In reply, I have now to state, from what I have seen of your stoves, that they are most admirably adapted for the purpose intended. They economize fuel, which is a great thing; and they will be a great “boon” to the soldier, in every respect.
I am, yours very truly,
Thomas Ingram, Lieut-Col.,
Commanding 97th Regiment.
To Monsieur Soyer, &c.
Barrack Hospital, Scutari.
Head-Quarters, Sebastopol, 19th June, 1856.
Sir,—In acknowledging your letter of the 15th instant, I have to observe that one of your camp-stoves has been in constant use in the 56th Regiment for the last two months, and from inquiries from the men themselves, and my own observation, I am decidedly of opinion that they possess very considerable advantages over any other means of cooking at present in use in the British army, and I would strongly advocate their being furnished to all barracks, not only on account of their superiority in rendering the soldiers’ ration much more wholesome than when prepared by the means ordinarily used, but also for their great economy of fuel and labour.
All these advantages were clearly demonstrated on the occasion of Lord Gough’s visit to the camp of the 56th, when, with ten of the stoves in operation, you superintended so successfully the cooking of five hundred men’s rations.
I remain, your very obedient servant,
A. W. Lacy, Lieut.-Col.,
Commanding 56th Regiment.
Monsieur Soyer, &c. &c.
Camp, Kadikoi, June 26th, 1856.
Dear Monsieur Soyer,—The kitchen which you were kind enough to leave in our camp has been working admirably; the men are quite delighted with it, because it saves them so much trouble and cooks their rations so far superior to the old way: the saving in fuel must be immense. I trust, when we get back to England, every regiment may be served with them.