The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-19
Battery A, of indianapolis, the First
at Chickamauga Park to BE Re-
cruited 10 Full War Strength.
COL SMITHS MEN PATRIOTIC
WANT HOME FRIENDS To ASSIST IN
CELEBRATING THE FOURTH.
Shifting About of SurgeOns-Only
Five Men in HOspital-News Of Coils.
Gunder's and Barnett's Regiments.
corresnondence Of the journal.

Correspondence of the Journal.
CAMP THOMAS, Chickamauga Park, Ga,
June 16.-About o. clock this morning the
last two squads of new recruits for the bat
terry arrived at Camp Thomas and were
warmly welcomed by all the boys. One
squad was under command of Private Hen
bricks and the other of Bugler Martindale.
The recruits are fine-looking lot of men,
and with a few weeks drill they will I'M
doubtedly help maintain the present high
standard of Battery A. At 2 p. m. they were
initiated into their first drill by First Ser
geant Meyers. After the drill the new men
were marched up to headquarters and meas
ured for their new uniforms by Private
Kahn, and a requisition for the complete
equipment Of the men will be sent in at
once. AS usual Battery A has succeeded
In being first by having their recruits in
camp before any of the other batteries. The
First Regiment of Kentucky Infantry, which
came into camp recently. has with it old
Battery A of Louisville The boys. when
they found it was impossible to muster in
as artillery, Joined the infantry, and it was
conceded by those who witnessed the regi-
mental review last evening that they were
the best-drilled company. in the regiment
Ever since the arrival of the new pieces tho
boys have been kept busy by showing the
mechanism of,~the guns to the new COM
panies that are constantly arriving in camp
Since the members of the battery have
been doing all their drilling IN the fore
noon the boys have experienced no diff
Guilty in securing passes to Chattanooga, as
Captain Curtis thinks that as the men have
had hard drills during the entire morning
they should be allowed some chance for
recreation in the afternoon. The Chatta-
uooga party for to-day consisted of Pri-
Yates Byram, Helm, Davis Griffith Garstin
and Brush. in charge of Quartermas-
ter Sergeant Bob Oliver, and it was the in
tentlon of the party to take in the sights
at Lookout mountain and all points of in
terest before returning to camp
This morning while the battery was hav-
Ing the mounted road drill it passed the
-fifty-eighth and One-hun-
dred-and-sixtieth Indiana Regiments. The
tntantrymen instantly concluded the battery
had been called out and was on the march
AS 1t drilled past the cheers for old Indiana
were almost deafening
1t still continues to rain, and with the ar
rival or the new recruits and the crowded
condition of the tents Private Nichols has
found an opportunity to earn some extra
money by leasing his No II boots to Private
Kahn and Corporal Hewitt for tents. AS
the boots are guaranteed to be waterproof
Kahn and Hewitt ought to be better fixed
than some of the boys in the lealxy tents
Always DESTROYS of being first in every
thing that goes, Battery A not willing to
be outdone by Battery e, which had a fire
In camp few nights ago, also had a little
ire themselves last night The boys were
called out to extinguish the fire in the tent
occupied by Corporal D. H. Oliver. Privates
Kuhn, Johnson and Garstin. With more
excitement than conflagration the blaze was
smothered with comparatively no loss.
yesterday the grounds were too wet to
drill, and the battery fell in under command
OF First Sergeant Myers and was given a
good ten-mile march through the park, the
rOadways being in much better condition
for drilling than the regular drill grounds
The men were marched around through
MacFarland'S Gap and past Lytle and back
to camp by way of Snodgrass Hill. AL
though a good steady rain was falling dur
ing the march, the boys apparently
through worrying over such triheS, and
circle and While the shower increased to a
perfect downpour, sang "Old Glory" gave
three cheers and went TO mess.
On account of the fifty or more new re-
cruits, the camp has to be enlarged consld-
erably.
The officers quarters have been moved
to the west end of the grounds, near the
main road, and the tents made into double
instead of a Single street as before. The
PENNSYLVANIA man who was defended by
was dismissed by the action of the board
This news was as pleasant to the men as
to the captain, as the Fort Wayne battery
man, defended by another officer, for being
drunk, was given ten days in the guard
house and $40 fine.
The Fort Wayne battery, now the Twenty
eighth Artillery, is now fully equipped and
when Ii turned out in full unif0r n 10 attend
the review of the Second Minnesota Infan-
try, 1t presented a fine appearance and Was
loudly appiauded by Battery a.
The Fort Wayne battery has also received
regulation CIRCULAR tents, and the camp now
presents a much more military appearance
than the small tents used at Camp Mount