DaveBrt
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2010
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
We all know that the Civil War was the first modern war. One of its characteristics was supporting armies by railroad. But how? How much? How often?
In the summer of 1865, the Union army attempted to create a Lessons Learned document regarding feeding troops in the field. Questionnaires were sent to a few score senior Union Commissary officers to capture useful information. The responses were published in 1901 by the rejuvenated US Army in a 175-page book entitled "How To Feed An Army."
How many rations fit in one box car or one wagon? In what order do you stack boxes and barrels? Which foods did the troops not like, and why? When do you slaughter cattle? Is fresh beef or salt pork preferred by the troops? ETC!!!!!
For those who only want a quick answer, one box car could carry 6,000 Union camp rations or 12,000 marching rations.
If you want a bit more detail, try this page on my web site: http://www.csa-railroads.com/Essays/Railroad_Transportation_of_Commissary_Stores.htm.
If you want the entire book, go to: http://books.google.com/books/about/How_to_feed_an_army.html?id=py4tAAAAIAAJ.
In the summer of 1865, the Union army attempted to create a Lessons Learned document regarding feeding troops in the field. Questionnaires were sent to a few score senior Union Commissary officers to capture useful information. The responses were published in 1901 by the rejuvenated US Army in a 175-page book entitled "How To Feed An Army."
How many rations fit in one box car or one wagon? In what order do you stack boxes and barrels? Which foods did the troops not like, and why? When do you slaughter cattle? Is fresh beef or salt pork preferred by the troops? ETC!!!!!
For those who only want a quick answer, one box car could carry 6,000 Union camp rations or 12,000 marching rations.
If you want a bit more detail, try this page on my web site: http://www.csa-railroads.com/Essays/Railroad_Transportation_of_Commissary_Stores.htm.
If you want the entire book, go to: http://books.google.com/books/about/How_to_feed_an_army.html?id=py4tAAAAIAAJ.
Bringing the