The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-06-01

CAMP GEO. Ii. THOMAS,
CHICAMAUGA PARK. GA. May %.
After dining sumptuously on our reg
ular rations OF hard tack, fat bacol
and coffee, with small allowance o
beans as an extra, by reason o
the fact that it is Sunday, feel a
peace with the whole world. In fac
/ am hilarious, and as j begun tht
day Alright by going to church (undel
compulsory | purpose ending it il
the NEST pleasant manner | can think
of, i. G., by writing to my friends,
Our leave taking OF Camp Lee wa;
INTENDED to be quite suspicious, as
there was grand stand play to bt
made in the shape of every man being
placed at his tent with every guy rope
loosened except just what were neces.
sary TO keep 1t from falling, and at q
given signal from the regimental
buglar, every tent was to fall in
stantly, accompanied by the flare OF
many trup pets and huzzahs of the
soldiers and visitors. That seemed a
beautiful sentiment to me and /
would that the elements had been
kinder, bat it was not to be as ii
commenced to rain early in the after
noon and rained necessarily for some
hours after we had embarked for the
South.
At seven O'Clock we broke camp,
each company forming in columns in
front of the train TO wait for one
hour and half, for goodness knows
what; but Notwithstanding every
man was soaking and the rain pour
ing, l never saw jollier crowd OF
men. After more tedious waiting at
the depot, we were finally loaded on
three special trains and started south
ward.
There were many incidents en- route
worthy of mention, but lack of space
forbids mentioning them. Suffice it
to say that notwithstanding the fact
that seventeen regiments had pre-
ceeded us along the same route, men
women and children flocked to the
train to see US and give us the "glad
hand" and present us with flowers.
One kind lady literally stripped her
garden, crying all the time and saying
nice things TO us, Do you doubt that
every one of us stood uncovered in the
presence OF that lady? The girls
(bless their hearts, devoted themselves
to souvenir hunting, asking for any
thing generally, but for buttons par
ticularly. ! am sorry TO say to you
that most of us were looking for but
tons, too, for we had not received our
equipments, although we had been
assured that we would get them and
had sent our extra wardrobes TO our
respective homes. | agree that the
cesslty is the mother of invention, "
and though we were sshort" on but
tons we were "long" on hard tack,
and we wrote nice little nothings on
them, with our names, etc, gave them
to the girls and-went hungry until
next ration time.
After twenty-six hours of steady
travel we arrived at Chattanooga
waited another twenty hours on the
side cf the track, and then came out
to the park Is miles) tired but still
game. We Immediately disembarked,
MARCHED little way into the park,
aud were told that II we would be
good we could biyouac there for the
night. For the benefit of the unini-
tiated will say that to biyouac is to
lie down ON the bare bosom Of mother
earth, with the blue canopy Of heaven
for cover We bivouaced.
Next morning we marched four
miles across the park to our present
encampment. / will not attempt to
describe the park, believing that you
are as familiar with it as /, but to
give you an idea of the extent of it, l
will say that western man got lost
from his company and did not find it
for two days.
Your Uncle Samuel has a stockade
here with 1890 mules in it, 500 of
which were captured from Spain.
We have about 36, 900 volunteers
here at present, with new arrivals
daily. The West Virginia regiment
has been the recipient of many COM
pliments for which we are as proud as
we can be, consistent with proper
degree Of modesty. My company was
thoroughly equipped this morning,
and, as / mentioned, we marched to
church in all the glory and splendor
of new uniforms and decidedly
camphorated order.
If it is possible for one of the w.
Va. boys to be more enthusiastic than
another in his work, | believe the
honor should belong to our old friend
Steve Ellison, Of company d. (He in
sists on being called Steve in war
times.) Steve is an old V. M. l. man,
is well drilled, SO he was made a nom
commissioned officer at once. He was
mounting his guard few nights
since, and took particular care to i'm
press one of his sentinels with the re-
sponsibility of his position. | rather
think the sentinel was impressed, for
when Steve prowled around his beat a
little later to test him, he promptly
jabbed his bayonet into him, much to
Stoves satisfaction as an officer. /
have not had an expression from him
as citizen.
The Morgantown boys are in good
health and spirits, and If they get
into a ''scrap," | predict that they
will all give good account of them
selves.
The navy department may be
able to keep the truth from escaping