Willmar tribune., 1898-09-14
'.HOME, SWEET HOME. "
A Soldier Writes to F. W. Sc.
gerstrotn OF Closing Scenes
In Southern.C Camps.
CAMP HAMILTON,

CAMP HAMILTON,
LEXINGTON, KY, Sept. 8, 1893.
DEAR FRIEND FRED:-I received
your letter tonight and am answering
by candle light We left Rossvile,
nine miles from Chickamauga, about
two weeks ago, and you can bet We
were glad to get out of what had
been a death trap for so many g. S.
volunteers. The orders to march nine
miles and take the train for Lexing-
ton we're received with cheers, and the
next morning We were of, but not be-
fore the sun was we'll up, and we all
marched nine long dusty miles with
happy thoughts at leaving, but each
one was a little saddened when he
thought of the 400 lying back in the
hospital and also those a few miles
ahead lying in the National cemetery.
gone from US without even a sight of
the Spaniards or mother to comfort
them in their last hours. Reaching
Rossville we encamped on the edge of
the woods and fed on two hardtacks
and cubic inch small one) OF corr
beef mulel three times day. After
loading our truck and wagons. except
guns. belts, canteens, haversacks aud
blanket rolls, which we had to carry
the entire distance. we laid down to
wait and along about dusk the glad
assembly call came. We all formed
in line and they marched us out by
the depot. We were formed in batal-
lions, stacked arms and given some
thing to eat (?). No change in bill of
fare. 1t was given out that the train
was expected at any moment and we
were told to be ready to move at a
moments notice. Time passed on
and retreat sounded, but no blankets
could be enrolled, so we all laid down
on the damp earth and thought of the
blankets rolled up under our heads.
At si1 next morning the train pulled
in and we looked on some old negro
cars that had been used to transport
hogs about 1851 or 1865, or there
abouts. The paint was all off the
wood work and the seat cushions all
holes, hut We did not kick any, for it
would not do any good. They won't
use the cars again, but they may have
some more like them for US when we
60 North, which we hope to do some
time next week, as We have orders to
go to Minnesota Each one gets a
thirty days furlough and is mustered
out alter that I hope SO at least.
There are now forty boys in our
company fit for duty and many come
down every day from germs of fever
they brought from the old camp. This
camp is a mode! one and the people
treat US as if We we're still Q. S. citi-
zens, which We highly appreciate, as
we have been treated as dogs nearly
four months by both officers and citi-
zens. The Cincinnati contractors
have been feeding US on sour bread
and many report to the doctor every
morning with sour stomachs. He
treats them all right, though he has
three times as many as one man can
attend to, and it takes him from
| a. m. to II m. to get the medicine Civ
en- out alone to all the sick. Yester-
day some of the sour bread was taken
to Gen. Sanger, division commander,
<01 4 hn< ~ =
| was not sour and if We did not eat it
we could go without That is one OF
the reasons why the boys go down so
fast, and other similar neglects are
| responsible for most of the rest and
then when so many are sick to have
one OF our commanding officers come
out and say We are all babies! Well,
we will be O. S. soldier boys agaiu
soon-''nit'', unless we go direct to
| the front.
They are drilling US again, but they
have to double up the companies to
get more than squads out at q time.
We hare commenced to turn in our
j
home, and the sooner they take our
guns the better We will feel, and when
the band starts up ssHome, Swee1
Home, y We are going to wake up the
Indians killed here by Daniel Boone
. hundred years ago. There Is .
train to leave here next Friday to take
all sick men home. The train is fur
| nished BY our state and will consist
Of Pullman sleepers. The boys will
soon get we'll when they can have fe.
male nurses again. Il has been prov
en- By this war that men, no matter oi
how much experience cannot take
their places. s..
will close, as il is getting late.
How { would like 70 point my old gun FL,
!: ia few chickens and dneks again
and then have the pleasure of finish.
ing them
@ Your Friend,
sLAuR1Nl.JEs