CHAPTER XXI.
DIMINISHING RATIONS--A DEADLY COLD RAIN--HOVERING OVER PITCH PINE FIRES -- INCREASE ON MORTALITY--A THEORY OF HEALTH.
The rations diminished perceptibly day by day.

When we first entered we each received something over a quart of tolerably good meal, a sweet potato, a piece of meat about the size of one's two fingers, and occasionally a spoonful of salt.

First the salt disappeared.

Then the sweet potato took unto itself wings and flew away, never to return.
An attempt was ostensibly made to issue us cow-peas instead, and the first issue was only a quart to a detachment of two hundred and seventy men.

This has two-thirds of a pint to each squad of ninety, and made but a few spoonfuls for each of the four messes in the squad.