I was most generously sustained in this work by the Christian Commission, who turned all their supplies into these kitchens, and paid all the expenses of this service. I was chosen superintendent of the special-diet kitchen work, which rapidly extended all along the lines from Vicksburg to Petersburg.
The surgeons accepting this help, agreed to employ the women selected by me, and allow them to have charge of the supplies furnished for use in the special-diet kitchens, from the government and the Sanitary and Christian Commissions. The surgeons had charge of the kitchen, appointed these women, and directed their work, as in all parts of their hospitals.
There was no opposition to this work. Mr. Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, Surgeon-General Barnes, and Assistant-Surgeon-General Wood, gave me their indorsement and all the aid I needed. It soon became an admitted fact that thousands of lives were being saved by this supply of better food, which many of them needed more than they did medicine.
Surgeon-General Barnes became so enthusiastic over the plan that he appointed a commission of United States army surgeons to consider it, with a view of adopting it and ingrafting it upon the United States general hospital system.
I was invited by the surgeon-general to meet with them. The committee received me most graciously at their regular sittings in Washington, D. C., and listened with great respect to my explanations; and after carefully considering my plans, adopted them as a part of the regular United States hospital system.
To give some idea of the magnitude of the work, out of over one hundred special-diet kitchens established by me, I give the amount of food in rations issued from sixteen special-diet kitchens, a record of which I happen to have now on hand for February, 1865.
| RATIONS. | |
| Tea | 100,350 |
| Coffee | 54,818 |
| Cocoa | 4,770 |
| Milk, Cold | 12,194 |
| Milk, boiled | 9,860 |
| Milk, Thickened | 7,517 |
| Bread and Milk, Boiled | 2,689 |
| Beef Tea | 7,548 |
| Beef Essence | 1,699 |
| Bread and Butter | 133,938 |
| Toast, Buttered | 28,539 |
| Toast, Dry | 23,809 |
| Toast, Milk | 33,611 |
| Crackers | 18,999 |
| Corn Bread | 15,714 |
| Biscuit | 5,458 |
| Warm Cakes | 2,629 |
| Rice | 9,239 |
| Barley | 492 |
| Farina | 8,424 |
| Gruel | 1,589 |
| Corn Starch | 17,150 |
| Mush | 10,831 |
| Soup, Chicken | 8,472 |
| Soup, Mutton | 856 |
| Soup, Beef | 10,716 |
| Soup, Barley | 599 |
| Soup, Oyster | 10,193 |
| Soup, Potato | 2,301 |
| Soup, Vegetable | 4,885 |
| Beef Steak | 27,623 |
| Roast Beef | 36,599 |
| Ham | 3,585 |
| Chicken | 11,389 |
| Turkey (only occasionally) | 809 |
| Mutton | 2,357 |
| Veal | 1,510 |
| Pork | 2,208 |
| Hash | 7,925 |
| Oysters | 5,086 |
| Fish | 5,721 |
| Eggs | 15,538 |
| Potatoes | 47,725 |
| Turnips | 7,785 |
| Carrots | 1,070 |
| Onions | 12,356 |
| Beets | 271 |
| Cabbage | 15,059 |
| Krout | 1,296 |
| Beans | 494 |
| Parsnips | 1,291 |
| Tomatoes | 7,312 |
| Puddings | 34,249 |
| Pies | 5,113 |
| Cakes | 3,485 |
| Tapioca | 2,772 |
| Sago | 60 |
| Blanc-Mange | 807 |
| Custard | 1,616 |
| Jellies | 1,763 |
| Canned Fruit | 12,816 |
| Stewed Fruit | 29,266 |
| Apple Sauce | 7,618 |
| Apples, Baked | 11,774 |
| Pickles | 20,343 |
| Lemons | 127 |
| Cheese | 825 |
| Cordials, etc | 1,940 |
| ———— | |
| Total, 899,472 | |
This was the regular bill of fare in all the special-diet kitchens. If any one of these articles could not be obtained, they were marked off. Turkey was only on the list occasionally. It will be seen by the great variety that the appetites of the patients were consulted. Nothing, however, was issued without it being ordered by the surgeon in attendance upon the patient.
Some of the articles furnished on the above list may seem unfit for sick men; but when we take into consideration that there were many wounded men who were allowed by the surgeons to eat anything they might choose, and others who were homesick, or hopelessly ill, or dying, who in the loneliness of suffering remembered and craved something because a kind mother’s hand had once prepared such dainties for them, it is no longer a matter of wonder.
And since the loved ones at home could not cheer them with their presence and love in their dark hours of suffering, it was a delightful task for these noble women to substitute home food and words of cheer.