The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-07-10
Visit to Camp Chase.


It is said that 'the reading public are
80 anxious for war articles, that editors
are thinking of having their editorials
set in percussion caps, ir order that they
may always have the real snap in them" !"
The "pomp and circumstance of glori-
ons war; is emphatically the "style' now
days. The little boys in the streets wear
the Zouaye costume, and flourish tin guns
and wooden swords, and the big boys
(that haven't gone to the wary belong to
the .Home Guards" and look as fierce
and soldierly as military accoutrements
and moustache can make them.
The President, in bis message, has rec
ommended to Congress the raising of
10000 soldiers; and if this is done, it
is not probable that the military spirit
will decrease, for while, at least, in any
alarming degree. In short time, we
predict, that he or she that is not military,
is nothing
II all the foregoing is true. our readers
will perhaps be as much interested in
talk about Camp Chase, as in any other
subject.
We visited the camp on the 4th Of Ju.
~. and remained day and . half, seeing
the sights.
Camp Chase is very pleasantly located
: IN corn field, four miles from Columbus,
and two miles from the Scioto river The
camp consists of the 23l, Gath, 25th and
26th Regiments, under the command of
Col. Scammon, very small, and, Of
course, very pompous officer. who is suc-
ceeding rapidly in making himself gener
ally disliked by the soldiers in the camp.
The whole camp is surrounded by a
guard. Each Regiment is separated from
the others by guard, aud guard is sta
toned between the quarters of the men
and the quarters of their officers, to pre-.
vent, we presume, that good feeling and
sociability which should exist between
company officers and their men.
Our boys are in the 25th Regiment,
the officers of which are Col. Jones, Lieut..
( Col. Richardson and Maj. Webster.
w. w. Jordan, of this place, is Suttler
of the Regiment. position which is said
to be worth about $4,000 per annum.
B. Mcmahon, formerly of this place, is
Chaplain of the Regiment and his ap.
pointment will prove very satisfactory to
the soldiers under his ministerial charge
he was appointed without being an ap.
plicant-a deserved compliment. There
: were quite number of applications fol
the position of Chaplain. While sitting
in Col 3.'s quarters, gentleman from
the Reserve, came in, and made some en-.
.quifies in relation to the Office of Chap.
lain. He being an applicant, and finding
out that the chances to obtain this situa.
tion we're not favorable, enquired of Col
r. what the prospect would be for get
ting q company accepted within month
Col. r.. replied that he could not tell
but that he thought, if company conlG
be raised at all. it could be done in mucl
less than q month. The Parson replied
to this, that he supposed, ordinarily, i
would not require month to raise
company, but that if he raised q company
be would not accept any man that va
not strictly moral; man that would Ell
ther drink, gamble, steal or lie, could no
be member Of his company. This de
elaration was received by all present q
quite good joke, though made by tn
Parson in all seriousness, and after bis de
partnre occasioned pretty hearty laugh
Another applicant for the Chaplainc
proposed to fight as well as pray. whel
the occasion required. There are quite
alarge number Of patriotic men who ar
willing to sacrifice the home comfort;
and undergo the tolls, fatigues and priva
tions of soldiers life, at $1,000 pc
annum. We say all honor to the privat
soldier, for in many instances in this cam
paign, they do undergo many privationl
and make many sacrifices in the service 9
), their country. and are entitled to NOR
q honor than the "epauletted' soldier.
We took dinner with one of the messe
in Capt. Washburn's company. and be
lieye that the mess disposed of their -s
tions With as much relish, and had as muc
to eat as men ordinarily have. Every
thing seemed to be plentiful enough. an
was certainly "got mp" in better styl
than we anticipated. We disposed @
our allntted Share of bread, beef ant