Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-08-12
VIII Wilson Writes His Uncle.

Fernandina, Fla, Aug. 4, 1S9S-Dr
j. FL. Wilson. Dear Uncle.-Well |
am almost ashamed to start letter to
you as L know L should have written
you long ago. Since leaving home
have been over great deal of territory
l never expected to see After having
ceen in camp at Indianapolis about
three weeks, we went to the old historic
battle ground at ickamauga park
There we were camped for three weeks
with about $4,000 troops from other
states. While not drilling, the soldiers
spent most of the time hunting relics
of the late war, and many curious ones
were found. Among them were bull
lets, both Union and Confederate, old
bayonetts, parts of bomb shells, old
pistols, and one man found an old
cavalry saber. The only objection to
the park as camp site was lack of
water.
Next We were ordered to the front
and went to Port Tampa City, Fla. 1t
was supposed that we would be loaded
onto transports and shipped to either
Cuba or Porto Rico, but through some
mistake we were left there IN that
place, completely unrecognized and ap-
parently forgotten. The sanitary con-
ditions at Andersonville could nat have
been much worse than they were at
Port Tampa City. When the rainy
season commenced it was q common
occurrence to awake in the night and
find from one to three inches of water
in the tent. Within fifty feet of our
cook tent there was regular alligator
pond covering about two acres. About
all we did at that camp was to grub out
palmetto roots. Just as we had it
cleaned in good shape, we were moved
across the railroad and about a half
mile east of the Plant system tracks.
Here is where typhoid fever first broke
out. The 3rd Pennsylvania was the
first to have death, and that rather
sobered all the boys of the other two
regiments IN the brigade. The 18th
was the next to lose a man. Lieut..
Slade, of company c of Goshen, died
and his remains were sent home.
Private l.. Il. Williams, of company Nj,
son of Jesse Williams, living one and
half miles east of Plymouth, was
taken sick at Port Tampa City with
typhoid fever and was immediately
sent to Fort Thomas, Ky, where at
last reports he was doing well.
We were next ordered to our present
camp and since we have got it cleared
of a dense mass of six-foot under
brush it is fire place to camp. We
are within two miles of the Atlantic
Ocean and about six miles from the
Georgia State line, on hill about 100
feet above the sea level. We have a
fine bracing breeze all day long and the
drinking water comes from artesian
wells. 1t tastes very nOticably of
sulphur,but after one becomes accus-
toned to it, it tastes very good
Everything in camp indicates an
early move in the direction of home
and don't think that there is man in
the regiment let alone in company NJ,
but that will be glad when that move
commences.
Well, l must close as it is almost
time for noon mess and that is some
thing that it don't pay to miss, especi.
tally just now when rstions are pretty
fair. Tell uncle Nelson that this must
do for both of you as it is too hard
work to write when you have to sit all
cramped up and use lead pencil.
With best wishes to all am,
Your Nephew,
WILL w. WILSON,