The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-20
COL. H. B. SMITH HON0RED
PLACED IN TEMPORARY COMMAND
OF THE SECOND BRIGADE.
Several Men Injured by Fractions
MuIes-MoOnshine whisky and It's
ResuIts-Many Amusing Incidents.
From a Staff Correspondent.

| From a Staff Correspondent.
| CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, May 19.-The
| cry for water was loud and long in the
camps of the Indiana regiments to-day, and
| many Hoosiers tramped for miles through
| dusty roads to get only a scant supply
| COL Harry B. Smiths boys went two
miles for the precious fluid and there is a
| probability of going even farther than this
| Tomorrow. A bath is luxury that exists
| principally in dreams, so far away must
| the men go to find a pool. "A large squad
| of Captain McCrea's company set out for
| drinking water ostensibly, but went swim
ming and remained so long that the captain
| shut down on the bathing privileges.
| To-day's shift in affairs found COL Smith
temporarily in command of the brigade and
| the boys were proud of the honor which
came to their popular commander. This reg
iment is maintaining one of the best records
| In Camp George II. Thomas. OF the 1,O22
men on the muster rolls all but two re-
ported this morning, and the two are In
dianapolis, one in the hospital and the other
detailed at Quartermaster Peterson's. Col.
Smiths tent is within twenty feet of
Bragg's headquarters, where the momen-
tous conference of Confederate generals was
held just before the second days battle of
Chickamauga. The regiments camp is in
grove adjacent to wide field and faces
the Brotherton road. To the north is tie
Third Pennsylvania Regiment and to the
east the Fifth Ohio.
Among the exciting events of the day
were the killing of a rattlesnake a hundred
yards from Company DIS quarters and a
dozen rabbit chases in the afternoon. Sew
eral of the chases nearly demoralized regi-
mental discipline, for, as the animals darted
through camp, mascots, guards and dish
washers would set out in bowling pursuit
and the supper mess showed good results.
Sometimes the rabbits would get into the
Fifth Ohio lines and the Buckeye guards
would tackle the Hoosiers to keep them
back that brer rabbit might satisfy the
Ohio appetite.
Both Colonels Smiths and Gunder's regi-
ments cleaned up camp to-day ana In tho
roundup found hundreds of snakes, lizards,
mimic balls and other relics. Some of the
lizards went in the mail to Indianapolis to-
night. The first mail received by Colonel
Smiths regiment brought over five hundred
letters.
Complaints reached headquarters that In
diana men were robbing farmers and insult
ing country women, but Adjutant Powelps
investigation fixed the blame on other
troops.
Colonel Gunder's regiment was a. warm
news center. Sixty government mules al
lowed the regiment created unusual havoc
as they were the nastiest lot isused from
the pens. Private Pearl Bogue was hurled
twenty feet over the head of one and had
his right leg broken; S. D. Sewell, of Ma
rion, was sent up in the air and descending
struck snag, which gashed his face. Chap
lain Weaver. of Marion, experienced on the
mules, and he alone saved his regiment
| from rout.
Lieutenant Linnville, of Warsaw. and
| Captain Bender, officer Of the day, found a
| Tennessee moonshirler selling in camp, and
| the mountaineer is now in a guardhouse.
to be turned over to the federal authorities.
| Colonel Gunder is having much trouble with
contraband whisky, and intends to COM
| municate with General Brooke His men
| have been getting whisky from Ohio troops
| Slight INSTRUMENTATION forced the colonel to
| send about sixty men out into a grove to
| spend several hours studying the articles of
| war. Jack Eversell Of Company c. Lafay-
| ette had delirium trenens, and it took six
| men to bind him in his tent Twenty men
| reported for medicine. The regiment has a
| fair supply Of water. Guns for the regi-
| ment will be here in ten days, but drills will
| begin this morning. Captain Bender. of
Logansport, who served four years in the
late war, is ranking captain of the entire
| corps.
| Actor Andrew Forsyth is one of the sick
men in the Indianapolis artillery, which is
| without a surgeon. and Assistant Surgeon
| Garstang, Of the Studebaker regiment was
detailed to look after the artillerymen's S
health The and-fifty-seventh
Indiana surgeons were busy with other reg
| iments than their own during the day.
| Captain Curtiss boys fret at the order
| forbidding them to the quarry swim
| ming pool, a short distance from their quar-
| ters. The artillery has plenty of water
| Sergeant Heiskell took a squad out to drill
| to-day, and when, failing to return, officers
| found the squad drilling top of tall OBJ
| servation tower on Snodgrass hill. Samuel
| Eckman, a rejected artilleryman, is here
and will act as agent for the Indianapolis
papers. Colonel Studebaker has some sick
ness in his regiment, but nothing serious.
/ q. l.. p.
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