Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-30

Camp Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, June
26.-One of the regimental chaplains
in Camp Cuba Libre has succeeded in
getting himself thoroughly disliked.
Given the complimentary rank of cap
tain, he uses his rank to hob-nob with
the officers to gain admittance to city
society and to hold the privates aloof
He is never seen in the quarters of
the privates, has never interested him
self in their health, physical or spir-
itual, and recently excused himself
from extending some courtesy to a
private, with the remark, eve officers
must hold ourselves aloof from you
priVates." He has a cool tent and in
it's shadows is a supply of cold water.
Near the tent guard marches back
and forth in the hot sun for two hours
at a time. One of these guards, heat
ed and thirsty, under the boiling Flor
ida sun, seeing the water, asked for a
drink and the answer was refusal.
Uuder the circumstances it is
not strange that the private
remembers that the gospel which
the chaplain disgraces has in it
a text with a reference to a cup of
cold water. Military discipline de-
mands an outward respect from pri-
vate to officer, but there is a civilian
hereafter coming in which the compar-
tive rank will be removed and some
opinions fully expressed to say moth
ing of a possibly thirsty eternal here
after. This chaplain who is being so
generally criticised is Rev. Varney, a
Unitarian minister from Monroe.
Brigadier General Bancroft is a
strict disciplinarian. Wednesday
morning at o'clock mess call he rode
through the regiment quarters and or
dered two first sergeants and the
drum-major Of the band under arrest
for being two minutes late in getting
the men into line. Later he rode
through the quarters criticising the
way the tents were rolled up and the
order in which equipments were kept.
He also made an order that all the
straw used as bedding be burned and
replaced with fresh every week. He
has also ordered brush and weeds
cleared up in camp and has caused a
general improvement in the thorough
ness with which sanitary regulations
are enforced. Although there is a dis
position to rebel at the extra labor he
is no doubt doing the very things that
J will make his brigade the best appear
ing and most heathful brigade in the
| division.
The first Wisconsin, after many
| false alarms, has at last been paid off.
At II o'clock Wednesday the staff and
| field officers were paid off and immedi-
ate1y afterward Co. G fell in line and
Major NJ. R. DOyOn, assisted by his
brother, D. S. Doyon, commenced pay
! ing off the men. Co. G's turn came
about 8 O'Clock. Privates Morrill, and
Shultz, just from the hospital, were
helped over to the regimental adju-
/ tant's tent The pay was for the Il
days from the date of mastering in tc
the United States service until June /
The privates each drew So. "a, that be,
ing the wages due at the rate of 81:
per month. The work progressed very
rapidly and within a quarter Of ar
hour the company was paid Off I'm
mediately there was a rush to hunt III
and pay small debts. It is signifcan
that almost without exception tn,
debtor hunted up the creditor, indicat
ing the good feeling that exists il
the company. It was also noticeable
that about every man owed money AM
had money coming, making it eviden
that the men had been willing t.
lend even when their own supply wa
so small that they had to themselve
borrow. The four odd cents due tn