There is no ground of complaint, whatever, as to rations here; though, from what I hear, it is very different at the stations where everything has to be taken up by waggons or mules.
"The difficulty is with the uniforms.

Not one has been served out, and it is really difficult to get the men to look smart, when many of them are dressed almost in rags.

It is still worse in the matter of boots.

A great many of them were badly cut, when we were in the mountains; and especially in the rough march we had over the hills, after you left us.

The men themselves would greatly prefer sandals to boots, being more accustomed to them; and could certainly march farther in them than in stiff English boots.