The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-20

How the Assembly Tent Was Received
The following is an extract from a private
letter from Ernest F. Knefier member of
the Twenty-seventh Indiana Battery:
Yesterday we staked our new assembly
tent which Indianapolis friends so kindly
donated us, and now we are able to- write
letters with some degree of comfort. All
the boys greatly appreciate the kindness of
the ladies who worked so hard and long to
secure us these many comforts and con-
veniences. The tent has been placed in the
rear of our company street. The tables and
chairs have been placed conveniently around
through the room and there are always from
fifteen to twenty-five fellows sitting around
some reading, some writing, some are seated
at tables playing cards and others loung-
ing on some Of the easy chairs. Yesterday
morning we used tho assembly tent as a
chapel. One of our boys. Henderson by
name, preached a short sermon and a choir
sang several selections. Henderson is an
ordained minister and gave up charge in
indianapolis in order to join the army. He
is a very fine fellow and popular with all
the boys. After church we had a business
meeting and he was elected custodian of
our library tent and all accessories. Capt.
Curtis then made a speech, in which he
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which they maintained and the willingness
with which they performed all their duties.
He promised US plenty of service, and be-
fore long, too. He said he had never before
been touched so deeply as by the kindness
and attention shown our battery by the
citizens Of Indiana. He read us several
kilograms from friends who sent their re-
membrance to the boys. and said, further
more that these were only a sample of
many more which come daily The boys all
applauded his remarks very heartily. Thus
ended the dedication of our new tent.
I'VE are still short in the matter of equip
ment having only four guns. We, however,
expect the other two at any time. With
the two guns we will probably receive the
balance of our horses and then we will be
ready for service. We have been drilled
hard and long and are in good shape ex-
cept in target practice. However, the range
finders on these new guns are so accurate
that the gunners will have no trouble in be-
coming accustomed to their use .
1.-THE only drawback to a comfortable
camp is the extreme scarcity of water, and
what we have is miserable The water has
been ordered to be boiled before drinking,
and boiling it seems to give it very pc
culiar and disagreeable taste Our officers
have discovered a spring with fairly good
water about six miles from our camp and
about three miles from Lookout mountain.
Our wagons have been going there lately for
water, but It takes three hours or more to
make the trip.
'Our food is good and we have quite a
variety considering that we are in camp.
However the government only furnishes
bacon, bread, hardtack. coffee, potatoes and
sugar. Our canteen cleared over $40O
up to July /. and these profits are used
for the enlarging of our mess fare. We
have had fried chicken, corn on the cob,
green beans fresh peas, butter. milk and
other luxuries several times. Our fund is
not near exhausted, and as our canteen
is still doing a large business there is no
danger of our eat money giving out as long
as our canteen is permitted to do business.
There is little news to tell. In fact. there
never is anything new in camp. You are
familiar with the details of camp life and
can appreciate their monotony. You can,
therefore, also appreciate our impatience to
be ordered to the front. However. another
rumor is afloat that we will go to Charles
ton, S. c., inside of ten days, and from the
fact that our brigade commissary has re-
ceived several shipments of marching ra-
ticns we hope there may be some truth in
this rumor, which seems to have originated
from reliable source"