Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-24
NEST VIRGINIA SOLDIERS!
The Register Correspondent Tells the
News Of Camp Poland.
THE BOYS CONFIDENTLY EXPECT
TO BE ORDERED TO CUBA WITH
IN A SHORT TIME-PROFICLENC
IN ATHLETIC SPCRTS-SOLDIER
IN THE HOSPITAL-TWO DEATHS
LAST WEEK-PAY-DAY AT THE
CAMP

CAMP
Private John H. Gillespie writes to
the Register from Camp Poland, Knox
vile, Tenn, as follows:
1--WE have started another week in
Camp Poland, although we expected
ere this to be either in our new camp
in Columbus, Georgia, or on our way
to the island of Cuba. The way the
matter looks to the officers and enlisted
men here is that we will get to go to
Cuba, and that in a very short time.
While our friends and relatives are
taking some part in the observance of
Thanksgiving Day, and enjoying them
selves at luxurious table, we will, in
all probability, be on the move or
getting ready to join ourselves to our
new brigade, which will consist of the
One Hundred and SiXtieth Indiana reg
iment and the Third Kentucky regi-
ment. The other two regiments are
already in their new camp. They were
at Lexington, KY, before they moved.
We have received such kind treatment
and have made many acquaintance
and formed ties of friendship, which
will be remembered for many days to
come. We could not receive any kind
er treatment even if we were at home.
1t is a very common thing for the boys
to go and take meal and spend an
evening with some of the residents
here.
For miles around camp soldiers can
be seen hunting chestnuts, and if they
should happen to be near farmers
house at meal time they are almost in
variabIy asked to stay for the meal
1t is expected that Camp Poland will
be only a thing of history within two
or three weeks. Two regiments have
already gone to new camps. They
were the Second Ohio, (white), and
the Sixth Virginia, (colored), regi-
ments. Tomorrow the Third North
Carolina, (colored), will also leave
These regiments have gone or will go
to Macon, Ga The colored regiments
will be brigaded with two colored i'm
mune regiments under Brigadier Gen
eral Mckee, who recently had COM
mand of our brigade, consisting of the
Sixth Ohio and the First West Vir-
ginia regiments. We are known re-
spectively as the Buckeyes" and the
Snakes" 1t is a common occurrence
to hear some one shout, when in town,
wake up snakes and rattle" And
Immediately the Snakes" will think
they heard thunder after a long winter,
because they will come out and see
what is wanted.
We were all paid here this last week.
The usual excitement took place in
Knoxville, but has now somewhat sub
sided, and the boys are coming back
to their companies after several days
absence Companies which were car
rying from ten to fifteen absent with
out leave now only have about two or
three absent men. All these will be
called up before Lieutenant Colonel
Smith to answer to charges which have
been preferred on account of absence.
He usually inflicts punishment like he
has had experience.
Saturday is given over to athletic
sports after inspection at a. N. Last
week we did not have any contest
games, but the day was spent in prac-
tice. We have a fine foot ball team
here in our regiment. 1t has never
been beaten. The nearest we ever
came to losing a game was tie score
with the Sixth Ohio team. We have
won several games from them since
that time.
One brigade leaves here direct for
Cuba. 1t is not known when they will
go, but they are now ready for active
field service. 1t consists of the Sixth
Ohio, Thirty-frst Michigan and Fourth
Tennessee regiments. All arrangements
for active field service of this brigade
have been made and ordered from
Washington by telegram, the mail be-
ing too slow.
Accompanying the brigade will be
twenty female nurses, ninety hospital
corps men and six contract surgeons,
besides the brigade and regimental sur
geons. AS stated before, the equip
ment of the brigade is now complete,
both as to medicines and Quartermas-
ter's supplies They are ready to move.
1t has been understood heretofore that
division hospital would remain here
for some time. It is not, however.
Sundays Knoxville Journal-Tribune
says that Major Hysell, division sur
geOn. received a telegram from General
Sternberg, Surgeon General of the ar
my. which stated that a hospital train
would be sent from Washington at
once to transfer the patients in the
hospital to Fort Meyer. near Washing
ton. on Arlington Heights. Prepara-
tons are being made and when the
train arrives everything will be ready
tC move.
Sternberg hospital at Chattanooga
has become a thing of the past. The
hospital corps men from there arrived
here on Saturday morning and re-
ported at the division hospital for duty.
Among them was George H. Marshall,
formerly of Wheeling, W. Va. where
he was Physical Director at the Young