[26] The field allowance in the United States army is nearly 1-1/8
pounds of coffee and 2-1/8 pounds of sugar (damp brown) for two men
seven days; the bread and pork ration is also larger than that above
given; but the allowance of potatoes is almost nothing.




CHAPTER XI.

DIARY.


By all means keep a diary: the act of writing will help you to remember
these good times, and the diary will prove the pleasantest of reading in
after-years. It is not an easy thing to write in camp or on the march,
but if it costs you an effort you will prize it all the more. I beg you
to persevere, and, if you fail, to "try, try again." I cannot overcome
the desire to tell you the results of my experience in diary-writing;
for I have tried it long, and under many different circumstances. They
are as follows:--

First, Any thing written at the time is far better than no record at
all; so, if you can only write a pocket diary with lead pencil, do that.

Second, All such small diaries, scraps, letters, and every thing written
illegibly or with lead pencil, are difficult to preserve or to read, and
are very unhandy for reference.

Third, It is great folly to persuade yourself that after taking notes