Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-07-14
A SKIRMISH DRILL.
THE BOYS OF COMPANY L IN
DULGE IN A SHAM BATTLE
AT ~CHICKAMAUGA.
Capt. Black Receiving Many Words OF
Praise-How the Soldiers Pat
ronize the Canteens-
Many of Them.

Correspondence or the Ledger. |
CHIcKAMAUGA, GA, July s.-With
l., 3rd Battalion, 9th Mis-
souri, Regiment of volunteer infantry
attached to the End brigade, End di-
vision, Bird army corps department OF
the Gulf, Camp Geo. FL. Thomas,
Chickamauga Park, Georgia. There are
many who write and ask who and what
we are and where we belong, and the
above Is the answer.
We experienced as nice a skirmish
drill last evening as we have since
pitching camp in the national park.
At six O'Clock the four companies,
K, L and M-of this battalion were on
their way to the parade ground where
the battalion was formed. Eight men
under Sergeant Hazard, of Company
L, were thrown out for scout duty.
About a quarter of a mile to the front
and in the edge of a dense wood the
scouts became sharply engaged, but
held their ground until the remainder
of Company L had deployed and
for attack on the line held by
them. After a hot fight, in which we
slowly, the support came up
and in some way Oh other the enemy
was passed and the command to rally
and form for attack was given. The
ground, I supposed, was to be gone
back over and the remainder of the
dark skinned sons of Spain given their
final stroke. A beautiful advance was
made with two companies on the fire.
ing line. Companies L and K, under
Captain Black, formed the reserve
and did not become engaged again
before time to form and dismiss the
battalion. But we were fixed for an
flank attack, for which we
marched nearly a mile, but too late;
the S~paniards fed Or were killed be-
fore we had the chance. Our loss was
Captain black is receiving many
compliments as to the efficiency of
his company. Many fattering things
have also been said of the Captain.
Those on guard yesterday and last
night were privates Isaac Paul, Joseph
Mckee and Owens. Those who 60 on
to-day at 9 O'Clock and serve until a
like hour in the morning are privates
W. s. Hewett, of st. Louis; Arthur
Lee, of Montgomery City; Montgom-
cry, of C~entralia, and e. B. Roberts,
of Audrain. This will be a particular
ly difficult job to-day as sit is report
ed on good authority" that VIZ will be
paid to-day sure and there is a can
teen on both sides of US. 1 was over
to the 9th New York canteen last
night to get a box of matches and it is
appalling to see the way men run
over each other to get hold of a glass
or bucket of the amber colored bever-
age. The scene finally became so
tumultuous that guards were called and
the men made to line up and await
their turn before they had an oppor-
tunIty to elbow foam.' The men of
the 9th New York are, 1 believe, with
few exceptions, all Irish and are very
tough.
One can throw from our guard
line and strike the cash drawer in the
~canteens. The Rough Riders, Grigs-
by's, canteen is only about 100 feet
further from q camp, to the west.
One would expect to find a very dis
orderly crowd here where the men Of
the Western ranches quench that ter
rible thirst, but nothing could be
further from right. The men are
orderly and almost without exception
are gentlemen. By the way, I mel
Captain Seawright, formerly professor
of language at M. NJ. A., at the Rough
Riders camp a few weeks ago. He il
a sergeant in this troop and says he ii
enjoying the life. Sergeant Seawright
will be remembered as a foot ball en-.
thusiast by a great many Mexico
people.
Edgar Hicks, of Mexico, who wal
transferred to the division hospita
corps some time ago, is trying to gel
a transfer back to his company again,
He says that he wants to stay with the
boys.
A Iaughable incident of the rair
night before last was enacted in Buglel
Graham's tent. AS the water began
to come through the tent he began t.
cast his practical eye around for a DIR,
spot when he remembered that he hat
a cot which had been built of post
driven In the ground and a heav!
canvas stretched between. Looking
under it he saw a poor tramp dol
snuggled up on the dry spot, but Gu
is no believer in sentiment and on
went the dog. Gus kept comparative
ly dry during the night and beside
did not have to 60 out for water 70
bathing purposes in the morning. Tn
dips in his bed had caught and he'll
quite a pool in which he performe
his morning additions.
I am in hopes that 1 will have som
news worthy of being published in tn
LEDGER before long.
Everyone is well in Company l. an
Thompson has been returned to dut
and is as well as ever. Ora Boatman
the only one on the report this morn
ing and he is suffering from a swolie
eye caused by a stye.
An attache Of the division hospita
was just in my tent and tells me tina
the health of the Fifth Missouri is tn
wonder of the day among all the serv
ice doctors of the entire park. W
have had but one man in the divisioc
hospital and only 26 men sick in quar-
tiers. Even a Mississippi regimen
which is already acclimated has ha
70 to our 1 in the division hospital. ]
Is on this that we base our hopes {
moving in a few days.
WILL G. HUTTON.
ATTENTION