An army marches on its stomach
or a few words about food

The food which soldiers got in fortress garrisons in times of peace was relatively good. However, the situations changed dramatically when a fortress was under a siege. Zamość experienced starvation several times, the most tragic instance being experienced during Napoleonic wars. Monotonous nutrition, often based on old, salted and decaying provisions damaged soldiers’ health. That is why in former fortresses vegetable gardens were kept. Onion was particularly important, having antibacterial properties and being a source of vitamin C, which people did not know about. It also protected from scurvy. The most famous British admiral Sir Horatio Nelson was one of reformers of nutrition. During his long campaigns he won the gratitude and became very popular with crews because he distributed vegetables among crew members and waged an effective war on dishonesty of suppliers of food for soldiers.