The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-03
CAMP GOSSIP.
Incidents of Life with the One-Hun-
dred-and-Fifty-Eig Indiana.

Incidents of Life with the One-Hun-
dred-and-Fifty-Eigh Indiana.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CAMP GEORGE H. THOMAS, June g.
The boys of the One-hundred- fifty
eighth Indiana yesterday received large
tents, and while they are compelled 10 sleep
six or seven in a tent, they are able to stand
up in the tents, which they could not do in
their shelter tents. Owing to the small
number of tents obtainable, each company
was issued twelve tents. but they had to i'm
provise upright poles. Company II con-
cluded they wanted tents and poles COM
plete or none. They got none while the
other companies have one more tent than
was intended for them. The boys enjoy
their large tents and the camp presents a
prettier appearance. The government ap-
parently thinks more of the mules than it
does of it's men. Straw is furnished for the
mules bedding, but the men get nothing.
The impression got abroad somehow last
night that If any straw was stolen no one
would be punished. This morning / heard
teamster say that two bales of straw had
been stolen, and some Of the men had straw
in their tents. No one was punished.
The boys are still hunting relics. Those
who most desire them are unable to find
them. Captain Jacobs, of Kokomo has an
old saber which he found in the woods. Cap
tain Tarlton, of Indianapolis, has a half of
one, including the handle, which he picked
up while out strolling. Two members of
Company M, while out walking, found an
old sword bayonet, which had evidently laid
in the ground many years they also found
an old belt buckle with the letters &C. S."
on it. Sergeant Major Brazington imme-
diately offered 50 for it, and the finder as
quickly concluded he preferred the 81 to
making a present of a belt buckle to his
best.
The regiment is now getting more and
better water 1t is hauled in wagons
distance of five or six miles The water
comes from Crawfish Springs, and is clear,
although necessarily warm after being
hauled such a long distance. Speaking of
wagons reminds the writer of the expert
ence of the misunderstanding
hospital steward Harry Newland, and one
of the recently acquired mules. Newland
was sent, Tuesday morning by the surgeon
to the medical depot for a supply of medi-
cines. The distance being considerable, he
decided to ride, but the only steed he could
get was a mule-large, robust, gray mule
which looked to be the personihcation of
docility. Harry borrowed a saddle and
bride, and after getting his mount in a
fence corner, managed to get the saddle and
the bride on the beast and get on himself.
The mule went along nicely in walk in the
hot and dusty roadway, and the steward
could not py any means at his command in
crease his gait. Suddenly there was
change The mule pricked up its ears, and,
opening it's mouth, let out one of it's most
musical brays. The mule quickened his
walk then trotted and then got down to a
run-not however in the direction he should
have gone, but straight across field which
lay on the south side of the road The beast
had seen a number of his former mule
friends tied to a picket rope, and evidently
wished to renew old acquaintance. Newland
tugged at the bride with all his might.
But he might as well have tried to stop a
cyclone. Harry wrapped his legs around the
mule, locked his feet underneath and held
on. One thng he had not counted on-the
picket rope. His old gray mule did not stop
when he got that far, but lowered his head
and under the rope he went. The hospital
steward did not do likewise. Instead he
held his head up and the rope caught him
about half way between his head and his
land hanging there like an administrations
pin The men in charge of the mules caught
The old gray and put the steward on him.
and by means OF clubs drove him out of the
corral and started him on the road New
land got his drugs and returned home all
right, but he had pain all afternoon. which
he could not exactly locate, but said Ii was