The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-03
INCIDENTS At CAMP THOMAS
WAGON TRAIN AND AMBU-
LANCE REVIEW YESTERDAY.
A Thousand Mules and $50 Wagons
In Line = Illinois Regiment Or
dered to the Front

! Chickamauga, Ca, Aug. 2.-Majo
General ]. C. Breckenridge arrived
from Washington this morning and a
10 o'clock assumed command of thu
army at Camp Thomas.
The Fifth Illinois infantry, which
was heretofore twice ordered to tbs
front and as many times ordered bach
into camp, received final orders from
! the war department this afternoon &c
proceed to Newport News, there to re
! port to Brigadier General Fred ID.
| Grant for embarkation with his brigade
to Porto Rico. This command will
leave Fort Thomas before daybreak to-
morrow morning.
One of the most unique and imposing
drills that has yet taken place at Camp
| Thomas occurred on the Smith White
! field this afternoon. 1t was the trans
! portation drill and review of the Third
division, First corps, Brigadier Cen
eral Sanger commanding. Fully 2oO
wagons, besides the ambulances of the
division, took part in the exercises.
| There were four mules to each wagon,
making a total of about 1000, while
attached to the ambulanceS was to-
tai of GO horses. The review was a
matter of such rare occurrence that 1t
was witnessed by brigadiers, various
regimental commanders and other
mounted officers. With the various
wagon trains in line, each being pro-
yided with canvas covers and carrying
all extra parts, the command was given
for the wagons to pass in review. The
teams moved steadily forward and in
such perfect order that all were strong
ly impressed with the excellent diSci-
pline of the animals, while the rattle
of the wagons and the tread of hoofs
added to the impressiveness of the
scene.
The work of moving camps has now
begun in earnest at Camp Thomas.
There is to be a general shift among
the regiments, all seeking new loca-
tons in a reservation that is amply
large to give every regiment new and
commodiOus camp ground. Owing to
frequent showers during the past
week, many of the regiments are de-
sorting the wood locations and pitching
their tents in the open fields. This
movement, now begun, will reach
every portion of the army within a
week.
The two main subjects of interest at
Camp Thomas at present are the eX-
pected arrival of the paymasters to-
morrow and the expedition which it is
reported is being arranged in Wash
jngton for Major General Wade. The
paymasterS are expected to get in at
an early hour tomorrow morning and
to begin their work before noon. The
total to be paid will be near s1,500,000.
Nothing has yet been heard from
Washington in regard to General
Wade's expedition. The impression
prevails that General Wade will take
with him the regiments best fitted. no
matter to what corps or divisions they
may belong, and every regiment is now
attempting to impress its fitness and
its right to be included in the eXpedi-
ton. In one regiment a petition &c
the war department is being circulated
and literally signed.
Recently the boys of the Fifth Hi
nois had their fun, and now Colonel
Culver will have his inning. He has
announced that every non-commis-
stoned officer who took part in the
demonstration last week after the regi-
ment was recalled, will be reduced to
the ranks. This work is to be COM
menced at once and new men appointed
in their places. Colonel Culver saws
his regiment has had a good reputation
for years. and he intends to sustain it.
He added: Il have ordered all nom
commissioned officers reduced who
were absent without leave. I Judge
there were about a dozen of them.
The other men who were guilty of be-
ing absent without leave will be fined
by the field court