Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-12-10
CAMP AT COLUMBUS, GA.
Interesting letter concerning
our soldier boys.

camp suits them-Named I'm honor of
Major Conrad-He caves his impress
sions OF the town near where they
are encamped-Ladies with the regi-
ment-0ther interesting chat.
Lieut. Col. G. L. Smith Of the first
regiment, has a very interesting let
ter in this weeks issue of the Fair
mont Index The letter, in part, is
as follows:
"We reached Columbus about 3
o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and at
once took up the march to Camp Con-
rad named in honor of Major Conrad,
who was well known to most Of our
officers, for he was one of the instruct
ors at the school of Instruction held
for the officers Of our State National
Guard, in Charleston in the fall Of
1897.
ssMaJor Conrad died of yellow fever
while on board of a ship returning
from Cuba during the early fall As
your readers know this regiment is in
the First Brigade, Second Division,
First Army Corps. We are brigaded
with the Tooth Indiana and 3rd Ken
lucky, and the brigade is commanded
by Brigadier General Wiley, formerly
Major General of the Pennsylvania
National Guards.
Camp Conrad is situated about >
miles north Of the center Of the city Of
Columbus on the east bank of the
Chattahooehee river The soil is
sandy and was in cotton and truck
patches last summer. Sunday night
it was cool but not cold, but the mer-
curry was down low in the forties.
Monday morning it began cold rain
which continued all day, which made
it impossible to fix up the camp, The
soil got muddy, but it did not stick.
1t continued to rain until Tuesday
afternoon, when it cleared up We'd
nesday morning ice had formed on
water in buckets sitting Out in the
open, but none on water in the tents.
Wednesday night was milder. write
in detail SO that you can form some
idea OF the climate here by comparing
it with that of West Virginia. We
found that extensive preparations had
been made for our coming. The camp
had been laid out, sinks dug, and
floors for tents made. The battalions
which arrived earlier in the day were
dined by the 160th Indiana and we
all supped with the 3rd Kentucky.
"We are nearly fixed up and feel
very much at home in our camp.
"We have plenty of drill ground,
magnificent water, abundance of pine
wood and an arc light in front of each
regimental headquarters. As yet we
havn't seen much of the people Of
this section, but all we have seen ex-
/ tend to Us that same Southern hospi-
tality which was so generously given
US by the people of Knoxville. The
city of Columbus is indeed a southern
city, and is one of the most interest
ing places I have ever seen. It's old
fashioned and distinctly southern
/ houses; its wide and well shaded
streets and its numerous colored citi-
zens carry our memory back to the
south before the war. | have seen
very little of it, but learn that while
it looks sleepy and is unlike the north
ern or western city in most every re-
spect, yet a number of we'll managed
and prosperous industries are located
here. About 35, 600 people are said
10 be here and they are very cordial
In riding through the city the first
thing that strikes your attention is
! the width of the streets. Some of
them are SO wide as to make the ave-
nues in the modern boom town look
like alleys. Imagine street with
two rows of live oak trees and a grassy
plot in the center of the street and on
either side OF these streets is a drive
way as wide as Main street in Fair
mont and you have one Of the streets
of Columbus. can only give you my
impression of the city from a mere
casual observation in passing but will
tell you more about it later on.
ssThe men are generally well pleas
ed with the camp and its location.
We have quite number of ladies with
US. In addition TO those we have
hitherto mentioned the mother of
J Lieut.. Nesbitt came to visit him and
came down with the regiment from
Knoxville. The ladies are boarding
in the city and can easily reach the
camp by electric car lines which run
on two sides of the camp and within
easy reach.
1--WE are now arranging complete
regimental hospital, the first we have