At stated periods, if circumstances permit--usually at the first of each month--the regimental quartermasters, after consultation with the company officers, forward through their superiors to the chief quartermasters of corps, statements of the articles required by the men. These are consolidated and presented to the chief quartermaster of the army, who orders them from Washington, and issues them from the army depot--the whole operation requiring about a week. The number of different _kinds_ of articles thus drawn monthly is about five hundred; the _quantity_ of each kind depends on the number of men to be supplied, and the nature of the service performed since the previous issue. If there has been much marching, there will be a great demand for shoes; if a battle, large quantities of all kinds of articles to replace those lost on the battle field will be required. An infantry soldier is allowed the following principal articles of clothing during a three years' term of service: 1st Year. 2d Year. 3d Year. Cap, 1 1 1 Coat, 2 1 2 Trowsers, 3 2 3 Flannel shirt, 3 3 3 Drawers, 3 2 2 Shoes, 4 4 4 Stockings, 4 4 4 Overcoat, 1 0 0 Blanket, 1 0 1 Indiarubber blanket, 1 1 1 The prices of these are stated each year in a circular from the department, and, as the soldier draws them, his captain charges him with the prices on the company books. The paymaster deducts from his pay any excess which he may have drawn, or allows him if he has drawn less than he is entitled to. The clothing is much cheaper than articles of the same quality at home. Thus, according to the present prices, a coat costs $7.30; overcoat, $7.50; trowsers, $2.70; flannel shirt, $1.53; stockings, 32 cents; shoes, $2.05. The _commissary department_ provides exclusively the subsistence of the troops. Each soldier is entitled to the following daily ration: Twelve ounces of pork or bacon, or one pound four ounces of fresh beef. One pound six ounces of soft bread or flour, or one pound of hard bread, or one pound four ounces of corn meal. To every one hundred men, fifteen pounds of beans or peas, and ten pounds of rice or hominy. To every one hundred men, ten pounds of green coffee, or eight pounds of roasted, or one pound and eight ounces of tea.