Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-04

| from William L. STdWlOIu, nS6iStci
correspondent Of the First West Vir-
ginia regiment, dated May 31st, at
| Camp George H. Thomas, Chicka-
manga, Ga.
| There are now encamped at Chick
amauga Park forty-two infantry regi-
ments, seven batteries of light artil-
lery and two regiments of cavalry, all
told, 41,304 soldiers, in addition to the
| large army of officers and ordnance
! departments This number will be in
| creased by the arrival to-day and to-
morrow to marty $4,000 men, and by
the enc of the week. it is estimated
that there will be fifty-four regiments
| of infantry in camp-enough to com
plete the Third army corps. 1t is in
| teresting to see SO many men and so
| few women. 1t does not take long
| for new soldier to appreciate the
value of the society of the fairer sex.
The only women around our camp are
those who peddle eatables, and they
only manage to give pleasant look
when they find a purchaser for their
goods.
The First West Virginia regiment IS
| rapidly developing into good soldiers
under the command Of Col. B. D. Spill
l T vi
are not two more efficient officers in
| camp, and under their command the
men have learned to drill and carry
| themselves like veterans. Our men
have become hardened to the many
drills At the review of the Second
division Friday about forty men were
| carried from the field, and one SER
geant from a Pennsylvania regiment
died from heart failure before he could
be gotten under cover. However.
not one man from our regiment left
the field, which goes to show that the
soldier boys from West Virginia are
well fitted to go any place where there
is trouble
| Probably the most interesting event
to date was the sham battle which
took place yesterday morning between
the three brigades of the Second d.
vision. The men were ordered to keep
| at distance Of seventy-five yards, but
| they became so enthusiastic that they
| rio intn ho
ment distinguished itself by capturing
several officers. After about two hours
hard fighting both sides retreated for
| dinner. The battle was witnessed and
the division reviewed by many Off
GERS of note, including General Brock
! enridge, assistant inspector general,
! Lieut.. Col John Jacob Aston and
| Gen. Poland
The heat for the last ten days has
| been intense and several deaths have
occurred in the last few days from 1t.
| The boys from the Northern States
suffered considerably. 1t is very for
| tuInte that we have little sickness in
| our camp, as there is nothing but SAYS
! to administer to those in the hospital.
| All the men have been vaccinated, and
| several are excused daily from drill
on account Of sore arms.
The story circulated by Pittsburg
| papers that our regiment is camped
| In a swamp and have to walk seven
miles for water, is absolutely untrue.
| There is not better place in the park
| for camp than the one we occupy. 1t
| is close to Chickamauga creek and
| there are wells and springs within
quarter Of mile of the center of
| camp. The men are we'll fed, have
| straw beds to sleep on, and, 1t Is safe
to say, that there is not a better salts
| fed regiment in camp. Our officers are
| all we'll liked by the men, and very
| seldom are there objections to their
| treatment 1t is a remarkable fact that
few men are sent to the guard house.
| Occasionally some stay away longer
than is allowed and are promptly
arrested, but their confinement under
| guard is of short duration.
| The "canteen" was opened yester-
| day, and a good supply of beer, to-
bacco and stationery is kept on hand.
A rushing business is done in this line.
The men are thoroughly disguised by
the treatment they have received at the
| hands of the politicians at Charles
ton They have been promised pay
day after day, but that eventful day
| has never arrived. The boys are "teto-
| tally busted" and are unable to pro-
cure tobacco, cigars, or any delicacies
which they long for and which are
very plentiful here. 1t only tends to
! aggravation to tell them that the pay
master will be down tomorrow"
Decoration Day was quiet in camp.
The men spent the day in drilling and
hunting relics of the late war, such as
bullets, mimic balls, broken bayonets,
ETC.
NJ F. Dryden, of Wheeling, and
! member of Company M, was appointed
| ab;oe o1orl, Hanora1 prnoka'c head