16 Towards a Modern Army, 18.25-1874nited role in the economy. Cash was seen as a luxury compared with such
Lsic necessities as food, lodging, and medical care. Officials therefore felt
at they had done their duty by catering to these essential wants.
This attitude helps to explain why Nichoias did not increase soidiers' pay. its
al value, so far as can be ascertained, continued to fall. When the paper
signal was replaced by the silver rouble in 1839, an infantry private
iusketeer) drew 2. 70 and a sergeant 4.05 roubles per annum.^76 Those sent on
:tive service to the Caucasus or abroad received a supplement. As before, a
Mier would normally have his pay docked before issue, but might earn a
tie extra from casual awards-Nicholas continued his brother's habit of
aking donations to men who did well at drill-or from outside work.
ldiers employed on officially approved construction projects got 40 (paper)
pecks for a job that normally required one day's labour, and sometimes a
rger food ration as well.^77 This work, which at its peak'(I843) involved men
om 28 regiments, was often physically arduous and unhealthy.^78
A great deal of the men's energies was directed to maintenance of their
iit's internal economy. The artel came into its own here, especially on
tmpaign. During the Crimean War resourceful soldiers in one detachment
ught and slaughtered a bull; they stored the meat in special pits filled with
Lit water and made footwear from the hide, which they sold on the local
1arket or to other units; 30 per cent of the proceeds went to the former
ather-workers who ran the operation, while the rest was divided up among
1e men. They are said to have appreciated the additional income and not to
lve resented the work involved.^79
Such practices were important in varying the soldiers' diet, which seems to
lve improved during this period. The cereals ration remained the same, but
eat was supposed to be issued to men in all units, not just a privileged few, at
rate equivalent to 95 grams a day.^80 Seasonal variations were important, as
as geographical location. In the poorer rural areas men often went hungry in
te spring, as did the peasants on whom they were quartered.^81 On campaign
te meat issue might be doubled and vegetables added-it was now that
Jtatoes and beetroots made their appearance in the Russian soldiers' tradi-
onal stew, which the Prussian general Bismarck claims to have tasted and
1joyed on several occasions.^82 Alternatively, monetary payments might be
(^76) II PSZ xv. 14116 (12 Dec. 1840), p. 1258; Tanski, Tableau, pp. 206-7; cf. Curtiss, Russian
rmy, p. 254. Officers' pay was, however, raised appreciably: Chernyshev, '1st. obozreniye',
l. 356-7. At this time a musketeer drew l/88th as much as a lieutenant, I/I 14th as much as a
1ptain, and l/186th as much as a colonel. See also figure 2.
77 II PSZ ix(i), 6700 (4 Jan. 1834); x(i), 8210 (2 June 1835).
78 ll;yashevich, 'Stat. issled. smertnosti', p. 397; Curtiss, Russian Army, p. 248.
79 Lenovsky, 'Ocherki iz byta voysk', VS 6 (1859), pp. 465-6.
80 Chernyshev, '1st. obozreniye', pp. 345-6; Petrov, Russkaya voyennaya silo, ii. 442; Yezer-
.y, in SVM iii(ii), 35.
81 lliyashevich, 'Stat. issled. o;mertnosti', p. 374.
82 Von Bismarck, Ru.uische Kriegsmachl, p. 127.