New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-20
LIFE AT CHICKAMAUGA.
i. PRIVATE IN THE NINTH REGIMENT
BENDS HIS MOTHER A CAMP LETTER
We DROPS INTO POETRY IN DESCRIBING THE
RuL OF FARE AND TELLS ABOUT PILLS

We DROPS INTO POETRY IN DtSCfNbINO @f1N
RuL OF FARE AND TELLS ABOUT PILLS
THAT ARE USED AS A CURE-A1I-
~, .,ie Of the reports that the men at the front
s-a writing home enthusiastically about 'heH
treatment in camp many mothers are uneasy ana
with good reason too" said a woman whose Only
a., Is AZ Chlckamausa 10 a Tribune reporter yes
,s-day my boy is a happy go-lucky lad ana
writes n bright vein. but withal his patriotism
Res received severe shock.
she handed the reporter letter. which came
without a stamp. the words soldiers letter u'-
Der the signature of one OF the regmental oHcerS
a, 8 corner OF the envelope satisfying Uncle Sam
Postoface officials. The mother explained that she
sent her boy money from time 10 time out ne
spent It for food. as he had not yet received the
two months pay due 10 him. and he was unable 10
a., the rations provided at Chickamauga- Inc Ie'-
ter as follows:
"The frs, and most important news l can seno
you to-day I. that are TO have the rare treat oi
,orne fresh meat for dinner. This may not seem 10
be OF much interest TO you. but Il means fnuch 10
Us who have had no change In our Dill OF rare %
bareback and fat pork since our arrival mere ano
no choice IN that Perhaps you would oe ih'eres'eu
70 know few little details OF how we live in camp
ORR b-eak.as. consists Of bareback and black
coffee which Is usually cold. Dinner. the only SUD-
santial meal OF the day. is as follows
"soupy. soupy soupy. without single bean;
Porky porky. porky. without a streak OF lean
And that's the way they feed your boy.
Now don't you think It's mean?
"For supper we have fried potatoes and raw
on,on. DO not understand this as complaint
for We are all loyal as ever. but naturally We
feel that there must be incompetency In the COM
n,ssa-v Department somewhere as the Govern
rnent has ordered provisions. which we do not re-
c.v. For instance pound and a quarter OF
meat Is allow ed 20 each a day. but we do not
receive more than third OF this amount. and
bread is also lacking. What do complain OF Is
The system lately started OF issuing ten-ceni checks
10 US .or provisions in a Governmental canteen.
which should be supplied by the Government the
amount Of which IS 10 be deducted from our pay
VIXEN receive H.
"But leaving aside tault-andins. am in good
heath; have been in the hospital tent only once.
when my treatment consisted OF large BLACK pl's'
the only remedy in camp. These pills must pos
sess extraordinary healing qualities, as they were
given WIKI Ike effect TO three others In me ient
one q burned wrist and the other PAIN IN MS
"Caup life here IS entirely different from that at
PeeErkil We have no doors In our tents, since
We are not playing soldiers as we were Up the
The Kentucky and New-York boys, are fast
friends and each screnades the other during the
s.yenaSSes 1SeS, w,.h Down in Dixie and My Old
Kentucky Home while their band inspires US Win
toFoien 10 see bos w5se ai6er wore the
and others blue in 1861 seated arouIa ne camp
FIRE singing songs and telling stories on the same
gr51ad where one = the bioodiest battles Of the
Civil War fought. . 4,
II could but express In poetry the beauty o,
the scenery some OF these nights know snorn
make nv name immortal BY the rays Of ne
moon streaming through the trees and me hsh'
Of the camp arc can he seen lizards without num-
Der sharing the sal ne logs sit on. never
thought there could he so many snakes IN me UNI.
verse. An lrishman IN our company declafed w !
green one he picked up was one OF the HuihOeI
g.. Patrick barished from Ireland
There great excitement here ms nlor'lIht,
caused BY few stray cows just outside the me OF
our camp About two hundred OF our ga!ant
braves after council Of was held. decided 20
charge and DO some deed Of valor. which woud De
rewarded by a piece II fresh meat Ihey cap
tured their prize but to their astonshment they
not only had 10 forfeit what they had 50 vaiantiy
Fought for. but had asO The pleasure OF DcIls
locked in the guardhouse for going OUTSIDE me
We have received new rifles the krag -Jorgen-
sen, which are repeaters charged with smokeess
powder snOt from which will XII At two thou,
ssnd yards. ! an beginning 70 feel NE natuiui
born war-dog' and certainly look H. our APP
pes-ance after our skirmish drills. through WOODS
scare half Of RlancO's army 10 death.
'T sOrry not 70 nave more news for you, DUt
Will close with the attest episodes of Today: Inc
young turkey brought into camp by Private G
has died Of starvation. owing to It's re'usa 70 eat
pork and beans. our mascot. q dog named Sarnp-
son. has been chased out Of camp TOR hnd DC
havor Private D. was relieved OF q toothache
by his terminate who tried 10 extract me trouble
some noiar with bayonet
The letter closed with the statements thAt no
liquor Is sold IN the canteen. and that tte boys
wish that Young Mems Christian Associailon
tent. similar 20 the one az Ieckskil could be pu!