brought to sell particularly, garden stuff, venison, cheese, butter and all manner of eatibles. For the future all persons bringing any of the above articles immediately for sale are to carry them to the foot of the glasee of the old fort where the markitt is constantly to be held - Should any person or person be detected monopolising or fore stauling the markitt, they will be punish'd by a Court Martial and have all their goods seiz'd for the sick of the hospital. The markett is to be opened every morning at 8 oclock and be allow'd to continue till Sun Sett. 4th Penn. Battalion Orderly Book, General Orders Ticonderoga, September 25, 1776. The two hundered bushels of onions just brought to the Carrying Place at Lake George are to be one half of them sold at the markett post upon the glacis of the old fort and the other half at the markett place in front of Col. Pattersons Regt. upon Mount Independence. 4th Penn. Battalion Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, September 29, 1776. ************* FORAGING, or gathering food from the surrounding countryside, was another way the soldiers could add variety to their meals. Not everyone wanted soldiers to find food this way: our People are not alowed to tread on the ground scarcely they are not alowed to get orsters out of the Cove one man forbid the soldery catching eales But he got nothing for that But Cryes. Lieutenant Joseph Hodgkins, Letter to His Wife Camp at Long Island NY, May 22, 1776. A Sergant and twelve men to be Draufted from the Main Guard tomorrow to be posted on the South Side of the Lake near McDonald's for the Security of his Property, as he Complains of the Destruction offered to his Peas and Potatoes by the Soildiers. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 29, 1776. Fishing in Battoes being Prejudicial to the men's Health, to the Service, to the Battoes, is positively Prohibited. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 31, 1776. Strayed yesterday from Head Quarters, a Fat Sheep belonging to the General. He has that Opinion of the Soldiers under his Command that they will return Him his sheep whenever they find it. 2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, August 16, 1776. Contrary to all good discipline and in dissobeydiance of the most possitive orders some officers and soldiers have presumed to shoot pidgeons and other game in and in about the several incampments. 4th Penn. Battalion Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, October 10, 1776. ************* ITEMS SENT FROM HOME further added to what was issued, bought or foraged: ... I sent a suguer Box By Naty Dodge I wish you could fill it with suguar send it as soon as you can ... I should Be glad of Sum Coffee Lieutenant Joseph Hodgkins, Letter to His Wife Camp at Cambridge, June 20, 1775. These Comes per your scooner Capt. Ingraham with sundry Artikles for the Army I understood per Letter from Colo. Huntington that it was very difficult to Obtain green Sase [sauce] in N York so ordered a Box filled with Betes, Carriots, Puttatoes, and Turnups directed to your Care to be divided between your Self and Brothors in Camp ... have also sent a Box of Choice good Old Cheese . Jabez Huntington, Letter to His Son Addressed to Camp at New York, August 6, 1776. If there is a good Opportunity to send me a small Matter of Honey Tamarinds they will be very acceptable. Colonel Jedediah Huntington (HP/321) Letter to His Father From the Camp at New York, August 19, 1776. Happy Holidays! Jane Foley