The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-06-23
a Day at Camp Thomas.

about II miles out, there was met by
an escort kindly sent by Lieut. Caswell
and we were driven for about two
miles through the city of tents to the
l4th Minnesota camp. Chickamauga
Park contains 225 square miles and is
heavily timbered, SO it was difficult to
realize there are about $4,000 soldiers
on the grounds We arrived at NJ
street and found Capt. Patterson and
Lieut. Caswell in their parlor ready to
receive visitors. Inside of half an
hour 1 met all of "our boys" a few
were on guard and I saw them later
1t was difficult to recognize some Of
them at first, and l could not under
stand what gave Corporal White, Mr.
Clark and Serg. Galley such dignity until
discovered a certain fuzzy growth on
their faces which was not apparent at
first glance. If you could see Fred
Gouldlng's sandy beard and D. NJ.
Spaulding's goatee, you would say as
| did, ''Surely army discipline pro-
duces wonderful results' | enjoyed
the intervening time until noon giving
'::the boys" the various messages
friends and relatives sent from Prince
ton. Serg. Galley was in the hospital
and it was with curiosity [ waited to
meet Dr.. Dutton, but one glance at his
kindly, smiling face and the sound of
his pleasant voice assured me that
''our boys" will have the best of care,
and the many kind words I heard
spoken of him everywhere, served to
strengthen my decision. The next in
cident was the call of, DINNER now
ready in the dining car!' and the COM
nand of the lst sergeant Fall in for
rations." Then ''our boys" thronged
out of their tents with their dishes,
which also serve as mirrors, and soon
came back with coffee, a slice of bread
Or ''punk" as it is called here, beans,
fat bacon, gravy and potatoes, no more
neither butter nor milk, but the boys
are pleased with this fare it is so much
better than what they received at first.
Of course each soldier hunts up a
place to sit down and eat but I was
furnished with a 'mattress' to sit on,
a box for table and enjoyed my ra-
lions immensely. Cook Patterson can
be seen at rest periods with a book I'M
der his arm labelled ,''Army Cook
Book" which he studies with good re-
suits. His baked beans or roast beef
and gravy would take the first prize at
a county fair. Before we had finished
our rations the mail was brought in
and if the writer's of those letters could
have seen with what pleasure the boys
received Them they would feel their
time was we'll spent, and letters with
stamps enclosed are double welcome.
At 3:l5 came regimental drill and
while some distance from camp view
ing some old cannon and other relics
we found ourselves inside the skirmish
line, with half a regiment likely to
charge upon US; but they discovered
the ''enemy' to the left and charged
down the hill with an excited yell,
over stones, through brush, around
trees and through bitches as though
their lives depended on their enthus-
iasm. Going back to M street 1 made
ready to depart but the officers of the
company kindly invited me to stay and
see the prettiest part of their work.
Lieut.. Southland generously gave me
his tent which he had fitted up with
Brussels carpet (red cedar sawdust, J
dresser (camp stool with board across)
and electric lights (candle in pickle
bottle.) By mistake I missed guard
mount which they say is pretty cere-
mony but at $50 came dress parade.
Capt. Patterson detailed @. M. S.
Spaulding as my escort to the grounds.
The 18th regiment marched out in
three battalions, took position on the
crest of hill in front of a large monu-
ment to the 92nd Ohio. There we're
many spectators and mounted officers
and the inspiration of the scene was
beyond description. On the right as
we faced them, waved "Old Glory"
and the Minnesota colors. At the left
stood the 18th regiment band which is
the best on the grounds. AS those
three battalions of living men stood
perfectly motionless and the sun dis
appeared behind the mountains Old
Lookout loomed up in the distance
calmly and serenely as it must have
stood in those other days when other
bonnie boys in blue lost their lives in
the glorious fight, and as the strains of
''Star Spangled Banner" foated out
on the evening air, played express
sively and sweetly, [ felt a love for
''Old Glory" and our noble boys in blue
which never knew before. AS the
music ceased the battalions marched
back to camp amid the applause of
regiment near them. Reaching M
street found Lieutenants Caswell and
SO1lthar h11hh1ipr ovor with o,4b,,e;