The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-07
From Camp Hamilton.
LExrSeroS, KY, Sept. 2, isos.

LEXISGroS, KY, Sept. 2, lS9s.
EDITOR HERALD
Hope springs eternal in the human
breast" even though it Is only 10 be
knocked into smithereens by orders or
lack of orders from Washington. The
hopes OF the Firth have been rum ing
high for several weeks that we would be
among the Pennsylvania regiments to be
mustered out of the service, but word
received here Saturday makes it appear
that we have been hoping against hope
aud that the Fifth is destined 10 do gar
rison duty in Cuba or Porto Rico. Tn
fortunately for us we have no voice in the
matter, otherwise we woule soon be home
10 resume our usual peaceful avOcations.
To say that the members of the Fifth
were disappointed but mildly expresses
the feeling of ninety-fiv per cent. of the
boys. But hope has not entirely deserted
Us and we will make the best of 1t until
our time comes to be mustered out.
While at Rossville the other day en-
route to Lexington a number Of the boys
took advantage Of the opportunity 10 visit
a shirt aud pants factory. II was a novel
and interesting sight 10 see cotton and
wool fed into machinery at one end OF the
building only TO come out at the other
end in the shape of garments finished
even to the sewing of buttons, and ready
TO be PACK into boxes.
The ride from Chickamanga to Lexing-
ton gave Us an opportunity to see por-
tiOn of the mountains of Tennessee and
Kentucky, which are strikingly similar
to the ''moOnshine'' hills of Somerset
county. The little patches of vegetables
in the vicinity of rickety old domiciles,
the clear cool mountain streams and the
general appearance of the inhabitants
almost made as forget the hardships of
Chickamauga and imagine ourselves
back in Pennsylvania on a pleasure ex-
cursion.
Knoxville was the only city Of any i'm
pOrtance we passed on the way. The To-
cation of Camp Hamilton is good, and
here we got drink Of cool spring water
for the first time since we left home. All
can not drink spring water, however, as
the supply is limited, but the hydrant
water is great improvement over that
we were compelled 10 drink at Camp
Thomas. This is probably the best site
for camp in the South. but if all the men
now here are kept here for any length of
time it will simply be repetition of the
horrors OF Chickamauga.
There are over 500 in the div sion hos
pital, and large number have been fur
loughed home. \ division comprises
about 1900 troops. Corporals Irving
Engle and Thomas d. Carey are in the
hospital as invalids, while Franklin NJ.
Tressler, Charles Neff, ''Jack" Biesecker,
and Robert d. Cummins, of Company l,
have been detailed as nurses. Ten or
twelve from Company answer sick-call
every morning. These are not included
in the hospital reports. but are prospect
i've candidates.
One of the most provoking and aggra-
waiting things that has appeared in camp
was a Pittsburg paper received a few
days ago in which it was alleged that
one half of the Fifth desire 10 do garri
son duty, one-sixth desire to return home.
while the balance are Indifferent. Could
the publisher have been in Camp Hamil-
ton and heard the anatbemas the boys
pronounced upon him, he would be more
careful as TO the truthfulhess Of his army
news.
Company has furnished the following
members for regimentsl band: Theo-
dore Ringler. Alfred Ringler, and Law
renee F. Sipe. Sergeant Ezra Milliron
enjoys the distinction of being sergeant
of the guard this week. Captain Kooser
was officer of the day last Monday.
Corporal Herbert Pfahler is acting Com
missary Sergeant in the absence Of his
brother. Sergeant Frederick Pfahler. who
is home on fnrlough. ssa