New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-18
VOLUNTEERS ASSEMBLING.
VANGUARD OF GREAT ARMY AT CAMP
THOMAS.

MoRNING-KEALTH THE FIRST CONSIDER
ATIoN-LAcK OF MARTIAL MUSIC.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIBrSE.l
Chattanooga, Tenn. May 1I-Nearly LOU
volunteers are now at Chickamauga. and by .
O'Clock tomorrow morning 10000 or more Will
be in camp The troops have arrived at In
tervals Of an hour apart all day. ard have come
IN faster than they could be handled by the
railroad leading &c Chickamauga Park
The men were marched out on the business
streets for exercise. and some OF them while
waiting for their trains to start wandered OUT
or the residence avenues which were lined with
people eager for glance az the volunteers
Everywhere the soldiers were accorded most
hearty welcome Hundreds Of old veterans
have visited the field Of mobilization to-day and
watched the interesting sight Of great army
OF men fresh from the various walks Of life
pitch their tents and get down 70 the marc
routine Of camp and real soldiers life
The scenes witnessed were amusing in the ex-
treme. Some took hold Of their tents cumsiiy'
others would mash their fingers IN driving
stakes and some could not manage their horses.
Some Of the men had walked so much that they
were actually barefooted and applied TO the
Commlssary Department for shoes. They couid
scarcely walk in the thick. coarse Army shoes
issued to them by the officers. but not COM
plant was heard. not a murmur or a regret
escaped the lips OF any OF these soldiers
FINE BODY OF MEN.
A finer lot Of men physically were never got
together before. and nothing can success
fully resist such army as this Will soon De-
The sons Of rich merchants. manufacturers.
bankers and Professional men. all work side
by side with the sons Of the humble farmer ana
mechanic They are fighting in the same cause
CHI mod orr
and dscomforts which they have only begun to
endure.
A trying and vexatous incident occurred just
after noon to-day. heavy thunderstorm burst
upon Camp Thomas completely drenching
everything exposed. Some CT the pennsylvania
troops had their bedding. tents and other camp
paraphernala spread out upon the ground pre-
paratory to pitching their tents This was all
soaked with water in the thirty minutes shower
and the boys viii sleep on wet beds tonight
At least 200 CT the men are sick This is due
partly 10 a change in the water and climate
and partly to the dissipation INDUCED In by
some OF the men last night. Just leaving home
and fresh in the Army. many of the young men
thought they must celebrate. The officers were
lenient In this respect; much more so than VIII
hereafter be tolerated.
TO CARE FOR THE SICK
The Baroness Erlanger Hospital which Is one
OF the finest buildings in this city. but is not
furnished. will probably be furnished for the
use Of the army at Chickamauga. st. Vincents
Infirmary here has been rendered to the Medi-
cal Corps and number Of the more serious
cases are CHARTERED there. The others are in
the field hospitals
The good pc ,ole Of Ch!ckamauga have early
begun to care fer the boys that are sick In the
hospitals, and many women drove down TO the
camp this morning in private conVeyances'
bearing flowers, del!cacies Of the n1ess-table
and reading matter. These were all distributed
by the bearers and thankfully received by the
boys.
A small colony of former citizens OF Ohio.
now residents Of Chattanooga. have decided to
see that the Ohio boys want for nothing, while
the Pennsylvanians here. numbering 2S6 OF the
leading citizens, will look after the Pennsyl-
vania boys Fewer of the Illinois troops are
sick than any other contingent
The strawberry season Is now at its height.
and one large fiuit grower. j. F. Bennett. who
formerly lived in Pennsylvania. sent wagon
load Of berries 10 camp for the Pennsyl-
vania boys to-day. Some OF the more tender
hearted women went so far as to beg the offi-
GERS in command to let some OF the men In the
hospital come to their homes until they recov-
cred. where they could personally minister to
their wants. The health Of the big volunteer
army will be a most serious matter with the
commanders, and one that will require their
undivided attention.
THE HEALTH PROBLEM.
General Brooke has given this matter much
study and the best medical advice in the coun
try has been called for. A healthier place than
Chickamauga could not be found in the whole
country but the gathering Of such an immense
population in such close quarters without art-
fetal sewerage and drainage, is a serious prob
lem. 1t is doubly serious with the volunteer
army because. unlike the Regulars. they are all
fresh from homes OF comfort and wholly unused
10 the hardships Of military life
They are not accmated. and the sudden
change in water and atmosphere. coupled with
exposure and other matters that must be taken
into consideration. will have tendency to re-
duce the health Of every company. AS General
Brooke remarked before the arrival Of the VOL
unteers began the men 90 not know how 10
take care Of themselves. And. might be
added. TO keep their camp in the clearly con-
dition so necessary TO good health. The first
thing that will be done will be to vaccinate
the soldiers
The announcement through the dispatches
last night that General Lee would go to Tampa
was received with great surprise by General
Brooke. who had in the day received advices
that General Lee would come to Chickamauga
soon. This formed an interesting topic of con-
versation around headquarters to-day
DIVISION OF THE ARMY
The Provisional Army Corps at Chickamauga
has been formed In divisions. This afternoon
the commander Of the Second Division was APP
pointed. Brigader- General Arnold being named
by Major General Wilson The First Di-
vision has been brigaded. and as fast as
regiment arrives and becomes settled II is as
sgned TO a brigade.
The Second Division has moi yet been assigned
or made up, and Will probably not be until to-
morrow. 1t will be made up of regiments and
troops yet to arrive. The First Division far