The Forrest City times., 1898-07-29
A Letter From Walter cowan.
Co. F.. 2,d Tenn. Vols.

DEAR FATHER:-As promised vii,
write vou and let you know how w
pro situated. 81 far am well pleased
eiih tn. life of soldier. WE arr
readily falling into line and becoming
accustomed to military rules and regu.
ltions. though at first IT was LITTLE
chafling to one who has heretofore
lrown no boss
On leaving Mem,his over the l.. &
y We passed through Louisville, Gin
tinnati,. Charleston. W. Va. and tn
Alleghany mountains. The CRANE
scenery along the line of the G. Il o.
through the mountains is beyond M
power ~ description. We landed j,
Washington III thirty.two hours OUT
fsrm Memphis.
We are in camp eighteen miles from
Washington. We have nice camping
ground. good. cool water in abudanc.
lear ~ hand: two miles away ~ fin
T. rar running brock that we visit every
other day ta battle and do our laundry
IL the preparation of orr linen.
There is on this stream AN old stone
tail that was erected in 1873. NJ.
doubt this same old mill furnished
Tread for Washington's heroes in th-
revolutionary struggle Of 1875.
Mt. Vernon. the home Of Washing
ten, is distant thirty miles. Before
leaving here ! intend To visit !. and
'rr.ath the patriotic atmosphere" OF
yhst srnesate,i old place.
I have been furnished with all m,
equipments. uniforms. gun. knapsack
csnte-r. blanket and rubber wrap. anc
when haruessed up with all these &C.
coutrements ! present quite Il soldierly
appearance. and am ready AT tie blast
ct the bnele to march for Cuba, Porte
Rico or any other point that Uhch
Sam directs.
You ask about our rations. No com
rlaint on that score. We get good
l-etstrak. potatoes. rice. onions bacon.
Tread. coffee and sugar. all in abund-
ance. We have u good chief cook who
Is provided daily with four assistants
whose duty it is to chop wood, wash
dishes and to keep the pots boiling
Zach man Is furnished with IA tin plate,
Knife. fork. and Gun. OF course VT
msnu. neither have we n COW; ut times
our lips smack with Il desire for some
cf DIR. Dool-y's Jersey cream for our
coffee.
Don't have any fear about me going
Ia sleep on post or guard duty. The
lonts ARE two on and four off. and tn"
steady tramp Of the sentinel will keep
me awake and watchfnl.
We have l06 men in our company.
The Second Tennessee is brigaded
with the First Rhode Island and Sixth
pennsylvania. Oar regiment aud the
Pennsylvania boys are as friendly and
chummy rs lovers.
We all regret the downfall OF our
chaplain. he was AN excellent man and
well educateG; only the night before
ills trouble at tie Willard hotel, in
Washington. hr. in speaking To the
boys, warned them OF the evil conse-
qnenc.s of that demon drink, and how
sad Ia know that he 81 soon fell "a vic
tim To the thirst for strong drink-a
HABIT acquired in former years.
Lust week We had visit from two
yo ,ag ladies of Chicago, former Mem
ph,ans. Tiey had been pupils of MISS
Anna liolden's seminary at Golfers
vile, Tenn. They felt IA great inter
ct ia the Memphis boys. taking each
ones name and extending co-dial in
vitsiinn IL call on them Whenever in
the Windy CITY
Our colonel. Kellar Anderson. is the
ideal commanding officer. On his
charger Back Hawk (Capr. Ilaskins)
he IS the RECONCILIATION of all that is
heroic in military appearance. lie is II
strict discipinarian. but our boys love
and honor him. and when the time
comes for him IT, unsheath his sword
and fash il in tl,e sunlight ana order
his regiment to follow he al carry
them into the fiercest of the fray.
Our regiment is represented by Ar
kansas boys irnm Forrest City. Cat
island. Marion, paragould and other
places.
We have y. NJ. e. A. tent and the
boys visit ii often. Good literature,
S ,ch as daily papers, magazines and
Religious tracts, are provided; have AN
organ and often have splendid vocal
music. | hope much good viii be ac-
com. 'lished by the organization that
provides these places OF interest. and
mental and spiritual improvement.
| got pass and went over to Balti-
more. Took sail on Chesapeake bay