Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-06-02
LETTER FROM OHIOKAMAUGA.
Chickamauga, Ga. May p, 1898.

but not little disappointed when. last
Monday, they were informed that on
the following day they would start to
this place.
Promptly at a. m. Tuesday morn
ing the boys fell into line to march to
| breakfast. After breakfast the order
to pack up came and in fifteen minutes
the boys had shaken and rolled their
blankets, tied their tin cup and pan to-
gether and then fell to taking down,
rolling and tying the tents. job that
lasted but few minutes. At a. m.
the boys were ordered out for a battla-
lion and last drill, at least for the
| present. at Camp Leedy. Dinner came
promptly at II O'Clock and promptly at
the noon hour the different companies
of the 2Ist Kansas formed to march to
the Santa Fe depot. The boys obeyed
promptly, not only out of respectful
ODE dience to those in authority but.
perhaps, just little because their stay
at the Camp had been, in some respects
rather unpleasant.
Throughout the previous week rain
fell almost daily, the grounds were
very muddy and the supply of water
was not the best.
A salute of six guns was fired in the
Capital grounds. Governor Leedy re-
viewed the troops from position near
the corner of 9th and Kansas.
The troops left Topeka at p. m.
over the Santa Fe in three sections of
twelve coaches each. At Lawrence a
goodly sized and enthusiastic crowd
was assembled and gave the boys a
warm reception. The first section
reached Kansas City at 5:45. The K.
c. people were very enthusiastic, es.
pecially the ladies, who presented
many beautiful bouquets and trinkets
to the boys. Liberty Mo-. which was
reached at Io:4o p. M. had apparently
turned out en- masse and were the most
enthusiastic people met with in that
state. Breakfast was taken at East
st. Louis at g a. m.. Wednesday.
From Hannibal to st. Louis the
wheat was yellow anl not as far ad-
vanced as near Topeka. The ground
was very wet and gave off disagree
able smell We were very much sur
prised at the condition of the farms
and crop prospects along the Louis
vile and Nashville road in Illinois.
The farms were not as well fenced as
in Barton. The farm houses and
other buildings were little if any better.
But the orchards were numerous and
promising. The IllinoIans were, per-
haps, the most enthusiastic met with.
| Southern Indiana was the most beauti.
full country through which we passed.
The farms were in a good state of
cultivation, were well fenced and the
| buildings were usually fine. Wheat
was in fine condition and well headed.
The towns in Illinois and Indiana pre-
sented more tumble down and hard
times appearance than those along the
Santa Fe from Great Bend to Kansas
City The great majority of people
who presented themselves at the sta.
tions in Kentucky were negroes whose
hearty and doubtless well.meant "God
bless you " Come back, boys" and
"Be good. boys" were cheering. The
one gallus- one mule single -shovel-get-
around--the. stumps- -best--you-can
kind of farming seen in the blue grass
state did not give our boys very fat.
tering opinion of it.
At every stop in Illinois, Indiana and
Kentucky the men came up to shake
hands and congratulate, the young
ladies TO present boquets. around
which was wrapped their address. and
to ask for trinkets. The boys wrote
notes to which they tied a flower or
some trinket and handed them to some
lady. Replies are coming in and even
now the boys are planning to make
numerous calls on their return trip.
Lookout mountain. towering far above
| the dark and threatening clouds. re-
minding the student of the brave deeds
of '63. was the most inspiring scenery
seen on the trip Our boys expressed
q desire to go squireling. or even
opossum hunting there.
AT 9 a. m. Thursday we reached
Chattanooga where we remained cooped
up all day. The weather was very