The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-14
Boys of Troop F Do Not Enjoy
Camp Life.
THE PESSIMlSTIC VIEW
There Would Be More Fun in Dodsing
Spanish Bullets Than i'm Enduring
the Hardships and Discom-
forts Of Camp Life.

1T lh tubds as utN ftfItlN NfeDdDits lntN
will have experienced most of the dis
comforts of army life. Their existence
at Camp Thomas has not been such as
TO inspire them with any enduring fond
ness for a military career. and most OF
them would ave preferred taking
chances with Spanish bullets To loiter-
ing around as they have been. Tho let
tiers that come from them 10 friends
here state that they are not enjoying
their camp life. Some OF them do not
find 1t as disagreeable as others. but
none of them are enthusiastic over IL.
The following letter presents the ex-
treme pessimistic view. but this Is
shared by many of the boys:
Camp George II. Thomas. Chicamau-
qua Park. Ga, Aug. Z. 1S9s.-After an
other week Of camping. during which
the rain has fallen almost constantly,
we are now entering upon the fourth
month Of our enlistment. Twelve weeks
have passed by. and the 10 spent in the
park have seemed as a like number Of
months
The boys who left Montana such a
short time ago. brimful of FIRE and zeal.
have lost their vigor. their ardor and
their over-strained patriotism. From
the fiery volunteer bent upon the serv-
ice of humanity. they have been trans
formed into prisoners whose existence Is
divided between memory Of the past
and longing for the future-the presen;
Is empty. like the blank sheet hat sep
arates two prints.
Exclusive OF the first two weeks in the
park, time has not improved the condi-
tions here. In fact. the sanitary condi-
lions are much worse. due to the pres
anRa ~ 81 many man Tho air IL tapNa
impure. the refuse from our kitchens.
although consigned 10 sink holes and
covered with earth. yet emits "A foul
odor. which. coupled with the stencil
which even carefully kept stables pro-
duce. renders the air unfit for breath
ing. IL seems impossible 10 avoid the
creation of mud holes from the water
wasted from the horse troughs, and
when stirred by any chance this mud
produces n scent which can he equaled
only by the stencil Of a pig pen.
To the credit Of the commanding off,
GERS he II said that every possible effort
has been made to preserve the purity
and former freshness OF the park. but
the rude methods OF a military cncamp-
mcnt are not sufficient to overcome the
natural consequences OF the long stop
here.
Despite the contrary reports Of com
mittees appointed to investigate. the
water i'm Chickamauga park Is mostly
impure. as the soldiers will witness.
True. there are a few artesian wells.
which furnish comparatively good wa
ter, but the numerous springs which are
relied upon to supply a large part Of our
water have become fOul-the water h.
strongly scented.
Perhaps The conditions here are as
good as could be expected. still they are
very imperfect. And what reason is
-. 49,.
ed to more healthful spots. reasonably
near the park? There are numerous
places within so or 100 miles OF the park
where the best of sanitation can be
had. The people Of Huntsville. Ala,
are anxious to have the 3d cavalry 10
cate In their town. They sent a com
mittee 10 confer Will Colonel Grigsby.
and also one to Washington. Their Of
fer was 10 build barracks for the regi-
ment, but the officials were too obstin-
ate. There Is at Huntsville a lake Of
II acres area. Of clean. cool water.
through which there is a strong current
that keeps the water thoroughly pure.
Two railroads run through the place,
N East and West. the other North and
South. The town Is only three hours
by rail from Chattanooga, md is to all
purposes a mere suburb Of the park.
At 10 O'Clock this morning the sick re-
port contained the names Of $50 pa
TENTS, $50 OF whom were either I'm the
hospital or assigned To quarters" 50
were marked light duty" and the re-
mainder recommended 10 the kind con
sideration OF their troop officers.
Charles A. Hughes. Troop +. has been
recommended for discharge on account
Of heart disease. ClagEet Sanders. also
Of Troop +. has been granted a 30-day
furlough, to he continued until his fun
recovery from a recent illness. Thirty
day furloughs are being granted To- all
convalesCents of the regiment. which is
an unusual k1ndness ON the part OF the
government.
Despite his ills. the soldier does occa-
~sionally rejoice. our boys are enjoying
the benefits OF a pay day last Friday.
When We FIRST came here we were near
~ all broke The money from our
first pay day was spent too lavishly.
because OF our too long denial. Now
We have found the real value Of money.
nave discovered u needs and are
learning how to split a nickel in two. as
IL were.
As the BOYS do not find the grmy
satisfying, they haVv formed
mcsses Of from W. 10 six. These messes
purchase certain articles of food. which
are paid for Jointly. some Of the mess
es. not finding proper cooking faCilir1es
in the troop kitchen. have supplied
themselves with small Oh stoves and
cooking utensils. Kerosene
sells for 10 cents per gallon and gives
very good results. DeliCaCits. so-Called
in the army, are bought, such as ham,
soups and meats, dried raisinS,
oatmeal and ~swcetmeats and
tea or chocolate and corua- The re
duced drill hours allows Us time 10 pre-
pare our special dishes. except for sup
per.
When dinner is announced. with the
rudely careful way OF a soldier. the
mess table is sci. and the hungry boys
round. \ rush - made for The
troop kitchen. which supplies potatoes
or beans and occasionally cabbage or
onions. Then one might smile 10 see
the half-COntented expression OF the
men as they sit down for their meal.
on a recent rainy evening when no
drlll WAS 20 b. done, your correspondent
partu0k Of the following ~excellen. meal.
spread on a table I'm one our tents. Dat