The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-02
COL. GARRARD ON CAMP LIFE.
STRONG SPIRIT OF COMRADEsHIP
IN sAVANNAHs BATTALION.

Men in Good Physical Trim and
Learning How to Take Care of
ThemseIves-Au the Enjoyment
Possible Derived From Camp Life.
Equipments Arriving and Being
Issued This Week-The Regfmentnl
Canteen Success-Tampa Far
Preferable to Grimn-OnIy a Small
Part of the Volunteer Army Ready
for Cuba.
Lieut. Col. William Garrard Of the Fec
! ond Georgia Regiment, First Brigade, First
division. Seventh Corps, United States
! Volunteers, Arrived on the noon train yes
| terday from Tampa. He came home on a
| five days furough to attend to some pri-
vate business of Importance. Col Gar
rard believes that the army corps to which
his command is attached may be cent to
| Cuba shortly and he took the only OPP
portunity he may have of closing up some
urgent personal matters.
Col. Garrard as usual, was enthusiast
tic over the personnel and general cOndi-
ton of his battalion. He is anticipating
that it viii be moved 10 the camp at
jacksonville, although there Is nothing
| certain as yet and it may remain at Tam
pa until ordered on'the transports for the
voyage to Cuba. Maj Gen Lee is anx-
ious to mobilize his corps and as Jack
sonvllle Is his headquarters this gave rise
to the impression that the Second Georgia
Regiment would be sent there. Gen. Lee
viii have twenty-seven regiments under
his command, an army of over twenty
seven thousand men. Only about ten regi-
ments have been named as yet, the Geor-
gians being one. The Second Regiment
Col Garrard stated, is in Gen. Henry's
division, and is one of the three regiments
comprising Gen. Hawkins brigade. the
other two being the Third and Fifth Ohio
| Regiments. AS the brigade is composed
of regiments from the North and South,
so throughout the whole army there has
been a mixing up of the various com
mands. Not the slightest trace of sect
ionalism can be seen. Southern men com
mand Northern and Western men, and
Northern men command Southern men.
"Our regiment" said Col. Garrard, was
especially fortunate in it's camping place.
II is far preferable to Griffin. We are on
a sandy promontory, with the bay on both
sides of us and with the cool ocean breezes
tempering the heat of the sun throughout
the day After midday the air is invig-
Grating and deliciously cool. Even at mid
day the heat is far from being unbear-
/ able. Altogether, we are highly pleased
To the refreshing sea air. the sea bathing
and the abundant supply of artesian wa
| ter the good condition of the health. of
our men is largely due The water has a
| saline flavor, which at first is objection
/ able but analysis has shown it 20 be
! thoroughly healthful We have ample ice
every day to cool the water with, brought
! right at the regiments canteen on our
| ground, as cheap as in Tampa.
I'VE have found that the regimental
| canteen was a wise move" continued Col
Garrard. I'VE keep it under proper super
/ vision, and allow the sale of no whisky or
/ strong drinks. Beer Is sold, as are the
| numerous soft drinks. The use OF the
canteen has not been abused and its ten
/ dency is for sohriety and contentment
| The regiment secures a certain rebate
| from the sales which goes to the company
| funds. If we knew that we were going to
! be in camp for several months we would
/ probably establish our own canteen, put
! it under a on-commissoned officer and
distribute all the profits among the com
/ panies.
How are The food supplies, the rations
| that are given the men?" was asked of
| Col. Garrard
"On the whole. all that could be expect
! ed said he. The rations have been
! wholesome and ample in quantity. The Of
! ticers used the same rations as the men
J until a few days ago, when an officers
mess was formed, and so / can speak
! from experience. It must be remember
| ed, in considering the ratons, that the
/ food is noG for lot of dyspeptics, who
have been idle all day long, but for an
/ army of young men, who have been work
| ing hard in the sea air. who are, one
might say, ravenously hungry when meal
time comes, and to whom crisDly fried
bacon, potatoes, beans, bread and coffee
rI,.,h hove al,
of the rations. Every other day fresh
beef is served OF course. there has not
been a great variety in the regular ra-
tons but the boxes from the kind friends
in Savannah have made up for all def
ciencles in that respect"
| Chow are the Savannah boys standing
| the hardships of camp life?'
''They have passed through their worst
| experience, the life of the first few days
| when everything was new to them and
| they had not become accustomed to the
! new manner of living. They have all got
used TO camp life now, have learned to
| take care of themselves and make the
1 most of their time, and find the life not
| so hard as at first We have been drill
ing twice a day on the beach, which is
| admirably suited for the purpose, and
| will increase the time given to this work,
| both officers and men being eager to put
in more time and get proficient as rapidly
as possible. The members of the battal-
ion have taken hold with unusual interest
and zest and are going to make fine sol.
diers. Indeed. the entire Second Regi-
ment is composed of the finest kind of ma
terial, and is an organization the state
can well feel proud of. The spirit of the
men is all that could be asked for They
are in camp 10 become soldiers and they
/ are more than willing to do ali that is in
their power to make model troops Of them
selves. Very heavy guards have been kept
on in order that all might become versed
In the work of the sentry; the policing of
the camp has been given The most care
full attention, ana the men are fast be-
coming acquainted with the numerous
duties that go 10 make up a soldiers life
They are learning what to eat and what
not to eat, how to ecOnomize their time.
how to take care of themselves when "a
tiyucd and ether matters that are of as
much practical Importance as the drill.
The manual of arms Is far from being all
that a soldier has to know"
Have the men got their equipments
YETI"
"Only partly so. They are beginning ia