The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-31
AS THE PRIVATE SEES IT.
DESCRIPTION OF CAMP LIFE As PROP.
NELSON EXPERIENCES TT

He Is n Teacher of Greek In Time of Peace,
but Now He's Serving in the Tsnnks nt
electromagnetic Mornings Drill In sham
Battle and How 1t Tries the soldier Lads.
LEXINGTON, Ky. July 3O.-As an example OF
the kind OF thoughts which I'll the mind OF
tho American volunteer the following extracts
from q letter written by Prof. John Nelson OF
this city may be noted. Prot. Nelson Is u pri-
vate in Company C, First Kentucky Volunteers.
Col. John b. Castleman. He Is a graduate OF
the University OF virginia. and later assistant
professor of Greek In the University OF Texas.
Writing to his brother. Prof. J. Poyntz Nelson
OF this city, he says:
Into what absolute insignincance the indi-
vidual lapses when he dons the uniform OF our
country! IA far as l can ~analyze II. a soldier
must fully realize that when he takes the oath
he is In no sense his own. but anothcris-his
country's, whom he must serve regardless Of
anything that may bofolI him. The Ego Of
liio Is buried. Then, as n consequence. he
arrives at the knowledge that he is only a part.
albeit n thinkinG part, Of q vast machine. about
which there is only one conccrn-that he prop
erly performs the work allotted. and that there
be n counterpart OF this piece to take its place
when worn out or broken,
Friday l had my first taste Of what is known
ns fatigue duty. consisting of sweeping up the
rear Of the company street. picking up paper,
burning trash. &c. Four OF us we're engaged
in the work. and, though l do say it. We did .
good job. OF such is soldier life.
Yesterday morning we got an awful dose.
Gen. Grant IA an initiatory exercise conducted
a sham battle. We got up at 4 o'clock and started
shortly after 5. We thought we were only to
have a brigade drill. but we were wofully mis-.
taken. We marched. countermarched. and
then marched some moro and some more. AZ
last we went at double quick down a steep
slope. wheeled n short distance and dropped
fiat. only for u few minutes, whom up we got and
dashed for a gravel pit, whore down we went,
had a pretty fair rest; started up again,
back up the steep slope. down a grad-
uni decline. when we formed in a skirmish
line-our battalion. We knew the other
two battalions were ahead, our regiment
forming the extreme loft Of the brigade
and Company C the EXTREMIST left. We lay
down some more and then we got up in a hur.
ry. and how We double-quicked It'll Oh. those
old muscles. bones and lungs. and that gun that
weighed like a ton. and that Internal Snodgrass
Hill looming IN half a mile ahead. which we all
felt was the objective place for US, or else some
place bey2ndl
"On wo went. then falling fiat literally. legs
inclined to the left. good firing position some
more rushing. We had got them in the Il her.
i Pr TgPoe eSsd5" w;i l2hr% v r6oS Sn %m In ws S@; a iT S roma.
down on the gravel and hug II. And then. my
lord. we have Just REACHED tie most interesting
or unmnable part OF SnOIgrasS Hlll-abOut 40
degrees inclination-and rushed up. I'll le
hanged if | didn't think I was gone entirely. I
got up to the top somehow, staying with the
Tine. whore dropped still some more. ] have
heard artistic cussinG, but the most. marked
tons on Gen. Grant that | have yet had the
fortune to listen to,
But this was not all. Forward is given and
d9wnhill we go ard then un. My legs and back
felt IKE man with iniammatQry rheumatism
m n,.r q i@ our march maPr S %Si & &nd we Sf im s92n G' %s
were on our direct way home. But Mt one point
s TS FAY jn rns a S'd di I'll" S WGrG start SG i Sne a !' fiii Y' Mha ns
were the colors and a man Gen. Grant, sitting
on a cannon. This meant 70 pass in review. rot
as W" supposed. in company formation. but
some as skirmisheIs and others az supports.
We, got to can't at 10 o'clock. Right smart cx:
ercisc. Five OF our men dropnnd oIt. Two OF
them had no business going. The others were
pretty regfmcntnl ilrill, after which, to our sur:
prise. we were lined up in n right angle. and
E Ga fKS ahtna!Gk VII Hom rse " .Dixi ts' Ny " e G5 sulnfflr,yF
&c; l9n should have heard the boys yell when
Commonwealth. the complement TO which was
s sb"nt.d y VI N}n aFs t Gray y6 Of our wi PSStt K 2 EhSS
The answer in words aud volume was strictly
correct. Att this stage the, men and officers of
N We inirs1S 'bby v in c6 6IItTnGu Of III fo 1rs t hb|iv; :h hn" ID
| us 10 the echo. We forgot all about the morn
IFn n trying work ana We came through tms
don, your heart good.
This .wasa genuinely bright ray OF sunshine
in our life and served II splendid purpose. The
shades are sometimes very dark. but We have
lights. too, and very bright ones: l am ~ fine
spirits, trying to do what / can. ] only ask for
physical health to endure i'll real service is %
be met. when trust this will be supplemented
by strength to continue steadfast to the cHt.
The letters are a great comfort. ! constantly
think of you. especially whoa those MUSCLE.
believe me. incxhaustibl". heaven grant"
Private Nelson is a gr~rat-grandson Of Gov.
Thomas Nelson Of Revolutionary fame and ono
OF the SiR0prS OF tho Declaration of InIppGn-
dcnce. He is n first cousin of Thomas Nelson
Page the author. He was one Of the first nca
in Lexington TO signify his willingness to enlist
after war was declared with Spain.