Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01
BADGER BOYS ARE READY.
Troops at Chickamauga May Go
South at Once.
ARE ANXIOUS TO MOVE
Unusual Activity at Camp Thomas
Memorial Day Exercises on
Historic battle-ground.

Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park Ga,
May 30 Special. Bread or no drill
is the shibboleth of the entire Third aud
one-half the Second battalion of the Sec
ond Wisconsin regiment. Today at noon
mess, without the slightest announcement
of their intentions, the volunteer COM
panies of Ashland, Oconto, Marinette,
Beaver Dam, Manitowoc and Co. + Of
Oshkosh threw down their tin dishes and
refused either to eat Or drill until better
ratiOns were provided.
All kept their word and ate no dinner.
There is spirit of mutiny against hard
tack and bacon constituting the bill of
fare. In fact it has come to such a pass
that only one of the two could be pro-
vlded for the Manitowoc and one or two
other companies on three or four occas-
ions.
The six companies were not given op-
portunity to refuse to drill this after
noon owing to immense dOwn-pouring of
| rain SO long needed.
Former Senator John T. Kingston of
Ashland is with Co. l.. and is one of the
most enthusiastic kickers against the pres
ent rare. lie addressed an assembiage of
the bread and meat seekers during mess
h0ur and was roundly applauded.
Inc other SIX companies Of the regi-
ment, ShebOygan, Ripon, Fond du Lac
Appleton, Marshfield and B of Oshkosh.
are partly providing themselves with nu-
tritiOus food.
Camp Thomas. Chickamauga Park, Ga.
May go Special. l-Directly from an au-
thOrltative military source comes informa-
ton that the First division, First Army
corps, containing Second and Third Wis
conSin volunteers, is to be fully equipped
ready for service on an hours notice In
substantiation thereof the Second Wiscon-
sin meH received a large Individual COM
plement this morning, and the remaining
dehclencles Will be supplied post haste
The Third will likewise be equipped.
The greatest excitement prevails i'll the
camp of the Second today because of an
alleged attempt to poison water in Il COM
pany well adjoining the camp last night
stranger dressed in light trousers.
dark coat and light fedora stood around
for two hours with 4 large-sized package
under his arm. Suspicion was aroused
and finally given expression. which he
heard and ran to an awaiting carriage
and hqrriedly drove away with a compan-
ion. Half the camp believed the man to
have been spy. All approaching
wagons were stopped all night by the
guard III search of the party. Double
guard has now been placed at the well
and guard is also established at COM
Six soldiers of the Third are now con-
fined at the division hospital. They are:
Haggerty, Eau Claire, appendicitis; Hou-
ser and Simpke, La Crosse: Walsted of
Menomonie, and Horton. Hudson. conges-
ton Of lungs; Stanford, Mansion. measles.
An operation on Haggerty is likely to be
and seems to be failing
Church services were held in both regi-
ments yesterday in the cool of the day
| the Third participating in Il brigade serv-
ice.
Capt. J. A. Nemitz. Second regimental
quartermaster, has received a large sup
ply of quartermaster stores, consisting of
trousers, blOuses, underclOthing, pOnchoS,
blankets hats, shoes and leggings. The
blue shirts so much needed for change
were lacking.
Five days rati0ns will be issued Tues
day. Lleut.-Col. Parker of the Third has
been appointed permanent field officer of
the First brigade.
WiscOnsin's 1000 troops stationed here
have gained the sincerest respect of the
great volunteer army Of Camp Thomas.
Every time the states name is mentioned
it is the signal for applause or the express
sion, "Wisconsin's all right" In every
parade, review, inspection, drill or march
they have shown themselves fully the
equal of any of the fort. regiments on
the grounds. And all this is due to two
general causes-a more than ordinary de-
gree of intelligence and joint desire to
excel on the part of officers and men
alike. There are, to be sure, large
number who find it next to impossible to
accustom themselves to the rigid military
rules under which they are placed, but
the majority say nothing and obey. A
few are now learning, with from forty
eight hours to six days guard duty work
on their shoulders. Still the men have
been very good since arriving here and
have not been mixed up in a single one
of the escapades of soldiers reported from
Chattanooga. The general orderliness of
the Second and Third is a subject of fire.
Quent complimentary comment.
Both reglmental commanders have or
dered the ma jOrs and captains to take uD
the matter of drilling the men in battle
exercises, particularly the extended or
DER, and prosecute it until the utmost
proficiency is reached. In consequence
each forenoon and afternoon the groves
adjoining the widely-separated camps are
filled with men, in firing and reserve
force lines, running, dropping to their
knees, clicking hammers, and so on. 1t
is ever the same work whether it be by
commands or battaliOns; it will be the
same story for days and days to come.
Col. Born of the Second intends to have
no dispute when he gets home as regards
the character of the present weather at
Camp Thomas. In order to have it
lildller Ol G6cOTu, lie is 10 6SUdDilSu Il
standard thermometer at the guardhouse,
with instructions that the registrations be
taken every two hours day and night.
In one of the Wisconsin companies there
is said to be a private who graduated
from West Point in 1879 and who after
wards served in the army for FIVE or six
years. Later he resigned, entering bust
ness. When the call came he could not
restrain the desire to go forward, and be-
ing unable to get commission, he entered
the ranks.
"Old Bill" the eagle owned by Quarter
master-Sergeant Newton of Co. l. Third
Wisconsin, is receiving all sorts of COM
plimentary notices in the press of the
South.
The West Superior company regrets it's
return to the Third regiment. All the
members enjoyed being a special guard
over Gen. Burt's quarters.
Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga,
May 30.-[ Special. There is quite a
scramble among the bands for the posi-
ton Of First Brigade band. The Third
Wisconsin applied and also two Ohio reg