The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-22
EAGER TO GO
TO THE FRONT.
The Spirit of the South Car
ollna Boys at Chickamauga.

Camp Geo 81. Thomas, Chicka
mauga Park, Ga June Is -This has
been q very quiet day in camp
Things wear that air of expectancy
that might be imagined on the eve
of battle The Thousand South Car
olinians here have been teld that they
are to go to Jacksonville as soon as
equipped, and thence to Porto Rico.
They have had nothing official on
that line. except through Senator
Tjllman. but they expect Military
movements are like those at chess.
depending largely on the move of the
opponent and the changed conditions
The regiment is here taking things
easy. waiting on its full supply Of
clothing and on its marching orders
Is it not curious that when men get
into this life they are not satisfied to
let we'll enough alone Here they
are beautifully situated in deep and
shady forest, and yet they are anx-
ious to pull up tent and move to
Jacksonville or Tampa or Charleston,
in the hope of joining the first expe-
dition that goes out, whether it be to
Porto Rico, or to Cuba, or to the
Philippines. or Congo 1t would be
ali the same if it were an Arctic or a
tropical assignment Is the South
|
Carolina regiment different from the
forty others here ? No, not bit
There is not regiment, not an OFF,
Ger, and but few soldiers here who
would not rejoice at an order to move
to the front, and who would not be
Jealous if someone else received the
assignment.
They say that is why they enlisted
for the war. They want activity. op-
portunity. fighting and then glory,
and they naturally feel that it is not
to be had in the sylvan scenes Of
Chickamauga Park. The vast ma
iori:y of the men 10 the Let South
Carolina regiment are young and IN.
married and they sought admission
to the army because of their ambi
tion for the exciting life of soldier,
because of their dream of glory, be
cause Jim and John from their home
bad Joined the company and. finally,
because they thought it tier daty SO
to do.
The South Carolina regiment here
seems to be quite a fsvorite 1t is
sought after. and it's officers receive
many attentions Brig Gen. Wiley
has apparently taken a fancy to this
regiment and he has repeatedly as
sured Col Alston that he wants to
do everything in his power to please
the South Carolina regiment and
make it one Of the finest here Wien
the. Minnesota regiment heard that
the South Carolina boys were likely
to go in with Fitzhugh Lees corps,
they promptly expressed their desire
to Ioin hands with the South Caro-
lima regiment to go wherever they
went Every souvenir, cockade. but
ton. envelope or memento that the
palmetto boys have is eagerly sought
after, and our boys are hardly per-
mitted to go around with trinkets on
their person
Il was stated to day that Major
Slocum has received instructions for
the movement of the South Carolina
troops to Jacksonville as soon as the
regiment is equipped 1t is known
that such orders have been Issued to
the authorities hele, but, as has been
said before, it takes time to equip the
regiment There have been no blue
shirts issued to the regiment, and at
the quartermsster's department there
are no blue shirts; neither are there
any trousers there Invoices have
been received for the missing arti-
cles. but this seems to be regular
grab game, and it will not be the
fault Of this regiment if it does not
get its supply. The present pros
pect is that the regiment will be
equipped by the end of next week,
and will then move to Jacksonville,
where Gen. Lees headquarters are
The Y. M. c A. is doing much
good work here through its army
secretary, Mr.. Knebel.
The tent is crowded nearly all day,
for when the men are not on duty or
drill many of them do their letter
writing, play games, etc To day
the men have all taken a sudden no
tion to write home and stationery
and stamps are going like hot cakes
esterday Bible class was organic
ed among the men, taught BY Secre
tary Knebel. The class meets in the
woods every day before noon, and
much, interest is manifested Every
night before taps abort hearty SER
vice is held The secretary mas been
assisting Chaplain Busy iD several