Item 1 Ration 4 Rations

Pork or Bacon 12oz 3lb

or

Beef (Salt or Fresh) 1lb 4oz 5lb

Flour or Soft Bread 1lb 2oz 4lb 8oz

or

Hard Bread 1lb 4lb

or

Corn Meal 1lb 4oz 5lb

Beans or Peas .64gills (2.56oz) 2.56gills (10.24oz)

Rice or Hominy 1.6oz 6.4oz

Coffee 1.6oz 6.4oz

Tea .24oz .72oz

Sugar 2.4oz 9.6oz

Vinegar .32gills (1.28oz) 1.28gills (5.12oz)

Sperm Candles .16oz .64oz

Soap .64oz 2.56oz

Salt .16gills (.64oz) .64gills (1.28oz)

Desiccated Potatoes 1.5oz 6.0oz

Mixed Vegetables 1oz 4oz

Other items such as molasses (1.28oz) , fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, and pepper were issued in small quantities when available.

The marching ration generally consisted of meat, hard bread, coffee, sugar, and salt.

Rations for those who were absent were commuted at the rate of 75 cents per day.

Unused rations could be sold back to the Commissary and the money placed in the company fund, from which other food items could be purchased. (This did not work to well in many units.)

One gill (4oz) of whiskey may be issued at the discretion of the commander in cases of excessive fatigue and exposure.

The United States Army took pride in the fact that its soldiers had the most generous rations of any army in the world. These rations were about 20 per cent more than the British army allowed and double that of the French army. When properly inspected and cared for, these rations were of good quality and were nutritious. However, unscrupulous contractors were able to deliver substandard provisions to inexperienced or corrupt inspectors. This resulted in an uneven quality of provisions at times.

Generally, United States troops were so well supplied with food that considerable amounts were wasted or sold. Ration shortages occurred often early in the war when the distribution system was not well established. Shortages also occurred when supply lines were cut or when the armies moved too rapidly for the Quartermasters to keep pace. Quartermaster wagon trains could only move 8-10 miles per day except in emergencies.