Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-05-26
SUNDAY AT CAMP LEE.
HOW A MILITARY CAMP IS CoNDUCTED-RE-
CRUITS BREAKING IN-sPIRIT OF THE BOYS
THEIR DIsCOMFORTs AND PLEASURES,
ETC, ETC, ETC,

HOW MILITARY CAMP IS CoNDUCTED-RE
!. CRUITs BREAKING IN-sPIRIT OF THE BOY
$ THEIR DIsCoMFoRTs AND PLEASURES
ETC, ETC, ETC.
4 RICHMOND, VA, May "a, 1898.
In many military camps and armies, Sun
day is about the same as other days so ia
as the routine of soldier life is concered
Not so, however, at Camp Lee. Here no
l ticeable suspension of such duties as may
be, is ordered and much freedom and rest !:
!. given the men. Such was the condition las
g Sunday when l visited the camp Many
were at liberty to attend down town
i churches, others were grouped about the Y
$ M. G. A. tent where services were held ane
in the afternoon all had an opportunity tt
attend services in the big auditorium con-
, Quoted by Rev. DIR. Hoge.
Nevertheless camp life is full of interest
and is we'll worth seeing. to those who have
actual conditions of war.
OUR BOYS IN CAMP.
The long streets of white canvas tents,
the groups of blue coated officers and men,
and the hundred guards that measure of
their beats with stately tread, combine to
impress one with the grim dignity of war.
Having passed the sentry at the main en-
trance to Camp Lee. was directed through
the auditorium building, from the rear
steps of which an excellent view of the en-
campment is had. In common with many
Stauntonians who have already visited the
camp, l felt that my first Interest was
among the tents of Company K of the End
Va. Here in the officers quarters L met
Capt. Ker and Lieutenants Perry and Brax-
ton, the former just off "a hours duty, and
all of them several shades darker than when
they left Staunton. Capt. Ker has COM
pletely recovered from his temporary indis-
position of last week and is apparently in
excellent health. 1t is astonishing how q
few days exposure has Drowned the men
and given them the air of the hearty "Reg-
ulars."
| VALUED SOUVENIR.
| Beyond the officers quarters and in line
with them are the tents of the men, where
all visitors receive hearty welcome, and
if he be Stauntonian, is pointed with pride
to the wreath of withered flowers that enclr-
Giles the centre pole of one of the tents, the
gift of the young ladies of the Mary Bald
win Seminary. presented on the day the
| boys left Staunton. The tents are conical
shaped, supported by centre pole and
have movable cap at the top through
which, when open, smoke may escape in
lieu of a chimney. These wigWams we are
told will accommodate 20 or more of the
mo nd 1u1n how
will explain that all hands lie down with
feet to the centre and heads outward like
the spokes of huge wheel. Saturday the
cap of a particular tent was left off and
when big thunder storm came up dur
ing the night rain poured into the hole at
the hub and wet all the spokes from the
feet to the knees, before the sleepers real
lied their uncomfortable position. How
ever, the tents are usually comfortable.
Some have a plank floor, but the greater
number are provided with liberal sprinkle
of straw, a knapsack for pillow and big
double gray blanket for covering. The only
piece of furniture is the centre pole, around
which guns are stacked, canteens and hats
are hung, etc. AS for the fare, that is much
improved since the men have been issued
ratons by the government and mess cook
secured. However, Uncle Sam is not ex-
travagant as to the service thereof.
THE WAY RATIoNs ARE SERVED.
Rough boards with upright pieces driven
in the ground constitute the table at which
all must stand while eating. The plates
and cups are of tin and the spoons pewter.
Il, 60
ready to be served the men are called into
line, and while roll call is going on the
cook and his assistants pass down, the line
of tin plate with big bucket of soup fill
ing tin cup at each place, then follows
the bean pot and ladle full is poured into
each plate, then slice of middling and
stewed beef and gravy. When all has been
served the men march to their places. There
is no grabbing for the biggest share, as at
ollege messhalIs. When man cleans up
his plate there may be more for him in the
mess kitchen or there may not No delica-
cies and no kincknacks. But what Uncle
Sam has failed to furnish in this respect,
the express company has, for every day
brings its quota of private boxes sent by
special friends and home folks, and once
last week tremendous box arrived for the
whole company, sent by the citizens of
Staunton and Augusta, so of late the boys
have been living high and are duly appre |
ciative of the kindresseS shown them.
THE HOSPITAL TENT.
Private William Gray was very felicitous |
in showing our party around. Among the
objects of interest pointed out was the Red
Cross hospital and its corps of surgeons and |
assistants. The red cross they wear on their |
arms, he said, is sacred badge. on which |
neither contending party would fire, either |
during battle or at other times. However,
as yet there is little for them to do save at |
tend the five patients that are now under |
their care. At first there were a good many |
sick men. caused principally by Unsuitable |
water and food. This trouble has been |
remedied, and then too the men are becom- |
ing used to roughing it. Company & has |
not single sick man and all are in fine |
spirits and from the temper of the men l
talked with are impatient for the front. |
Their regiment is all mustered in now and
has been ordered to move South. Fifty
three passenger cars of the r. F. 6 P. Ry.
stretching along the tracks beside the camp
for nearly mile are standing waiting to
move the regiment.
THAT CRACK COMPANY"
We were shown the guard (tent) house,
in which were several obstreperous custom
ers and attention was called to the fact that
Company K had no man there and that it
was regarded as 'the crack company of the
regiment" When l asked what the term
meant and if it was merely intended as a
fulsome compliment. was told that the
term had been earned by merit and that it
meant superior drilling and gentlemanly
conduct.
The comissary department was a big
SIGHT hnt TO he viewed by visitors from