Mower County transcript., 1898-06-22

made was in a double time, but be
gave US lots Of rest between times
THANKS to the major
Several hundred recruits are nov
arriving at the camp daily, and the
prospects are that all the regiments
will be recruited up to the full
strength during the next few weeks
The recruits come from the country
and are secured by the recruiting
officers sent out from here a short
time ago.
That prolific old settler, that hoary.
headed old rascal, the grayback, is
here. He made his debut in camp
several days ago. All the boys
have been warned of his presence
and have been advised to take bath
once or twice week. Our tents are
Inspected at p. m. day and any tent
found in disorderly condition is a
sure sign that its occupants will be
given extra duty. ....
Before the recruiting officers left
Chickamauga Col. Bobleter informed
them that when they returned they
would probably not find the Twelfth
at the park as he expected to receive
orders any time to proceed to Jackson.
vile or Mobile.
The first part of last week we had
several showers and after regimental
drill the woods we're full of men pick
ing up the bullets, pieces of shells.
etc, which every rain brings TO- the
surface. All of the ground within a
mile or two of the camp has been
examined minutely for bullets, bayo.
nets, fragments OF guns or any relic
Of the great battle that was fought
here thirty five years ago. This search
has not been unsuccessful, and the
mails are loaded with these relics
sent to loved ones at home. The
Chickamauga creek is only half a mile
from camp, and many men from oul
own and adjacent regiments go there
to bathe. The creek is also the camp
laundry, and when going to bathe the
men take along their clothing, and
between dives and swims dirty clothes
are made white again.
The good side of camp life is all right
that Of laying down IN the shade
and an occasional chance to go forag
ing on the quiet, ravaging straw
berry patch and the like. But the
bad side-two hours and a half drilling
at stretch with the thermometer
100 degrees, walking a beat out il
the country, four miles from camp all
night, with bull frogs, rattle snakes
and swifts for playmates; or running
through underbrush and across corn
fields for six or seven hours at time
during sham battle. In cases where
they come too close it is not a shan
battle either. In fact there is no sham
about any part of it expect the grub
and sham is only substitute fol
that. "
Every thing, generally speaking, i:
moving along very well. We are moi
so new" now in this soldier business
we have put on the regulation tan
and we begin to feel as If we could
send our compliments to Blanco & Co
and do a good job.
A tramp around the different quar-
ters Of Camp Thomas will readily con
vince the visitor that in no regiment
is cleanliness so thoroughly practiceC
as in the 18th Minnesota. These con
ditiOns were largely brought about by
the persistent aud untiring efforts o.
Lieut.. Col. Mccoy, whose long service
in military circles has taught him
that dirt and good health do not
harmonize together for the welfare
of the soldier.
Water isa great deal more plenty
Each company is allowed three bar
rels OF water per day, which is hauled
from the Blue Springs, q distance Of