The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-24
VETERANS BADLY CARED FOR.
COMMIssARY DEPARTMENT DID ITS
PART IN FEEDING THEM.

But transportation Facilities and
Other Arrangements Were Poor.
Capt. Dillon Thinks There Is
Chance of the Charleston Reunion
breaking Them Up Altogether.
Found the Men at Chicknmauga
All Right with the Exception of
Few Cases of MeasIes-COI. LavtOn
Won't Let Them Eat Pies.
Capt. John r. Dillon returned to the
city yesterday from Atlanta, where he
attended the Confederate veterans re-
union While away Capt Dillon visited
Camp Thomas at Chickamauga. where he
saw the First Regiment boys and found
them all in good condition.
In speaklng'o of the reunion in Atlanta,
Capt. Dillon did not consider that adequate
preparation had been made for the large
crowds that visited the city, except in one
respect, and that was an a suficiency of
food, which provision was made by the
commissdry department of the veterans
themselves. Capt. Dillon heard just be
fore leaving Atlanta Friday night that the
commlssary department had fed from II 900
to 1900 people a day.
In other respects, however, the arrange
ments seemed bad, he said The Savan-
nah delegation had much difficulty in get
ting their badges. and some of them did
not get them at all. 1t was announced
that the meeting at Piedmont PARK would
begin at 10 o'clock Some of the veter-
ans, after waiting until after u o'clock on
the first day, left the park and did not
return.
The transportation facilities to and from
the park were bad 1t was reported that
the Southern Railroad had agreed not to
run any cars to the exposition grounds for
a bonus paid by the Consolidated Street
Railroad Company, and the street cars
and hacks were. therefore, the only mode
of conveyance. The consequence was that
the street cars were overcrowded at inn
portant time, and many OF the delegates
were compelled to take hacks to get out
TO the grounds. Some of the veterans had
10 hustle to find sleeping quarters and
there seemed to be a push and a crowd
on all sides.
Capt. Dillon enjoyed his trip to Chicka-
manga more than any other event. He
spent Thursday there with the officers of
the First Georgia, and said it was most
enjoyable day.
There is comparatively little sickness
among the men," he said. Some few Of
them are suffering with measles but there
was nothing more serious. The only trou-
bic with the camping ground is the water
In every other respect it is a model camp
ing ground, with a pleasant climate There
are several wells near the camp of the
First Regiment, but Col. Lawton win not
permit his men to drink water from them
and has 1t brought from a spring about
two miles away
THE men are not permitted to eat fruit
and pies. 1 didn't understand the edict
against pies until Col Lawton said they
were badly cooked, and made rather un-
wholesome food for the men, While / was
there a countryman came along and ask
ed permission to sell some caDbages and
chickens. Col Lawton granted the per-
mission, and the man then asked for it
in writing, which was given. You may
sell the cabbages and chickens, Col. Law
ton said but not any fruit or pies NO.
said the countryman, I done heerd tell
you don't let EN- eat pies. l had a lot
but l sold EN- all to them Yankees over
yonder.'
THE men know practically nothing
about their orders. I asked Col. Lawton
what he expected would be done with the
regiment, but he did not know They
only surmise that they are going to be
sent to Porto Rico, but can get no posi-
tive information on the subject A day or
two ago one of the officers thought II
settled that they were going and sent for
his wife, but 1t appears that their pros
pective movements are just as uncertain
now as they were several weeks ago"
When Capt. Dillon returned from Chick
amauga TO Atlanta he heard that the next
reunion would be he'd in Charleston. S. C.
IF they could not properly accommo-
date the veterans In Atlanta" he said.
81 don't know what they will do in
Charleston. ] would not be at all sur
prised to see next years reunion at
Charleston break up these reunions alto
gether. However, we viii have to walt
and see what happens"