The Portland daily press., 1898-08-15
SPEAKER REED TAKES A HAND.
Urges War Department to Send Home
Our Boys.

Corporal Libby's Body Arrives Here
Important Letter From Private LYNCH
Co. A.
The movement for the speedy return
of the Mains troops from Chickamausa
to their homes received valuable as7is-
tance Saturday noon when Speaker Heou
made, an appeal to the war department.
for prompt action. Mr.. Reeds message
was In the form of telegram aauresseu
to Secretary of War Alger. Mr. heeo
telegraphed that he hoped Secretary
Alger would order the Maine troops sent
north the instant the public service
would permit.
The need of prompt action in behalf of
the Maine regiment is shown by the let
ters received by the friende of those at
Camp Thomas. One of these written to
81 Bangor man by his brother, who is a
member of Co. A, is printed below. 1t
tells its own story.
Within the past two weeks, the bodies
of three young men who left home only
about three months ago have been re-
ceived here all the victims of typhoid,
contracted at Camp Thomas. The last
of the three bodies came by express las1
night 1t is that of Carl Libby. While
the Maine regiment has seen no actual
service, military funerals over the re-
mains of these young men WHO died Tor
their country although they never saw
a battlefield, have brought the sad fort
unes of war home to Portland people.
Last Monday, the remains of the late
Percy Rroughton of South Portland were
followed to the grave by military escort
and the muskets rang out their parting
salute and the bugle sounded taps over
the grave. Yesterday, from the resi-
dence of his doubly bereaved mother,
occurred the funeral of the late Charles
II. Lowell, the High School Cadets OF
which he was an officer only year or two
ago, acting as escort. Today, the
funeral of young Libby will be held.
1t is not only the funerals of the dead
which show the dangers the Maize
troops have been subjected to in the fever
infested Southern camp. The soldiers
who come home i'll also bear witness to
what the boys have undergone. Major
Collins, who reached home several days
ago is seriously ill and the doctors are
surprised that he was able to make the
Journey at all in his enfeebled condition.
The war is over. Maine people desire
that there should be no delay in sending
the troops home from the Chickamauga
camp.
The following letter has been recei we'd
by John NJ. Lynch, of I Bangor, from
his brother, Private Hugh F. Lynch, of
Co. A, First Maine regiment. which is
at present at Camp Thomas, Chickamau-
ga:
Chickamauga. Aug. 9, 1898.
My Dear Brother-Your welcome letter
received and would have anwered it be-
fore, but have not been feeling very well.
l ate SO much of the stuff l got from
home that it threw my stomach all out.
In regard to our having big time down
here l fail to see it that way. have been
writing and trying to put the best side
out, but think will loosen and tell you
about our big time. Now starting with
the capteen it was the only thing that
kept US alive; If it were not for it we
would starve The money taken was diVi-
led among the companies in the regiment
and went to buy grub for us. Since we
have changed our camp they have not
Dpened it. They sold beer, which by the
way was not per cent. (snd it would be
impossible for man to get intoxicated
on it, the very few DRINKS were got in
Chattanooga lemonade, cigars md tobac-
co. The Maine regiment was not the
only one that patronized this canteen.
Regiments from all parts of the park
went to it. OF course the receipts were
quite large but l fail to recollect the
time when the receipts went to anywhere
near $500 or $500.
Our rations consists of boot leg coffee.
the chepest of tea, sour meat, which they
'all bacon, beef, which is of the Chicago
kind and is kept in storage so long that
when we receive it, it is full OF. maggots
and is most of the time condemned by the
doctors, and bread and it is never hall
cooked.
In, my tent we sleep on the ground
with shelter tent and rubber blanket
under us, which by the way is no better
than newspaper and cur wooden
blanket over us. The sanitary department
is something rotten. In fact the park is
no place to keep an army.
The soldiers are dying every day. The
day. There are only about 500 fit for
duty; by that l mean in condition for
an invading army. If they keep us much
longer the regiment will be pretty well
thinned out when we get home. You
would not recognize the Bangor boys.
they having lost from 20 to 90 pounds.
The boys were overjoyed when we got
the news that we were going TO Porto
Rico, they are willing to go anywhere
out of this place. Why, the water we
drink, is condemnedl
do not believe the government is
aware of the way we are used. I have
given you only an outline of the way we
are being treated. 1t is something terri
bic. ] received the tobacco and was
very glad to get it,
Well, will close, hoping to hear from
you soon.
am your affectionate brother,
IINNIE.