Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-06-10
FROM CHlCKAMAUGA.

Mddlebury Boy Writes of the Priva- |
tions and IIardships of Camp Thomas.
The following letter from Fred May |
hew, of this place, who is a private in
the Brandon company of volunteers, has
been received by his relatives here. 1t Is
dated at Chickamauga Park, June !
1t is very hot here during the day, but
the nights are very cold, with heavy
dew or fog toward morning. Some one
is falling out of ranks from the heat
every day when we are drilling. They
drill us too long for this climate. Some
of the regiments only drill one hour
each day, while we drill five. While
was on guard yesterday they brought in
three men from our company and several
from other companies. The boys are all
cursing about the heat and the rations
they give us. They all think the govern
ment Is trying to starve them to death.
We do not have half enough to eat, and
what we have is not fit for us. We have
hard tack and tomatoes each meal for
one day, and boiled beans and hard tack
the next day and one cup of coffee. We
are supposed to have one pound of meat
daily and a portion of bread and pota-
toes, but we have had bread and meat
only once and no potatoes since we came.
We have been measured for our uniforms,
but have not received them yet. Some
of the boys are going nearly naked and
almost barefoot for want of clothes and
shoes. ! went down to the river Sunday
and had a bath and washed my clothes.
There were so many people there wash
ing that we had to walt our turn. The
river was black with them as far as you
could see; nearly the whole camp was
there. Sunday and Monday nights we
had services here. 1t has rained here
only once since we came and then only
for ten minutes. Where we are camping
the soil is very dusty, Just like lying in
the road at home. Company A have
been vaccinated and we expect to get it
today. We have to buy pop beer or
lemonade to keep from dropping, as
there is no water within three miles of
here that is fit to drink. We all put in
one cent day to buy ice for our water,
and then we do not have water half the
time. / walked four miles Sunday TO
get a drink of cool spring water. Our
regiment have started a "canteen,
where we can buy tobacco and beer; but
we are allowed oily two glasses of beer
at an opening and they open three times
q day. They divide the profits between
the companies to buy rations With.
Il Each company received five dollars yes
terday as their share of the profits since
they opened. l tell you it is no fun to
= be routed out of your blanket in the mid
die of the night and walk your beat for
two hours. When we are on guard we
have two hours on duty and four hours
off for twenty-four hours. and then you
do not have to go on again for week
AS | was on yesterday do not have tC
drill this morning. | have had time to
write while the boys are out. But
hear them returning and must stop as
= there will be no chance to write when
they get here. But for all our trials and
tribulatlons we are having good time
and | am not sorry came. Our captain
is the only man in the regiment 1--WE
> think and our other officers are all fine
fellows. Goodbye for now. Remembe l
: me to all.