Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-08-04
OUR BOYS IN CAMP.
Ce. T., 10th Regiment, Fort
Washington, Nd.

Washing Stcity uNo'
August /, 1898.
August is said to be the most un-
healthy month at this place, the WAGER
weeds in river rot, come to the SURFACE
and collect III shiny masses which are
washed back and forth by the tide every
day and fill the air with unwhoiesome
odors and disease germs. Nevertheless
sickness seems to be decreasing among
us, those in the hospital are all steadily
improving, and our delightful summer
outing at Uncle Sans expense con
tinues its uneyentful course. Corporal
Hazlett and G. E. Smith, and Waters
are still in the hospital. Sergeant
ODonnel and privates Scott ana Dun
can are little under the weather but
remain in their quarters. waters mas
typhoid fever and was the slckest man
there but within the last week tavor-
able turn came and he IS now getting
well. Z. g. Smith and Haziett were
also quite sick and the formers motner,
Mrs. J. McQ. Smith, arrived here SAT
urday to see her boy. None OF the boys
are seriously IL now Christian ladies
Of Washington AMI Alexandria have
visited the hospital and send ice and
fruits to the patients. Uncle sam Is
also very careful and attentive to his
sick people, and the hospital equ pment
is complete and the corps experienced
and efficient
The w. c. T. o. ladies of Washing
ton have rooms on F. ST N w where
they give soldiers who will take the
trouble to call a very nice lunch free,
also rooms on Penn'a Ave, where
soldier is given a nights lodging free.
The Daughters of the Confederacy of
Alexandra have a similar arrangement
in the Armory in that city and give the
BOYS in blue who call royal welcome.
The steamboat Charles McCalles-
ter a rival of the Randall line which
has been monopolizing FIT. Washington
traffic now stops at the wharf If tagged
and people going from Washington to
Ft. Washington find the McCallester
boat more convenient as TO hours and
speed.
Each company has received another
team of mules. There are now about
twenty mules and two horses here to do
the hauling for FIVE hundred men in
camp.
The nights are very warm at present
and we sleep with our tents as much
open as possible. Some spread their
blankets on the ground outside and
sleep under the open sky. One night
Jack Thompson lay down on hospital
stretcher back of his tent, and covered
over with his blanket. thought no oneNI
would bother him. But he awoke next
morning in a clump of bushes quite
awsvs ont of camp. His was comic
figure when lie came in clad only IL his
nightdress and dragging the stretcher
and blanket after him.
There have been several court-mar-
shals lately for petty offences, but with
one exception Co. E has not furnished
the prisoner for trial One day, Will
Ritter was on detail TO do some work.
He got separated from his squad and
went to the Fort to report for duty.
He was sent down to the wharf where
he worked half q day under guard be
fore discovering that he had placed
himself in tho prisoners gang.
Capt. Campbell, of Grove City, Co.
F's old commander, visited his old as
sociates at Ft Washington and Sheri
dan last week.
Sunday morning at seven O'Clock the
battalion was formed and Col Mech
ling held the July muster-in. We sign
ed the payrolls last week and expect to
be paid before the end of this week. No
church services were held Sunday. The
day papers tod us that tie terms Of
peace proposed by Pres. Mckinley had
been considered favorably by Spain and
that the war is practically over. We
hope it is and that we will soon be per-
mitted to return home. To say that we
will be glad to do so is putting it mild
ly. Heavy marching order will not be
tiresome on the road home. But what
of our war record? We volunteered
last April with the very best or inten-
tions and full of martial spirit. We
lay in camp all summer drilling and
loafing and then go home. That's a
great war record, isn't itY Wonder if
that martial spirit of last spring is as
strong in us now as then. i
The promised target practice has
never materialized and half of Co. E
have never discharged a Springfield
rife Probably more than half haye
never seen even peaceable Spaniard.
However we need not be ashamed of
ourselves, for we did all we were asked
to and all we were given a chance to do.
This afternoon Corporal McClung and
privates Sumney, Paul Smith, and
Armstrong, lately discharged from the
hospital, leave for Butler on furlough.
Sergeant Alexander expects to go home
before the end of the week.
We have been out of sugar for two
days past. A supply will likely come
today. This morning companies c andy
G. refused to drill or perform any duty
because they received only bread and
black coffee for supper last evening and
the same, plus small piece of very
rank bacon for breakfast. We have
had no causes for complaint lately.
Great quantities of blackberries grow
here and they principally have furnish
ed our fruit supply but are about done
now.
r Fl NEGLEY