Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-06
NORTHERN MEN TINE HealTilIea
Ssys Private melville Wight Of Maine Hos
pital Corps.

Melville Wight of this city, a member
Of the hospital corps of the first Maine
Volunteers. gives a good idea Of the feel
Ing of the boys in their camp life in two
letters recently received by his mother.
The first one was written from Chicka-
manga. June IS. and reads as follows:
Dear Mother: When answer my let
tiers they seem many, but when they
come l want more" The heart is an in
satiate glutton. I'd like a letter from
think. 'Tis a busy life. but not all the
activity and crowds and newness keep
the thoughts from uriIting ever Name
wards. If people were psychic" lis that
IT'D enough to catch them all 'twOuld be
great; no more trouble then with gummy
postage stamps that fasten themselves to
everything except the envelope they are
intended for; when they reach that they
have spent their energy and leave one
signing for glue-pot. We have a Y. NJ.
There are furnished materials and OPP
p0rtunity for writing those who want
to avail themselves of 1t. A great
convenience. Time goes very quickly
something is going on all the time. Last
night there was a band concert Two me-
gr0es played guitar and mandolin and
sang.
We have home talent shows and lee
lures each week. The Maine field day
sports attracted a good deal of attention.
About the men here in the other regi-
ments hardly think 1t fair to generalize,
but Of those near us an Iowa and a New
York regiment. the former are fine
looking set Of fellows, while many Of the
latter seem matured yellow kids. DID
you read Prof. NOrtOn's letter In the
Boston Transcript. 1t took courage to
write that. Despite its lofty Ideals OF
patriotism there were to us some sadly
Earring notes. When one looks at the
bullet marked trees around here and the
places marked to show where command
ers fell he realizes as never before what
the soldiers of our Civil war went
through and he must experience new SEN
sations. Everyone write often. Love to
all. MELVILLE PAGE WIGHT.
p, q. I am we'll except that my eyes
are troubling me somewhat, probably on
account of the heat. NJ. P. w.
The other letter was written last Satur-
day and following are extracts:
Everything at the division hospital Is
ina better state than 1t has been but no
one enjoys 1t exactly. One of our men
sent there for treatment was 30 neglected
that he could not stand 1t so run away
and struggled home. Our captain on
finding out about II informed Col. Nor
ton and they went up and investigated
with good effect. The hospital Is In
good place near the different camps but
not 10 near as to be troubled by the
noise. The tents are arranged in two
lines facing a wide street with the dis
pefsary and offices at one end and at the
FOOT OF the street Is the mess house.
There are eight beds in tent with plen.
ty Of blankets, sheets and pillows. and
over each bed Is hung towels. screen
to keep the flies away. The sick are sup
posed to have boiled water with ice In It.
Sometimes they have to use It. however.
this time all the ice has been donated.
There hasn't been enough and today Ma
jor Bradbury learning how things were.
bought some and had It sent up. think
there'll be enough after this. There are
three diets, heavy. light and liquid. The
men that are well get the full or heavy
(they wish 1t were a little heavier.) The
light and liquid are oatmeal and milk Or
beef tea. Lieut.. Elliott e fine man by
the way) has recently been appointed
commissary. Under has management this
part will probably be about as i should
be. Now II It were not for the sick mems
comrades. chaplains and Others with
their donations Of milk. Ice. 1em6hn e!hd
reading matter, they would have Dis;
tressing time despite the good medical