New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
SHAM FIGHT AT CAMP THOMAS
TEN THOUSAND TROOPS PARTICIPATE IN
A SPIRITED CONTEST.
vIGoR OF THE vOLrNTEERs-MANf hh 'N'''
FOR THE soLDrERs-HEAT DRIVES AN AS
tn

rop THE soI,pIERs-HEAT DRIVES An As
srsr.Hr CHAPLAIN TO PROFANITY.
my TELEGRAPH TO rHr tribune
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn. May GA nasnihoe"'
snsctacls was the great sham hattie az '''''
manga to-day Ten thousand soldiers pa'''''
pa.ed In IT, belonging to the command ol DIE"
dier-General John s. Poland. Inc io''o"'"7
regiments manruvred upon the heid IN t"e "a
tie: First Brigade. Sd Pennsylvania. ISL Nl,O"-
igan 15Sth Indiana: Second Brigaoe' VI" INV
1st Yves, Virginia. l60th Indiana; Th'rn n''s"'''
% Ohio. 14th Tennessee. LIST Pennsylvania
Immediately after the sunrise gun hau oee'
fred preparations for the event began. AS the
orr,,orv covered bv the soldiers extended several
miles. II required some time 70 place the men
in their proper positions, and II was nearly W.
o'clock before the pickets OF the Second Brigade
which was on the defensive. were driven IN by
tho soldiers from the First and Third brlgades'
who were the attacking forces"
Abou, a quarter Of n mile distant, In another
ae,se hodv Of woods were the First and Thiro
brigadcs. an entire regiment at one time oc'u-
nvinr q deem ravinc. At given signal the
handwriting began and for some time the
mimic warfare ragged hercely. to the delight Oh
the few spectators who happened to be present
The numbers Of the attacking forces were "lS'
discovered by the pickete ~ the Second brlsade'
who were almost Immediately driven hack upon
their own lile and then the battle hcSAn'
HOW FOES WERE KNOWN
IN order 70 recognize friend from foe tho
nr,vates and non commissioned officers Of the
Second Brigade wore leSgnGs. while the men
On tho orpos,tc side did not. The officers 81 tho
First ard Third br.gadcs wore whit" upon
their arm. to distinguish them. Strict orhNrs
were given 10 the members OF the Second BIT
eade to capture any man who had white upon
his arm. and they were obeyed to the letter
While the battle was at its height. ana the
|, mounted staff officers. many OF whom were on
Brigader-General Poland's staff VINO hao
charge OF the battle were rushing through the
woods and over the fields In a hurried manner
and Issuing orders TO the colonies oi various
brigades engaged number or men. who' IL -
thought formed the reserve OF the H"cohn
Brigade espied the enemy's wagon tram ana
making fank movement succeeded IN cap
turing Il. The train proved 20 he soda ana
lemonade wagon belonging 10 native ana NOT
% tho enemy. as It was at first supposed. and II
was released nothing contraband being discov-
cred After several hours OF hard work the pat
tie came 70 close honors being about even.
The mon were completely tired out after their
abors.
VIGOROUS VOLUNTEER FORCE.
II is conceded to be n fact b. all who ha'e
seen the volunteer army now modified a,
Ch,ckamarga that army composed OF
stronger or more so!dierly young men was never
gathered together in this or any other country.
I, ia Also known 10 he n fact that fully 20 per
cent OF the soldiers know nothing whatever
about a soldiers life. many Of them never nav
ing discharged a gun and for this reason II for
no other the volunteer army Is expected To re-
main AZ camp for several month";
Further and improved facilities for dlstrihut-
ing the mails among the troops At Camp Thomas
have been made. Six additional postal clerks
have been detailed 20 the camp. making twenty 70
two in all. and the mil will he delivered three
or four times day and more II necessary. u"
give an idea Of the Immense amount 81 mall
matter received At that point. twenty-five thou
sand letter. have been delivered 10 the volun-
teers at one time since they have been cncampcd
at Chickamnuga 1t IS estimated that the Post
ONCE Department service at that point Is equal
to that required by a community Of 2sG0cn peo-
ple in other places and extra facilities are re-
ouired to distribute the immense amount Of
matter
REGULAR MAIL WAGONS
n has been found that considerable delay has
been experienced IN the delivery ~ mail In the
camps Oh account 81 tho stcppage ~ delivery
wagons by the guard. the conveyanc-s not be-
ing Of the regular type and not recognizable
easily as In the Government service. This
trouble will hereafter be avoided by the us" or
mail-deliverv wagons ~ the regular tyne. which
Will he readily recognized by the guards and
permitted TO pass.
Yesterday afternoon an immense new ware
house tu.t completed here wa, rented by the
Government This contains az much Moor space
as all the others now in use put together. Major
Frank T. Nye assumed charge ~ the Commits
sary Department for the volunteer army to-day.
ue arrived from Tampa Fla under orders from
the Government and Captain Wright will net
as Assistant Ouartermaster 10 Colonel IL" and
will look after the local work Of the department.
+ l. Tripr Of Boston. an expert commssary
man. arrived in the city to accept place with
Captain Wright in the business ~ handling and
storing TIE provisions and supplies as they are
received at this point.
Not a single regiment company has arrived
to-day Several IRE expected tomorrow. the
first being the ID Arkansas. The "a Tennessee
passed through to-day to Falls Church. Va.
where they VIII 20 into camp.
The pipe lines are completed and water
| Ia now running into every regiments encamp-
ment on the grounds This has greatly pleased
the troops and decidedly decreased their muir
murings bad treatment. More pure and
whole some food Is also promised them for the
| future. The cod storage warehouse is full OF
! fresh meats. the big bakery turning ont loaf
of bread for every man each day. Is In operation.
and the complaints have been somewhat hushed.
! Vaccination is going on. an' will be pushed as
| rapidly as The vaCri'.e poAts car he secured =
big Young Mems Christian Association tent has
been erected on the field. where several services
arc daily held.
| ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN BECOMES PROFANE.
! in almost every regiment religious services
will be conducted tomorrow. the army at Camp
Thomas having developed a wonderful religious
| interest Some regiments which came into camp
! without chaplains have sent home for them.