Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-07-21

Gent parasites attacking IL and these may
we'll be able to so check the increase OF the
pest as to very materially reduce its in
juries. g. H. PERKINS, Entomolo-
gist State Experiment. Station, Burlington.
Camp Life at Chickamauga.
The following letter is from Clarence F.
Cleveland, for two years employed in
Bucks printing office, who Is cow MEM
Der OF Co. M, Vermont regiment, at Chick
amauga:
We arrived at the station OF Lyle, Ga,
on the 26th OF May, this being the point
where nearly all incoming troops for this
park arrive, and after three and half
mile march in heavy marching order and
under blazing sun, we arrived at our
camping ground at 5 O'Clock, just follow
ing the Sd Tennessee regiment. All then
was hurry, putting up tents, getting ready
for supper, washing up and the like after
the long journey.
/ shall never forget my first two weeks
experience of soldier life. There was no
water suitable for washing purposes near
er than mile, and water for drinking
was much more distant. The heat and
dust were terrible, our food supply was
limited and OF inferior quality. 1t con-
sisted Of canned tomatoes, bareback and
black coffee. with fat pork, known by the
boys as "sow belly" This was hard diet
to come to after having the bountiful bas-
kets supplied by our friends at home and
whose contents lasted until our arrival.
We sadly missed the sandwiches, pies and
cakes that we had been accustomed to
while at Camp Olympia. Those days were
quite gloomy, many of the boys had hard
colds, much aggravated by being COM
PEELED to sleep on the ground. All were
more or less homesick, and the following
remark could often be heard, ooh why
did ever leave homer"
But our feelings have largely changed
since then. Our water supply has i'm
proved, as well as our rations, but by this
do not mean that they are perfect, far
from 1t. The water has until recently been
brought from the famous Crawfish spring,
which is three miles from camp, and is
hauled to camp by the government mule
teams. This water is very clear and good,
reminding US OF our own springs at home.
Our bill OF fare does not differ much
from day to day, consisting mostly of pork
(or SOW BELLY, beef (either boiled or
roasted soft bread or hard tack, potatoes
and black coffee; no milk and very linn
tied amount tof sugar, with occasionally
rice, onions or canned tomatoes, and
once we have had canned salmon, which
is new addition to the army menu. The
folio wing is a fair sample of our dinner:
tied quantity OF each, so at some times
those who are late do not fare very well.
Mess call is answered more quickly than
the other calls on that account.
We arise at about 5:15 a. M, get our
tents in readiness for the day and then fall
in for reveille or morning roll cali. After
this we pick up all paper and like matter
from our street and around our tent, This
done we are ready for mess call. After
breakfast, at 6:45, comes guard mount,
when the guard for the dav Is formed and
duly posted and then at 7 O'Clock comes
drill call and we are busily engaged from
until p, when recall Is blown and we re-
turn to the company street and are at lib
erty until $3.50 o'clock, when we again fall
in for drill until o'clock, making about
five hours drill day. OF course there are
oftentimes other duties that soldier is
called on to perform, helping at the cook
tent, preparing lire wood. LAYING water
pipes and many other details that require
attention. At SIP. m. mess call is again
sounded and we get our supper. Follow
ing this Is retreat roll call, after which we
too is blown and all are required to be in
their tents and Is minutes later taps is
blown and lights are extinguished.
Camp life varies little. Occasionally
company is ordered out for special duty to
do guard duty In the city or village to
keep order and prevent depredstions by
the $1,000 boys in blue, such as foraging,
etc. %. M OF Burlington, Of which / am
member, had the honor to be chosen as
guard over the government paymaster's
department established here. To many
this money was very welcome, some hav-
ing seen none since leaving home six
weeks before. We considered this guard
duty quite an honor to fall to our state
and much greater one to our company.
Our regiment is not fully equipped Jack
ing belts, canteens, knapsacks and blank
l. rmA ~..~tII -.f~ TE.I
regiment has been vaccinated, and with
few exceptions the boys have nearly re-
covered from the effects. There have
been so far two deaths, Musician Spaf-
ford, Co. X, Bennington, and Private Geo.
G. Smith, East Concord, who was a mem |
Der OF Co. d OF st. Johnsbury and had
been sick only short time OF typhoid
fever. There are few other cases, but |
none serious, at the division hospital.
There Is much talk OF the sanitary con- |
ditions Of the park at this time, but IL Is |
largely unfounded and is supposed to be
circulated by parties interested In the
change of mobilization of the vast army |
stationed here.
Many relics are found OF the fierce strug- |
gle that was waged in this vicinity, such |
as bullets, Ole swords, bayonets and |
muskets, which are much priced by the /
boys. | saw in the Southern hotel the |
Union and confederate flags represented |
by bullets found In the battlefields OF
Lookout mountain, Chickamaugs and |
Missionary Ridge. They were arranged TO |
form the flags. / also visited the national |
cemetery at Chattanooga here are buried |
10 800 soldiers who fell on these battle- /
fields. Many of these were unknown |
dead. II was there that the result of war |
Is widely shown. The grounds are very |
beautiful and nicely kept.
We are now getting along very wells /
ting used to the climate, the hard bed, /
early hours, plain food and discipline. We l
are ready any time when needed and 1t is /
most all are anxious to help our brave
boys at the front.