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Re: winter 62/63
In Response To: Re: winter 62/63 ()

James J. Hutchinson, Captain of the Commissary Stores, submitted a “Form 10”, which summarized the provisions sold to the officers of the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment while in winter camp at Grace Church, Virginia, for the quarter ending March 31, 1863. The form lists prices paid for provisions such as beef, bacon, flour, candles, etc., and total quantities:

1523 ½ lbs. Fresh Beef @ 0.13 $198.05 ½
519 lbs. Fresh Beef @ 0.13 ½ 70.06 ½
68 ¼ lbs. Fresh Beef @ 0.20 13.65
958 ¼ lbs. Bacon @ 0.40 383.30
274 5/8 lbs. Pork @ 0.11 ¼ 30.89 ½
5804 ¼ lbs. Flour @ 0.08 1/6 474.01 ¼
114 lbs. Hard Bread @ 0.12 13.68
156 ¼ lbs. Rice @ 0.08 12.50
1202 ¼ lbs. Sugar @ 0.03 ½ 42.08
87 1/10 lbs. Salt @ 0.02 2/3 2.32
45 lbs. Salt @ 0.03 1.35
23 ¾ lbs. Candles @ 0.60 14.25
1 gal. Vinegar @ 0.30 0.30
6 1/8 gal. Molasses @ 0.20 1.22 ½

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$ 1257.78 ¼

Provisions were plentiful enough for officers, however, note that the price of fresh beef almost doubled in the three month period. Supplying the army with food would become increasingly difficult in the coming months.

The enlisted men had a much tougher time of it and depended on foraging more and more. From "Voices of Company D" by G. Ward Hubbs:

December 23, 1862
"Our rations are outrageously short now. The Regt. com's scales are worn out & weigh incorrectly & conseq. we lose by it. We got req. fr(om) Lt. Jones for 10 lbs. of flour & got it by com. scales & weighed it by spring steelyards & it was only 6 - 4 lbs. lost in 10 - & we are nearly out. With scant rations & 2 servants to eat on what we draw for 4, in addition it don't begin to do us - & very difficult to forage too & get very little. Pork 50 ct. lb. & flour 20 c. & meal $1 Gall. at rate of $8 bus. & not very good meal either too fine - Yes(terday) morn(ing) had last of beef for brkfast. & that evening (we eat only 2 meals a day now) dry bisc(uits) without grease & no meat this morning - dry biscuits again but not enough & had to make out brkfast on parched corn. This evening would have had no dinner at all until we drew rations, but John started out foraging & Mr. Jim Ed Webb gave him a hand sak of flour & a beef shank - of which John made the riches soup I almost ever saw - it was splendid, first meal since yest(erday) morn(ing) & we ate a big meal & enjoyed it much." Diary of Samuel Pickens.

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winter 62/63
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