US, NARA, Freedmen's Bureau, Officer's Manual - V, Subsistence

This article contains a transcription of a portion of an officer's manual published by the War Department in 1866. The manual was published "...for the information and government of the Officers of this Bureau." The manual identified the records, forms, reports, etc. bureau agents and other personal were required to create and use in the day to day operations of their offices. Sample images of bureau forms begin on page 29 or image 40.

The manual contains the following sections: Article I - Book keeping and official correspondence Article II - Accounts and expenditures of public property Article II - Disbursements of public funds Article IV - Medical Department Article V - Subsistence Article VI - Miscellaneous Provisions

Article V - Subsistence
Pages 27-28.

Section I
The following is the ration established for issue by the Subsistence Department to destitute adult refugees and freedmen. Persons over fourteen years of age are considered adults; persons under fourteen will receive one-half of the ration.

Section II
Twelve ounces of pork or bacon, or one pound and two ounces of salt or fresh beef; one pound and two ounces of soft bread or flour, or one pound of hard bread, or one pound and four ounces of corn meal.

Section III
The ration for refugees and freedmen sick in Bureau hospitals will be that established in the Revised Army Regulations of 1863, viz: twelve ounces of pork or bacon, or one pound and four ounces of salt or fresh beef; one pound and six ounces of soft bread or flour, or one pound of hard bread, or one pound and four ounces of corn meal; and to every one hundred rations, fifteen pounds of beans or peas, and ten pounds of rice or hominy; ten pounds of green coffee, or eight pounds of roasted (or roasted and ground) coffee, or one pound and eight ounces of tea; fifteen pounds of sugar; four quarts of vinegar, one pound and four ounces of adamantine or star candles; four pounds of soap; three pounds and twelve ounces of salt; four ounces of pepper; thirty pounds of potatoes, when practicable; and one quart of molasses.&mdash;The Subsistence Department, as may be most convenient or least expensive to it, and according to the condition and amount of its supplies, will determine whether soft bread or flour, and what other component parts of the ration as equivalents, shall be issued.

Section IV
Issues of provisions to the classes of persons above mentioned will be made on ration- returns for short periods often time, not exceeding seven days, signed by an officer or agent of the Bureau, approved by the commanding officer of the post or station, and when practicable, by the Assistant Commissioner.

Section V
Supplies of subsistence-stores for one month may be drawn, upon proper ration-returns, approval to the Assistant Commissioner, and may be sent to such depots as he may designate for issue in accordance with the provisions of this Manual.

Section VI
Officers and agents receiving subsistence-supplies for issue will immediately compare the same with the invoices, and report all deficiencies or excess to the officer from whom the stores were received, and also to the Assistant Commissioner.

Section VII
Officers and agents, not serving in the Subsistence Department, making issues of subsistence-store to destitute refugees and freedmen, will take a receipt from each person or head of family thus supplied, (see Form 62.)

Section VIII
These receipts will be forwarded with an abstract (see Form 63,) on the last day of each month to the Assistant Commissioner, who will consolidate them, (see Form 64,) and send the consolidated report, with the original receipts, to the Commissioner. (see Form 62.)

Section IX
When the classes of persons above-named are in part able to subsist themselves, only a portion of the ration will be issued.