Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-11-23
ON SOUTHERN CAMP GROUND

Captain Silbaugh Writes of the Health ~
Our Boys-The Company and Regiment
are Making Good Records-Describes
the Family "Shacks' and Manner of
Heating Them.
| COMPANY M" FOURTH WISCONSIN REGIN ENT.
CAMP SHIP, ADMISSION ALA, Nov. H. 1895
FRIEND MUNsoN: Company M can
no longer boast of record OF no sick
ness. Corporal Oliver Helgeson, one of
our best boys, is in the division hospital
with a light form of typhoid. He was
transferred to the division last Friday,
and although the case appears to be
mild, it will be some time before the
patient will be back again with bis COM
pauv. Most of the cases have been
mild form OF the disease and recovery
has soon followed, except where there
we're other complications. Most of the
deaths have been from spinal meningitis.
First Sergeant Fred j. Mitchell is at
the division with intermittent fever, but
ls 10 the convalescent ward and will bs
back with the company in few days.
Inc greatest difficulty iu his case seems
to be to keep so much energy and push
in bed long enough to get we'll. Pri-
yate Whittinger is so forgetting his
rheumatism that he is out around with
the help OF a cane. Harry s. Morrison,
formerly of Company M, is laid up with
material fever.
Since the arrival of our professional
nurses the boys are receiving the very
best OF care at the hospital. Tn Hedge.
sons ward one nurse looks after five
patients, and sister could hardly be
more attentive and kind to the bows
than she. The chief objection to the
division hospital heretofore has been the
lack OF care on account of the great
number of patients for the few stewards
in attendar 90.
The comoany carpenters have been
| hard at work on the new s'shacks" for
winter quarters and now large field is
covered with 96, 7x9 wooden shanties
Each has triangular opening in three
sides and door in tia fourth. When
complete d tent will be pitched tight
against each of the three sides, and this
oddly shaped mansion will then be the
abode for twelve patriots during the stay
at this point. The shacks will be used
as general reception room and parlor
and will each contain Sibley stove and
each OF the tents opening off through
the aperture 81 feet high will be the
sumptnous sleeping apartment for four
men. The Sibley stove is conical shaped
and looks for all the world, when not in
use, like big fur nel. It sets on box
OF clay in the middle of the shack. and
although not very prepossessing In ap
pearance, is very fine heater and
might In case OF sudden necessity for
heavy artillery be used for cannon. It
is bottomless of course, and when set
ting out OF doors the ashes are removed
by moving the stove to new place. but
when inside one man holds up the stove
while another shovels the ashes over in
his neighbors' back yard. There is no
such thing as a broken stove leg, and
when it gets stuffed up all you have got
TO do is to lift the stove pipe off the
peak at the top and blow down it. The
shacks are arranged four on each side OF
the street, and in addition to this is the
officers and first sergeant's tents.
General Colby rode into camp with his
staff few days ago and had the "call
to arms" sounded. It was the first
time the men had ever heard it and it
caught us somewhat unprepared. It
took six minutes to get us to the parade
ground and we were very much humili-
ated when told that more lime was con-
sumed than in either the Kentucky or
tennessee regiments. Today the call
was sounded and in Just three minutes
the regiment was formed and the COM
panies dressed on the parade ground,
which Is quarter of a mile away. Not
word of warning lad been given and
the men were scattered throughout
camp. The Second battalion lead
and not a company was formed in the
company street quicker than Company
nj. Colonel Seaman was delighted with
the showing and declared that it was
record breaker. The pay master is in
the city.
j was very sorry we had to have
case OF typhoid. 1 visit the boys every
day and jolly them up all can. Most
OF the boys are getting fat. Don Miller
has gained twenty pounds since he
came down here and is getting to be
healthy looking boy.
am going to run down to Atlanta,
next week. Otto Brown wrote me that
he would be there and I want to go
when L can see him. 1t is only 100
miles from here.
L never had better health myself.
Quite number of the officers have
been sick. All three IN Company K
have been sick and Lieutenant Falk
was appointed temporarily to look after
the company. Respectfully.
JACKSON SILBAUGH.