If straw be plentiful, issue enough to make good thick mats for the men to lie on. They are easily made and most comfortable. They should be hung up to dry every day. They should be 3 inches to 4 inches thick, 6 feet long, and about 2¼ feet wide.
Fig. 79.
Every morning, except when it rains, have the sides of tents rolled up all around, and in fine weather strike tents frequently; it is good practice for the men; they should regularly pack them up as if for a march. This is also advisable as a sanitary measure, so that the ground where the tent usually stands can be well dried by the sun. Blankets and bedding should be frequently aired and exposed to the sun. Do not permit grass or green leaves to be used for beds in tents, but use straw when it can be obtained. Each tent should be thoroughly swept out daily, and at night properly ventilated, the walls being raised if the weather permits.
TO STRIKE A TENT.
The men take their posts and first remove the wall-pins and then all the guy-pins on their respective sides, except the four corner pins of the square tents, or the quadrant-pins of the conical tents.
Standing at their respective posts, they remove the corner, or quadrant, guys from the pins and hold the tent until the signal for striking is given, when the tent is lowered to the side indicated.
The canvas is then rolled up and tied by Nos. 1 and 4, while Nos. 2 and 3 fasten the poles, or tripod and pole, together, and collect the pins.
HEATING TENTS.
The Sibley stove, for conical and wall tents, weighing about 19 pounds, is issued by the Q. M. Dept., and is very necessary in cold weather. It is easily put up and requires very little fuel.