Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-01

CAMP 0oRToN--Ine state faT OrrOund, now
devoted to a rendezvous for the men Of Indiana,
who have rushed forward at the first call to arms
IS the special and only place of attraction within
reach of the city, and there all the local interest
is fast cenrering. 1t is the fashionable drive, and
horse-fesh suffers, and feet get sore, and men
and women brave the dust and fatigue with hero
ism, every hour in the day, to reach it. 1t has
been callel sc Camp Morton" after the Governor
of the State, and are willing to admit that the
nameis good one. However much we have diff
fered, and may differ with the Governor politi-
cally-and we still claim the privilege to do So
we must and do admit that he has displayed en-
ergy, tact and zeal in this crisis. Camp Morton
is the center of attraction for all in the civil
service, as well as tine military, and the roads
leading to it are thronged with vehicles of every
description. private and public
We have so often described the appearance of
the ground that il is needless to do now. 1t is
a beautiful park of thirty five or six acres, well
fitted with halls and stalls for the accommoda-
ton of the industrial interests of the State, and
so easily converted into great barrack for the
reception and accommodation of troops, that it
was at once, and We believe wisely chosen for the
rendezvous of Indana's quota of men. The halls
have been thoroughly enclosed and hunks fitted
in them--che stalls have been fitted for hunks
and additional sheds built, and there is now good
sleeping accommodations for FIVE or six thousand
men on the ground, all under snug shelter, with
out waiting for tents. The scenes at camp, and
the mode Of life there, and the ready adaptation
of men TO their condition as soldiers are well
worthy of a mole C. -S,r..e esS'y than we have
time or spIce to appropriate.
The carriage entrance in the south west cor
ner, is used principally by visitors, and to the
right as you enter, in the building erected for a
Secretarys Office, is Head Quarters. Here Col.
Reynolds, the Commandant, presides, and issues
his orders TO- the government of the stirring mass
of men whose names are enrolled for service
and we should remember that, like the Cap
tain of a man of-war, his power for the
time being is almost absolute. The Com
mittee House in the center of the ground is the
Quarterrnaster's Office and the second story is
the Medical Inspectors quarters. The halls to
the right filed with troops, and the large din
ing hall the east with its latticed sides is the
Commissarys store, where the bread and dinner
is dispensed to the men, the acquisitions of the
company officers. By the way, Gommissary Cen
eral Mansur has been equal to the emergency,
and when the laurels of the war are gathe-
ring in should not be forgotten. His two
assistants there, Messrs. Anderson and Meredith
are industrious and indefatigable in discharging
their arduous duties. We watched them for an
hour while we resting, and can say that
theirs is no sinecure birth. General Morris, the
Quartermaster General in providing for such a
rush of men on so short notice, has done Won
ders, and to his energy and intelligent zeal, the
men are indebted for the comparatively comfort
able quarters and their surroundings. The dou-
BILE row Of cattle stalls, on the west side of the
ground, are all filed, six men to a stall. They
are snug and cozy. Here are TO be seen all man
ner Of signs stuck upon the sides of the sheds, as
the hunor of the occupants suggest BATES
House," Burnet House," washing and iron
ing" dress making" "cupping and bleeding,
hair dressing" and every conceivable manner
Of business is carried on in that row. il one is to
believe the shingles stuck out. The fires for
cooking are in front, and squads are drilling all
around. The horse stables on the north are sim
ilsrly occupied. but there is less evidence of a
taste for business in that quarter of camp, and
fewer signs are seen.
On the east side new buildings have been
erected the entire length of the enclosure, and
filed similarly with the quarters in the north and
west. Midway on that side stands the guard
house, always great institution in camp 1t j.
the building used as a treasurer's Office during
the fair. The drilling, as yet, has been confined
to squad and company drill. From the number
of trees on the ground, it may not be possible tc
practice the troops in regimental drill there. but
if they remain long. grounds will be selected fol
that purpose One regiment-the Zouave prob
ably-will, it is said, be removed to the ole
Bellefontane car-shop, which viii be fitted up a,
barracks.