The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-06-23
FORWARD MARCH!
is THE ORDER THE BATTALION
WANTS.
The Fourth Company Mustered in--Or.
ders to Mode Expected DaiIy--The
Boys Drill Like Veterans.

Boys DRILL Like Veterans.
Columbia, S. c., June 1S. 1S9S.-The
seventh week of army life has been PASS
ed by the men of Thompson's Battalion
of South Carolina Volunteers, and still
no orders to move have been received.
While Major Thompson is expecting to
receive such orders every day, and has
his battalion ready to move on short no
tice, the war department has seen fit to
hold us here without arms, uniforms or
equipments for nearly two months.
As to the uniforms for the men, how
ever. must say that the war depart
ment has sent in partial shipment, and
the invoice for the balance is in the hands
of the major. The hats that have been
issued for the boys are the regulation,
broad-brim campaigners. snuff-colored,
and the companies look we'll in them.
The shoes, too, are all of the same broad,
plain style, and the men look like SOL
dlers now, in fact.
Company B has been completed and
sworn in. Captains Sireen, Nixon,
Jones and McCaughrin and the would-be
lieutenants put their men all together
and formed one company, which then
elected their own officers. Sireen was
chosen captain, and Messrs Dargan, of
Abbeville, and Stone, of Greenville, lieu-
tenants. The company has men in it
from nearly every county in the State.
For several days past we have been
having severe rains and wind storms, but
our little "onyas nom es protect us from
the weather almost as well as a wooden
dwelling. Some Of the tents, just as
some other homes are, were carried away
by the wiEd, but they were very few.
Notably among the unfortunates was
Quartermaster Cox, whose tent was
blown away and several valuable papers
ruined by the rain.
The battalion is improving In drill
wonderfully. The entire command now
drills almost as well as regulars. Major
Thompson is one of the best drill-mas-
ters in the State and the captains of the
various companies are thorough military
men, and they are rapidly getting the
men under strict military dicipline.
Major Thompson issued an order
Thursday requiring the captains Of the
several companies to march their compa-
nies to Hampton's mill-pond for bath,
one company going every day in turn,
according to rank. In accordance with
this order, company A took the eight
mile Iound-trip tramp Friday morning.
Our men did not seem to mind the long
walk at all, but were rather glad to get
the opportunity to enjoy swim.
The battalion drill ut ] O'Clock every
afternoon attracts a crowd that number
several hundreds daily. the Sunday as
semblage being particularly large.
Notwithstanding the fact that the war
is the absorbing topic, the men of the
battalion take an active interest in the
present political campaign. Theirs are
friends of each of the seven Gubernatori-
al candidates in the command, and some
of the political disputes are spirited.
hn nf nf
delicious edibles, which are always ap-
preciated, for in our daily ratiOns the
menu is never changed,
Measles is prevalent in the camp,
there being men from nearly every eom-
pony now in the hospital tent suffering
from this disease. Mumps is also giving
the men who have never suffered from it
a painful experience.
LOUIS J. BRISTow.