The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-05-24
.Tiffiu aFrekIu Tribnnr.
Life in Camp Dennison,
The Number of Men in Camp--Ro-
nance in Soldier Litc-- Arms aud
UniiOrms--The Seneca sharp shoot
crs.
CAMP DEN NIsoN, O, }
Sunday, May 18th, 1914

CAMP DENNIsoN O,
Sunday, May 18th, lS6l.S
couespondsnoe Of the limn Tribune.
When the sun is behind a cloud ali
landscapes are alike and 70 the soldier
who PAGES weOrily along his beat wrap
ped in a wet blanket and carrying four
teen pounds Of musket, there is probably
little that is inviting in the situation
Of Camp Dcnnison. That "circum stan.
ccs alter cases" is no less trite than true
1t is equally true that circumstances ultci
tastes. Thousands, housed in warn
quarters and enjoying genial companion.
ship, have repeated Coates Rinney's
beautiful little poem
when the humid showers gather over all
the starry spheres,
Aud the melancholy darkness gently werps
In rainy tears,
'Tis joy to yr,ss the pillow Of a cottag,
chamber bed,
And listen TO the rattcr Of the sor, rain over
head"
And have inwardly rejoiced that it was
so, as they listened to the music of the
pea-ly drops. But, to the soldier, in his
straw "bunk," with now ami then drop
falling impudently in his face, the thing
assumes different phase. 1 shall try,
notwithstanding the unpropihous circum.
stances of this rO'ny day, to give you
some idea Of the situation and sur.
roundings of Camp Dennison, promising,
however, that you need not expect very
gio'0ing description-as have not seen
the glow Of anything but smoky camp
fire, for more thOn,a week. r.
CAME DENMsoN
Is situated Jbout furteen miles from
-'''~'-----.- ---- 1890 v,,v- -,,
along the banks of the Little Miami Riv
or, and is surrounde d on all sides by lofty
hills. These rise up insome places into
picturesque and striking shapes. On
some sides the hills are covered with
trees, their brilliant coats Of green gilt
tering in tn morning sunlight, or tipped
with the golden hues of evening, present
a pleasing scene to the eye. The dog
wood and hawthorn are in bloom, and
mingling their white blossoms with the
foliage ofthe maple, furnish a d,light'ul
contrast. A view from one of the high
knolls on the west is nnimating in the
extreme. Stretching along through the
valley, for mile in length, lie the "quar-
tcrs" Of the soldiers, with the white tents
Of the officers in the rear. Beyond, to
the east, flies the locomotive on its path,
while still farther to the east winds the
river, skirted by fields Of waving grain.
The whole camp covers an extent of 500
acres, and is ubout three miles long by
one half mile wide. it.i Il-..
THE NUMBER OF SOLDIERS IN CAMP.
There are now about 7 900 soldiers in
camp. The Third, Fourth, Seventh,
Eighth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth
Regiments urs here, together with some
soldiers from other regiments, who ere
here preparing quarters for the regiments
to which they belong. It is stated that
several other regiments sre expected to
arrive here during the present week. It
is supposed that Camp Dennison will be
made the great rendezvous for The volun-
teer troops Of Ohio. Orders will prob
ably be received for the removal Of troops
from this camp, 10 meet the exigencies
Of the government
fI ARMS AND EQUTanNTs. r.|
The Tdin boys think they have been
swindled BY the government in being
thus KEEP so long out Of their uniforms.
They talk Of charging Uncle Sam ga
good round sum" for The use Of clothing
for three weeks. There Is certainly a
wrong somewhere, in the delay to furnish
the men with clothing. Many of our
boys left home with their best and only
suit Of clothes on their backs, and no
change Of shirts, expecting to receive
their arms and clothing immediately
Some Of the boys are in a worse eond,-
tion than the Yankee who aiwoys went
to bed while bis wife washed the only
shirt he had. But there is now a pretty
sure prospect of speedy outfit. The
order has been issued for 500 suits Of
clothing for tbe Eighth Regiment. 90
pairs ofshOes were issued to our compG-
ny several d9y1 SIM &c, but there are 9TH
ers sadly in need Of them. u-E
THE coNvEEIIKcEs cF TUE CANT :
There are some advantages connected
with Camp Dennison, ind some disadvan-
tages. The situation upon the raj road
gives great facility Of transportation but
the ground Is too rough and soit for sue
eessful parade, and has TO be narrowed
and rolled, before anything esn be efTee-
ted in the wa Of drill, The frequent
rains make a continual slush Of mud
and wstef. But there are excellent "a
eililies for drainage; and when that is
effected, the parade ground viii Do excel
lent. The difficulty Of Obtaining water
is one Of the great defects Of tbe camp.
in is present state Of Organization, The
water has TO be brought from the river
each day, in certs. Each comnany rC.