Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-04
SOME HARD DRILLS
Letter from Co. r Boys Tells Of the Camp
Life at Chickamauqa.

The letter which follows, telling some
parts of the life of the 1st Maine in camp
at Chickamauga, will be found very in
teresting. 1t is from Sergt. John Alden
Degen, son of Rev G. f. Degen. rector
OF st. Marks, ana was delayed in trans
mission.
Camp Thomas, Lytle, Ga, June H. 1898.
Dear Mother:
At drill. yesterday afternoon, we had
some battle exercises. Our battalion
iiour companeS) went back over a hill
about mile. and attacked a barbed wire
fence. The fence succeeded in repelling
the charge. 1t did not last very long
| and there was a little confusion but We
ala some very Interesting work 1t was
cloudy and consequently comfortable
The ground was very good for the pur-
pose. and some Of the men showed quite
"A good deal Of aptitude. Nothing new as
TO marching orders.
Wednesday. 15th.-It rained hard this
morning, and. in consequence, there was
no drill, all day. Through some mistake.
food was rather short. today. throughout
the regiment For breakfast. we had
baked beans ana coffee-no bread or
harltack, or sugar For dinner. soup.
with meat, rice and corn meal dumpnngs
in it, and coffee-again no bread hard
pork. bread and coffee-no sugar or vege-
tables. This is the first day | have had
any complaint to make about the food.
and that was only about the quality. |
had enough to satisfy hunger, though |
could have eaten good deal more. Re
ccived yours Of the 18th. today. with cut
ting from the knnnebec Journal Jacks
Romance" does not refer 10 me.
Thursday. l6th.-Drill, today. both
morning and afternoon. The latter was
battle exercise, and our battalion start
cd out an hour in advance ana picked out
good place to defend. water pipe.
run through the woods and covered with
dust made a good breastwork AMI the
trees behind furnished good cover for the
officers Scouts were posted on Il hill
about a quarter of IA mile in front of the
position. As the enemy came in sight.
the scouts fell back and Joined the main
bdoy. The enemy divided and sent one
battalion to attack each flank Tho at
lacking party on the left flank had a
good deal farther to go and did not get
into action till the fight was nearly over,
The attack was we'll planned and carried
out. and our position was carried in
short order. We had our first parade FOR
a week. last night. We have q shower
every day now.
Friday. 17th.-This afternoon. We had
drill in advance and rear guard. The
regiment went out one of the roa Is
near camp, and the two leading COM
panieS acted as advance guard going out
and rear guard coming in. CO. + WIS
the last company and acted rs rear guard
going and advance guard returning. The
line was So strung out that We didn't get
more than half a mile from camp. and
so had a very easy time.
Saturday. 1Sth.-ThiS afternoon. We h1
dril in outpost work, the 2d Battalion he
ing put on outpost duty and the lst and
81 constituting the main body We went
about half milo from camp and llT I'M
der The trees for 40 minutes. II was very
hard work, but we got through with it in
very good shape. We had no drill in the
morning, but had field sports instead.
There were only four events. The loo-yard
dash, made in four heats. was first on
the programme 1t was followed by the
running high jump. in which eight Or 10
men entered. Two short boxing matches
closed the performance. Tn" show lasted
about two hours and vas very g6od.
sharp shower came mp Just at the end OF
it, and dispersed the "audionc@' in short
order.
| am all right as TO health
ATcrtionately,
4 i llI,N