The Princeton union., 1898-06-02

ground. The way was dusty and hot
and the troops from the cities suffered
extremely. Our boys tramped through
it all and every man reached camp
There was gross missmanagementon or
the part of someone and we were
forced to march a mile and half more
than there was any need of in order to
reach our position.
We are camped in splendid grove
on the ground held by the Confeder.
ates when attacked by the Second
Minnesota at 10 O'Clock on that Sep
tember morning thirty-fve years ago.
The boys have found numerous minnie
balls, pieces of shells, grape shot, ETC.,
whichihave laid here ever since. The
only disadvantage which we suffer is
the lack of water Wells are being
put down rapidly and it will not be
long before we will have all we need.
The change OF climate has caused
some slight indispositions but not one
of our boys have gone to the hospital,
or missed more than one meal. They
are boys who can make themselves
comfortable anywhere and sleeping on
the bare ground in a tent brings out
no complaints. They are catching on
nicely and shirk no duties.
Hereafter mail should be addressed
to Co. NJ, Nth Regt. MINI. Vol. Inf,
Chattanooga, Tenn 49, .- .
CHICKAMAUGA PARK, May 2S.--The
boys have seen their first battle. j. AL
though the ground was not dank with
gore and the air was not rent with
shrieking shells and whistling bullets,
they got a pretty fair idea of the ex-
citenent and work of an engagement.
To begin with the regiment was rolled
out before 5 o'clock this morning and
after hurried breakfast we marched
out to. join our brigade. Our brigade
was given the defensive while the
first and second brigades of our divi:
sion were to assault US.
Before $50 the battle was on in
earnest and although from Company
Ms position no enemy could be seen
the yells to our right told of the at.
tack. For AL hour we were in sus
pense and then a scout came in and
told us the enemy had been repulsed
but were forming again and woul6
probably attack us. Soon we could sec
them off to our right nearly three
regiments strong. Company M had ?
position in the fighting line and it was
difficult to restrain the boys. Their
business was to defend their position
but they wanted to make an attack
Finally the enemy's skirmishers ap
peared in our front and the order
'Rapid fire kneeling, commence firing
came and the boys rose from the
ground and joined in the battle. The
main body of troops, however, did moi
follow but attacked the first battalion
and the skirmishers in our front were
soon repulsed. About 10 o'clock, Gen
Poland, who was acting as referee
gave the fghtt to our brigade and we
marched home tired and hungry. We
went into battle with 2O72 men and our
loss-prisoners and those who would
have been killed-was estimated al
600. We were opposed by 4,3O0. The
result shows that our troops we're much
better handled than the attacking
forces.
In the afternoon we were out agair
for brigade drill, and for two and
one-half hours we travelled around ir
the Georgia sun, performing battalion
regimental and brigade movements for
the benefit of the inspecting officers
Our regiment received good mark
ing, too, and although the heat was
terrible not an NJ man fell out.
We are in the third brigade of the
second division of the First Army
Corps, and yesterday we gave divi
sion review, the first that has occurred
in this country since the memorable
days Of the civil war. We had ar
early breakfast, formed the regiment
and finally the brigade, and ther
marched mile and half to the fielc
where the review was to be held
There was a host already there wher
we formed and troops continued to ar.
rive for an hour afterward while we
stood and waited. We were formed
in columns of masses and finally wher
all was ready the generals and theil
staffs appeared on the scene, rode ir
front and behind US and then we
marched in review We marched ir
company front at full distance an6
Company NJ held it's line like veteran
company. Shortly after the reviewing
officers had been passed the battalion
was ordered to move at double time
still in company front and the boys
never broke the line. The review was
a sight long to he remembered. There
j were about 5000 men present and one