The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-22
A RAINY DAY IN CAMP.
The MEN SCATTERED BY A STORM
DURING A SERMON.

Everything Pointed to a Beautiful Dav
When the Storm Came Up-The First
Regiment and Two Companies of the
Seventh Battalion Opposed to Chick
amauga as Permanent Location.
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga, June 21.-To-day
has been the worst day the the men have
seen in camp. 1t rained hard and the wind
blew great guns. Tents have been wrenched.
but the soldiers managed to stay inside and
be in way comfortable. 1t is hard living
though. The day opened beautifully and
everybody got ready to go to hear their first
sermon preached TO soldiers here. The
buglers sounded the church call at $50
O'Clock, and the band played sacred airs
in fact the ministers came and opened their
text. They read lesson and offered
prayer. Then 1t thundered, and rain began
to drop.
THE AUDIENCE sCATTERs.
simultaneously the audience began to
scatter and in ten minutes the field was
bare. Everybody had sought shelter and
rain was pouring down. 1t rained steadily
an hour and heavy showers have fallen at
short intervals since. The lightning was
vivid and the day was altogether very dis
agreeable even indoors. The men per-
formed little duty tonight Tomorrow
will be their last day. They are sitting
about in each others tents discussing the
site for the permanent location Of the en-
campment. Some want it here aud others
do not The First Georgia regiment to a
man opposes Chickamauga as a site, while
the battalion, excepting the Brunswick
Rifemen and Valdosta Videttes, favor it to
man.
TOO FAR AWAY.
Those who oppose it claim that it is too
far from the military of the state Nearly
all the soldiers of Georgia live south Of
Griffin. 1t requires two days TO come and
two to 90 from Chickamauga Besides, it
is urged that this water hurts the men and
the atmosphere is too damp. The rocks
make the mems feet sore. Besides, the
revenue coming from the men encamped is
poured into Chattanooga and taken out Of
the state. Some favor Macon, some Griffin
and few would like to see the encampment
at Brunswick. Col. Wright Of the seventh
battalion told his men last night that it was
the best place they would be able to find in
Georgir, and that when they returned home
from here they would feel as il they had
been off on vacation.
THE LAND COMPANY AT WORK.
The Chickamauga Land Company cirou-
lated petition in the Seventh battalion ask
ing that all favoring the site being here sign
it Nearly all of the men except the two COM
panies named attached their signatures.
No petition has been given the First Geor-
gia regiment. COL Mercer said he was
doubtful il the state would locate the camp
hn-n .N-As. 4
soldiers would be much too heavy. He pre-
fers Griffin because he thinks it is more CEN
trally located. 1t may be reached from
almost any part of the state the same day.
He does not think the opinion of the men
will have anything to do with the selection
Of the permanent site. The legislature, he
said, will be governed entirely by what it
costs, the state having regard OF course to a
pleasant site and one which is in no
material way Objectionable.
PREPARING FOR THE GUARDS.
Four members of the Savannah Volun-
teer Guards reached here tonight. They
are Quartermaster Sergeant Dieterich and
Commissary Sergeants Van WAGNER of
Company G. Daffin of Company B, and
Screven Of Company A. They have come
to prepare for the men who are to follow.
They have been over the grounds and are
well pleased. They advise that the home
boys bring rubbers by all means
The Brunswick Riflemen will leave to-
morrow for home to attend the wedding Of
D. Mitt Wells, a member of Company G.
Fourteen members Of the First regiment
left this morning for home.
General Manager Green and the new off,
Gals of the Central railroad stopped here
to-day on their way to Birmingham. They
spent the night on Lookout mountain.
ten. Alexander was in the party and he
went out on Lookout and recognized some
points where he was encamped and where
ne fought during the war.
AN INTERESTING SPOT.
CHIoKAMAUGA, GA, June 20.-Camp
Chickamauga is just now one of the most
interesting places in Georgia. Hundreds of
people are visiting here all the time, and the
soldiery is receiving such attention as it
never received before. The men are pleased
beyond measure, and they would not care
II their time was two weeks instead OF one.
They have learned lots, and their instruction
seems just to have begun. The governor
made the men feel proud. He was lavish in
his kind remarks and he was sincere. He
really did manifest a great deal of interest
in the camp and he said he was proud Of
the men. He repeated what he said in Sa-
Vannah and in other places, that he was
ready always to be commanded by the mill
ua OF Georgia when 1t uanted.aid. He is
friend to the soldiers and yet he is not a
soldier himself. His reviews do not inpire,
OUT maybe they have more of the real
worth. While lifting his little straw hat at
each company commander may not be as
eloquent as raising a silk hat to the officers,
ouI 1t may mean more business,
and better business for the companies.
Inc governor has demonstrated his friend>
snip Tor the militia, and the soldiers are
closer to him now than they have ever been
before. He did not make them a speech
when he reviewed them, but his interview
published in the NEWS shows which way
his head is set.
A PERMANENT ENCAMPMRNT.
Now the question of permanent encamp-
ment agitates the minds of the men. Some
IaVor Chickamauga, others do not. Some
say 1t is too far away from the soldiery of
tne state, others say for that reason it is
oeCter for the men who seek to be in
eTucted. When a man has passed a
week up here at an encampment
ne feels as IL he has been off on a vacation
when he got back down in Georgia. Ii has
oeen both q source of vacation and instruc-
uon. Capt. Guerry OF the Dawson Guards,
mhose opinion is worth something, says that
ue prefers Chickamauga or some other place
Up TINS way to any location in Middle or
south Georgia. Said he, 81 believe, how
ever, IL we had two encampments, that is
ewo sites, say one in this section and an-
Vther somewhere on the coast and allow
sue men each year to alternate; go to the
cOaSb TINA and mn here the