Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-19
10 relatives here. gives a cheerful picture


TO relatives here. gives a cheerful picture
OF camp life:
We reached Jacksonville about II
O'CLOCK, and were the dirtiest set OF men
You ever heard OF. There had been mo
rain for some time. and the sand. which
is as fine as flour, had slfted through INV
ciothing to the skin. and the same was
true OF tAe rest OF us, l find great din
Guilty In keeping clean even now. all
tnough l take shower bath every day.
me sand In our camp being ankle deep
in the roads, and even finer ana more
penetrating than IT was on the trlp.
IL has not rained for a week. and
showers are very much needed. II is
strange, that no matter how dry the
surface may be, II you dig four feet
down water will rise. This water is not
mt for drinking purposes, however When
II rains the roads are packed and become
much better.
'WATERAIIIIONS."
Watermelons and cantaloupes (neither
one half so good as those raised in the
neighbofhood Of Richmond. and all the
Vegetables. such as are in season i'm Vir-
gina about the last OF July, are here In
abundance, but the government buys
none for US.
Jacksonville IS a beautiful city, espe-
houses all have large lawns. and these
are dotted here and there with flower
peas and shaded by magnificent oaks.
from the trees long festoons OF gray
moss sway with the breezes, and the
eiect Is very picturesque. The people Of
lhe Town have been especially hospitable
10 the Virginia troops, frequently ston-
ping us on the street and inviting rs 10
cine with them. ] have invitations from
several persons never sa,, hst.. =, - IN, IN
life III my
Inc business portion Of the city is paved
win Vtrifed bricks, and Bridge street
Tor short distance--about half a mill
WIZ compare favorably with Broad or
nam In Richmond. There is also a Cohen
company here, who keep a large store
Just ike the one In Richmond
Inc 81 johns river here is about a mile
Wlde and eighty feet deep I'm the chan
mel, and boats as large as any / ever saw
IN kichmond line the wharves, loading
lumber principally. 1 am told, however,
mat the water on the bar near the mouth
Vi the river is only eighteen feet in depth.
FISH AND CRABS.
Fish and crabs are abundant. and can
be caught from the wharves in the city,
large quantities having been taken by the
Sohders. Several excursion steamers ply
pleasure
ther up the river, but 1 have not been
TO any. / wish to go to st. Augustine
some Sunday on an excursion, but as l
nave neither had the time nor money as
yet, l have not been able to do so. 1t
Is about an hours ride from here. / have
seen no orange-groves as yet, and tropi-
cal fruits are as scarce here and as high
as in Richmond.
For the past two days the weather has
INgna.F \,
and II is much cooler In the middle OF
the day the thermometer must register be-
tween 80 and 100. but the nights are always
cool, and have used covering every night
but two since beiL.N here. At noon the
sun is directly overhead, and shines with
such brightness as TO hurt the eyes. The
hottest part of the day is from 20 r.
after which IL becomes much cooler.
We are now under regular camp dis
cipline, and have to observe all the rules
and regulations Of the army Revelle is
sounded at 4:45, assembly at 8. sick call
at 5:15, breakfast at G. drill from TO
(section and platoon, after which we do
nothing until 5 in the evening. when we
have company drill and regimental
dress-parade.
MUSIC AND GRUB.
The Second will have a very good band
when their instruments arrive from
Tampa. The western and northern regi-
ments also have splendid bands. There
is plenty Of music.
our fare has improved somewhat, but
we still get too much bacon and not
enough beef and vegetables. We do not
fare as well as the regulars. There has
been very little sickness in the camp,
and my health is splendid L have not
been unwell a moment since leaving
nd fol I ha1 I
have increased in weight I have gotten
to be a regular trooper" and can sleep
on the floor Of my tent or on the ground
which / did last night, with as much
comfort and as little fear as / can IN my
bed at home l spread the poncho first
and cover with the blanket 1 have
double one.
Ny tent is so crowded that on hot
nights L sleep out doors on the ground
from preference Our supplies are now
being received, and tomorrow 1 expect
TO receive new uniform and everything
else that the government issues. Blue
flannel shirts and blue trousers RUSSIAN
SERGE, with brown leggins, will be given
as q dress-suit, and brown duck for
work Undershirts drawers, and socks
will also be issued. We will then be
equipped and ready for action, but do
not think we will ever see any, although
it is rumOred that we may be sent to
Porto Rico. 1 want to be in one battle,
at all events.
THE GHOST HASN'T WALKED.
The government has not paid us off
yet, and will not before the LIST or the
10Th Of July, and then l don't know
whether for fifteen days or one month
and fifteen days-which would be up to
the LIST OF July. The boys are all broke,
do not want you to be uneasy at all
concerning me- ] like the life, and am
perfectly satisfied, with the exception OF
being separated from you all, and won't
have a care or thought for the next two
years. unless discharged sooner.
OUR BOYS AT CAMP ALGEH'