Daily Chronicle & Sentinel [Augusta, GA],
August 31, 1861
. . . The weather has recently been very wet in Virginia, and it is even now getting quite cool, especially in the mountains. And right now the soldiers need good blankets and flannel shirts almost as much as they every will. Woolen shirts, next to the skin, and a small ration of whisky each day, are the best preventatives of malarious fever, in our opinion, whatever the medical men may say. In an army, of course, it is absolutely important to prevent excessive drinking, and drunkenness, in officers or men, should be severely punished. But we think the soldiers ought to have a gill of pure cheap whisky a day. Some do not drink, and while it might look harsh to give them whisky as a preventative medicine against their will, they might be given money instead, so as to prevent their selling the whisky ration to their comrades. In typhoid fever we would rather trust to pure spirits, as a preventive and as a cure, than all the medicines in the shops.
It has been urged that as blankets are very scarce, if indeed it be possible to buy them at all, the people should give their own to the soldiers. We agree to this heartily, and when families can not afford to give them, let them sell their blankets. Every family can readily furnish from one to half a dozen, and use comforts, or something of that sort for themselves. Blankets are the only covering that will answer for the soldier in camp, and these ought to be lined with oil-cloth if possible. Comforts, sheets, coverlets and such like, should be contributed for hospital purposes, but the blankets alone for the soldiers in service. Remember the soldier, and provide liberally and fully for all the wants of those who are fighting for us who stay at home.