Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-06-16
FROM CHICKAMAUGA.
Spurlock Writes Another En-
tertaining Letter for Our
Readers.

They are Not Suffering Like Some
Say They archie Heat Is Terrible
HoweYer-The Squire Has to Hustle
to Get Enough Air to do Him-His
Tremendous Physique has stood Him
in Coed Stead-They are Awaiting the
Arrival of the Raw Recruits--Orders
nre Soon Expected which will Take
Them to the Front and the Men are
Ready for the Summons -Newsy Let
ter From One of the Local Soldier
Boys.
CAMP THOMAS, June II. 1898.
Editor NEW DOMINION:
For some cause | have not received
my paper for ten days and | was getting
quite lonesome, but to.day's mail
brought me sThe Post, commencement
issue, and am happy once more.
What was termed the drought by
Georgians was terminated here to-day
by one of the hardest and most splendid
rains ever saw We had had no rain
for almost three weeks and the dust had
been almost sitting. Many has been
the time that have been compelled to
dodge sidewise out of the ranks for
second TO get my breath, but all that is
happily ended for few days ut least.
The police regulations of the camp
have been splendid and every sanitary
preeaution has been taken, to preserve
the health of the men, but all that has
been done for our welfare since we have
been here does not compare with this
single Gods seavenger and purifier
which literally picked up the dust and
the affal and sent it, surging, seething
mass of pollution, down the streams in
such volumes as TO make raging torrents
out of once tiny rivulets. Did We get
wet? O yes. Our tents were deluged.
But what matter, SO long as we had
rain2
Since writing you detachments from
every company i'll the regiment have
gone back to West Virginia to recruit
and bring the additional volunteers
which were made necessary by the last
call OF President Mckinley. We all,
being virtuous, feel lovely superiority
over and half contemptuous pity { p for
them by reason of their ignorance OF
military tactics, but have decided not to
ehide them with it, considering it their
misfortune, rather than their fault.
Seriously, the boys are getting in fine
iettle, and whether the command is to
get ready for an hours drill or march
to Tampa. sthey are alike Indifferent,
They are subjected to very rigid disci-
pline and are rapidly becoming soldiers
in fact, as well as in name. Our regi-
mental commander, Gel. Spillman, is
thoroughbred soldier and is well liked
I i.,f ho mt
/ cannot pass without mentioning
that everything that is good should be
said of our Lieut.. Col. Smith. With
such officers there is no question in my
mind as to the mems willingness to
march on Madrid if necessary.
Our court martial is thoroughly estab-
lished now, and is composed of Col. d.
B. Spillman and twelve or thirteen COM
missioned officers from other regiments.
| regret 10 say that for the present that
honorable body has its hands full, but
it has not heretofore dawned upon the
minds OF some of the men that this is
actual war and they have been little
negligent about obeying orders. trust
that when the court dlsposes of this
batch, they will have nothing more to
do for some time.
In spite of discipline there are times
wnen a mans exuberant spirits will get
him into trouble. We have a funny in
cident of that kind in one of our neigh
boring regiments at present. Upon GER
tain occasions, and for certain officers,
the entire guard reserve is turned out
as a compliment; it being the duty OF
sentinel on post No. /, when he sees the
commanding officer, or officer OF the day
approaching to cry out, turn out the
guard, commanding officer,o etc. Well
this man saw the commanding officer
approaching the guard house anda he
bawled out Turn out, we blokes, the
main guy, the head pusher approaches
1t was very funny, but he got ten days
in the guard house.
Apropos of the court.martial l want to
mention that every accused person is
asked by the court If he desires counsel,
and no man has been refused witness
no matter how long it took to get him.
/ have had the honor to appear before
the court some few times in the capac-
ity of counsel, and have seen some very
close cases decided in favor of the pris-
oner The court is composed of an in
telligent and fair-minded body of officers
and should much rather stand trial for
my life (if were innocent) before them
than the average civil petit jury.
The percentage of sickness in our reg
iment is comparatively email. We have
had no casualties in our regiment
except the accidental shooting of
private Oldield by the discharge of a
pistol IN the hands of private Braunon.
It was only flesh wound, and the re-
suit was simply good scare and two
days In the hospital. Upon that basis