The National tribune., 1898-05-05
From The NATIONAL TRIBUNE's own CORE
-poudent in the field.
CAMP GEORGE 81. THOMAS,

Again. after the lapse OF more than third
of a century of peaceful silence, the hills and
woods of Chickamauga echo to the blare o.
the trumpet and roll of the drum. Again
the ''tramp, tramp" of the infantryman, the
"chuck I" of the artillery wheel, and the
gallon of the mounted soldiers tell of wars
alarms. 49,.
But things have changed Not gathered
for fratricidal strife or arrayed in uniforms OF
opposing hosts. nor aligned under hostile
banners. the soldiers of the Union are gather
ing here with unity of purpose and concert
of action. From North, South and West, the
organizations come, bronzed and hardy-look-
ing, and ready, in sense, to take the tleld.
DIFFERENT FROM 1864.
Tt is interesting to stand near train and
witness the Decentralization. When last
troops gathered here they did not ride IN
tourist sleepers," or their officers IN Pull
man coaches. ner were their horses conveyed
in patent stoek-cars Neither did they come
loaded down. as now, with impedimenta
which .incumbered transportation and added
to the difficulties of the Quartermaster.
Most of them came, tired, footsore, and with
not ft,llv-satisfed appetites, and their car
tridge-boxes weighed more than did their
haversacks, and blanket-roll held most of
their effects in the way of clothing.
Now they come, even, from the far West
ern posts of Utah. Montana and Idaho, with
supplies of everything but forage, sufficient
for 80 DAYS
There are two reasons for this. The sup
plies for comparatively large garrison
would deteriorate if left till smaller numbers
could consume them, and, by bringing them
with the troops. they would provide for any
unforeseen delay en- route, and be ready to
"begin housekeeping the moment they
arrived
Then, the enemy held the only line of
railroad leading to the locality, and used it
to hurry up his reinforcements. Now, COM
panies friendly in spirit and anxious to please
afford very fair and increasing facilities for
transport, and long lines of side-tracked cars
tell how heavily taxed those facilities are.
The Chattanooga, Rome & Southern Railroad
Company's track passes along the western
edge of the Park Reservation, and it has a
small station and side tracks about 300 yards
west of the hill where Gen. Rosecrans had
his HEADQUARTERS. and where Gen. Lyle was
killed.
Numerous good roads render it easy to get
about through the Park, and the liyerymen
in Chattanooga drive a thriving business
with visitors to the field, and trains are
crowded.
THE FIRST ARRIVALS.
There are now about 800 troops on the
ground, and more are yet to come. Two
troops of the I'd Cav. from Fort Wingate,
\. NJ, five DAYS en- route, arrived yesterday;
one, six days on cars, from Fort Huaehuca,
Ariz., reached the field at noon to-day, as
also did two light batteries from San Fran
cisco Cal, seven days On train.
Az fl,a-a ic r,lpufv of reorn the commands
IRE not crowded, nor are they camped, as
whole, In regular order; though, In the
regiments, tents, picket lines for horses,
ETC., are very carefully established. Most
Of the animals are in fine condition, the mule
seams being especially fine
The selection of the Park as point for
concentrating the troops was for several
reasons a most excellent one: It is easy of
access, and departures in any direction can
be made over two or more lines OF railway.
The region is healthful one. 1t may be
JAILED
HALFWAY HOUSE"
sor troops from the North and West to stop
1t on the way to the more enervating climate
Of the Gulf Coast or, as everyone hopes, of
Cuba And it is place, too. where the dull
EST of men. surrounded by monuments
showing legends of unsurpassed heroism and
patriotism, can find lessons of value to any
one who cares to learn.
GEN. JOHN r. BROOKE.
Gen. John r Brooke of whom most Of the |
old army men who served in the Army of |
the Potomac need not be told, is in COM |
mand, but they would not recognize him |
now.
Montana Winters have frosted his head.
md I,a I,oif tIop
years since, but is still the afable, approach |
able. kindly man he was then.
There is curious mingling of the blue and |
gray in heads and uniforms Many of the |
older officers, who served during the war of |
the rebellion, are "silvered DER with agen
and large proportion of them, owing to the /
Elowness Of promotion in our small army, are !,
still wearing :" the bars y of Captains. 1t is |
q combination Of blue and silver which can
be found in no army other than our own.
Coming from widely-separated posts, and |
with no Organizations greater than regi- |
mental ones, it is work requiring time to
get them assigned to divisions and brigades, |
get temporary staff appointments made, and /
everything running smoothly. Already some |
changes have been made, and more are likely |
10 occur as faKe troops come in, and it
would, therefore. be useless 10 name the Or
carnations, Tor that could not be really the i
benefit of the readers of THE NATIONAL
tribune
But now on the ground are the 1st I'd, Sd,
sth, part Of the 9Th, and the 10th Cav. One
squadron Of the 9Th, from Fort Duchesne, in
southern Utah, must wait till relieved by |
some other force, and then march TO the rail- |
road, nearly 100 miles. 1t is expected to-
morrow.
Eight light batteries two from each of four
regiments) are here, and two from the Pacific |
Coast arc due 10 arrive to morrow.
The ID, 9TH, 6th, 18TH oath and part of |
25th Inf are in camp, and the lst and 18th |
are to arrive. The 18th and 10th Cav, oath
and 18th Inf are cOlored organizations, the /
only ones in the Regular Army.
RumoJs of all SORTS are rife, and kilograms |
Of the grapevine order circulate hourly. 1t is |
not at all safe TO prophesy what will or will |
not happen, and the lot Of the correspondent |
is not one Of unalloyed happiness if he seeks |
Information of reliable character, as officials |
VIII not volunteer any, and may resent ques-
irons if they are very searching.
OFF FOR TAMPA.
APRIL %.
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