The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-25
A WOMAN IN CAMP.
Teresa Dean Messes With the
Soldiers ut Chickamauga.

Chickamauga, Ca, July 10, 1S9S.-
Last night 1 messed" with Troop c.
of the First Illinois Cavalry. was not
/ did all that 1 could to get an invita-
tion, and then, failing, invited myself
That stew was not bad. 1t was made
of the stuff furnished by Uncle Sam
There was a bit of fresh beef two OF
three inches square, a nicely peeled new
potato, and beans. 1t needed, to my
taste. a little more salt, but the NOM
CONS" said my taste was not mill
tary;" that If ! continued on in the
habit of liking too much salt, when
arrived in Cuba or where water was
scarce salt would demoralize my thirst
appetite; that / must cultivate taste
for low seasoning, instead of high.
The dust at Chickamauga is white, fine
and penetrating. My thirst just then
was overpOWering me, so i reached for
the coffee cup. which could hold a quart.
The coffee was without cream or milk.
but was hot, sugared, and refreshing.
declared the coffee excellent.
On examination of the troop commits
sary department afterward, / found
they were getting real coffee, which they
roast themselves. The bread was white
and light, and the meal, when this troop
gets into actual service, will be remem-
bered as a first-class hotel one.
Each man washed his own dishes and
polished them off with leftover pieces
of bread and some clean sand. Down
beyond the kitchen was water pipe
coming from the creek o. river, which
furnished water for cooking. washing
and bathing. Here too, was a bath
house. made of four poles and a length
of canvas hanging around. One of the
boys had loaned me for the meal a COM
bination knife. fork and spoon that had
been sent to him i'm home box. 1t was,
when folded about three and a half
inches long. He carried 1t in his pocket,
and he was. in the possession of 1t, the
envy of every man in the troop, and also
the regiment. At the table. as we were
discussing the convenience OF the COM
bination knife. fork and spoon, and the
contents of home boxes. / asked him
what, in their opinion, were the things
most needed. aside from most wanted
Here is the list as voiced by every one
within speaking distance:
1. Towels and soap.
2. A housewife" containing one pair
of scissors, dozen large safety pins,
a dozen steel trouser buttons, a dozen
bone buttons, six pairs black shoe laces,
a flannel pad for needles, six large
needles. six medium sized ones, a skein
linen or shoe thread. a tailor's thimble,
small emery. court plaster. and a
comb. This housewife" can be made
OF denim or drilling--a fiat strip with
fiat pockets stitched on, and stitched off
into compartments rt
5. Handkerchiefs.- HGndkerchiefs are
a positive necessity for any degree of
comfort In this dusty, sandy, perspir-
ing climate.
4. Dark blue regulation" percaline or
sateen shirts. The government fur
nishes flannel ones, but couple Of
the lighter sateen ones-made exact
ly in the same way, sold at de-
partment stores for about seventy-five
cents apiece-would be godsend.
8. Pajamas! 1t sounds bit strained,
but pajamas are having their day, as
well as their night. in camp among
those who can afford them. In coming
in from drill hot and dusty and tired,
TO slip into these comfortable. loose gar
ments is luxury. These. too. made of
dark blue sateen or French flannel
would be most serviceable.
In sending things Il must always be
I'm mind that a soldier must carry his
possessions. The underclothing. shoes,
stockings, and uniforms that the gov
ernment is furnishing are of the best
quality. and as the quartermasters are
gradually learning their duties our
volunteers are being excellently clothed
In addition to these things | would pro-
vide every soldier-and officer also. for
that matter--with bottle of Jamaica
ginger. some liver pills. and some three
grain quinine pills. Sick call is once a
day-six o'clock inlthe morning. There
is lot OF time for pain between the
attack and sick call. Ii is another story
and long one. but our volunteer army
does not know how 90 take care OF itself
/ Ind
will be broken forever In the learning
Teresa Dean I'm Lesle's Weekly.