The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-06
Camp Thomas, Boys OF Co. H.

DoINGs OF THE WEI AT CHICKAMAUGA PARK
Things here continue the same in a gen.
eral way, with the exception OF our food
supply and added equipments, which latter
the boys needed very much indeed, as
quite a number were very near Striking bare
ground" just before they received the issue
OF trousers and shoes, too. But now you
seldom hear anyone grumble about the
food, water, etc. or course the water has
to be drawn a long distance and when
brought in must have ice in it. Oftentimes
"Sil' dumps a boiler of good strong coffee
into the water receptacle, which, when
cooled, makes a "dandy drink" and friends
and relatives of the boys at home should
see the grand rush for it when they come in
from a hard afternoon drill in the hot sun.
1t is a case of FIRST come first served" by
yourself.
The health record is very high, there
seldom being any one off duty, and no one
in the hospital at all from Co. III. All seem
to take the best of care Of themselves, with
the single istance of "Big Jim" who will
persist in giving out unearthly yelis once in
a while just after taps have sounded. We
consider it quite dangerous ~ on account
of the malarial fog which floats at that hour,
915 p. NJ. Not only has III been fortunate
in having its share OF good health, but the
regiment as a whole has kept near the one
hundred mark. From heat there is not the
least danger, as the commanding officers of
our company take good care of all the boys.
Much interest is manifested in the reports
about leaving for either Cuba or Porto Rico.
Speculation as to which place will be given
to us to occupy, or possibly never to see at
all, takes the shape Of small bets that 1--WE
leave next week." or "a V WI never leave"
and 80 on.
We seem to feel the time to 60 drawing
nearer and nearer and when the orders will
be received to move all will be relieved as
most are chatting at the delay in starting
Give the boys a chance and follow the
record they will make, You will be proud
of Co. II, as we'll as OF the First Vermont.
The pay-rolls were sent in on Wednesday
and on Thursday the regiment was formed
in line aud mustered in by Col. Clark, with
Adjt. Eaton, Lieut's. Robbins and Curtin
assisting. 1t was all over at $3.50 p. M; the
men returning to quarters with the idea
that they would get their pay about
that we are to get 1t the second, being paid
from May Is to July l. This latter may be
all wrong as reports of all kinds are going
round without chaperons 30 keep them
where they belong. Co. NJ, which is guard
ing the paymaster's little 50, $50, 900 at Gen.
Brooks headquarters, was paid yesterday,
and why shouldn't the rest Of the First be
paid soon.
All the lads were eager to secure the po-
sition of the Colonel's orderly, but as only
one is appointed each day, the good Colonel
is very apt TO be laid away for all time long
before the individual members of the regi-
ment nave a chance TO wait upon him. The
orderly is selected at morning guard mount
from the seventy odd men who have been
appointed to do duty for the ensuing twenty.
four hours. His general appearance, clean
illness, soldierly bearing, count the most,
but there may be many equally meritorious.