The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-29

Indiana Boys Have Pitched Their
Tents in Sight of Savannah.

Tents in Sight of Savannah.
Correspondence of the Journal.
SAVANNAH, Ga, Oct 25.-At 1890 a. m.
Sunday the bugle call to strike tents was
sounded, and in the twinkling of an eye
every tent of the Observation-Disclosures sixty
first Indiana Regiment fell to the ground
and the white city appeared as white spots
on the sandy surface of Florida's prevailing
soil Camp equipments, such tents, tent
floors, horses, wagons and quartermaster's
stores were loaded on freight cars and sent
ahead in two sections and left the camp
early in the evening. The soldier boys
were given twenty-nine day coaches which
were divided into two sections but for some
reason the start was delayed until mid
night, at which hour the first section, con-
tanning Companies A, K, NJ f, b and F.
pulled away from camp. leaving behind
cnIy the dying embers of their camp-hres.
The second section left shortly afterwards.
The boys were not sorry to leave the site
where they had had their joys and sorrows
for ten long weeks.
Some amusing incidents occurred between
the hour of striking tents and time of leav-
ing camp. AS darkness came on bringing
a chilly northeast wind the boys began set
ting fire to such buildings as Colonel Dur
bin found convenient to leave behind, and
in few minutes the country for miles
around was lighted by flames licking the
very tops of the tall pines, many of which
had been left standing in camp. The men
had stacked their arms in their old COM
pany streets and their heavy marching
equipment hung suspended on the innum-
cradle stacks of glistening Winchesters.
About the time for taps and the hour for
all soldiers to feel sleepy the band marched
out playing "There'll Be a Hot Time" etc,
and, with Colonel Durbin in the lead, the
band marched through the company streets,
dispeling any tendency to sleep the boys
may have had.
In Jacksonville the regiment was delayed
for two hours, and arrived in Savannah at
1880 a. m. yesterday, apd after coffee had
been served to the boys they We're marched
to their new camp, two and one-half miles
northeast of the city. The rev camp is To-
Gated in plain view of the city on rolling
ground and in the very center of a large
meadow No passes will be issued to the
soldiers of the e-hundred-and-sixty- first
until the camp is put in good condition.
Very much to the disgust of the surgeons
a rule prohibiting the treatment of any but
the most trivial ailments in the regimental
hospital is now being strictly enforced
surgeons will decline to remain in the serv-
Ice under these hampered conditions.
Major Wickliffe Smith returned sick from
his trip North and has been unable for duty
since he was sent home by Major Pitcher
acting chief surgeon of the Seventh Army
Corps, with diagnosis of typhoid fever
Lieut.. James Wilson, assistant surgeon,
who has for some time been stationed in the
Third Division hospital, has been returned
to the ne-hundred-and-sixty- y-first Indiana
Regiment.
Corporal Randolph Hovey, of Company B,
returned to-day from a visit 10 Indiana
Corporal Curtis Moody. of Company NJ.
enjoys prospects Of being promoted in the
near future. Corporal Moody is well known
in indianapolis, and has many friends in
the One-hundred-and-sixty- Regiment
Private Walter Clemmons, of Company K,
is sick with fever Lieutenant Crooker, of
Company e, who has been sick at his home
in Jeffersonville for the past fifty days. re-
turned to-day. l.. Z. w.