Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-07
CAMP THOMAS NOTES.
An Interesting Letter From the Barton
County Soldier Boys at Ohickamauga.
BY RANDALL LIvEsAY.

BY RANDALL LIvEsAY.
The recruits for Co. "a" from Gar.
nett arrived Thursday. June %, and
those from Great Bend GU Friday.
Our guns-Springf elds-were is
sued Wednesday, ard now we prac-
tice gun drills from IL to II q. m.
Four of our company were In the
hospital with measles this week. E
S. Murphy was the only one from Bar
ton.
Company teamster, Ell. Carr, has
fully recovered from his little sick
spell and is now able to haul water to
his thirsty comrades.
Corporal Wells, who is doing guard
duty today Sunday just now came
to my tent and said: Can | have 8
piece Of bread?" And then added:
'Oh. for some of mothers butter. 4"
George Merritt, who was standing by,
said: 81 will ask father TO send me
twenty pounds of butter"
Through the kindness of the COM
pany artificer. Samuel Hill, I was per.
mitted to draw the first gun and,
should our wishes be realized, hope to
be the first to spill Spanish blood.
Corporal Wells has demonstrated
his ability to grow a very creditable
gotee which, as he leisurely walks the
guard line, he pulls as calmly and
proudly as the typical Don he looks
to be would enter the ring at bull
fight
Since our boys have become some.
what accustomed to. this climate and
water and especially pork and beans
they are beginning, despite hard drill
ing and long marches, to take on flesh.
at an alarming rate.
If this pleasantuess closes before
our boys are sent to the fore and get a
Whack at the naughty Dons they will
lind consolation in the fact that thew
have been in battle, smelIed powder
and heard the boom of the enemy's
guns.
For more than two weeks the Park
has been closely guarded by three lines
OF provost guards. A paes signed by
Col. Fitch will not secure an entrance
into Lyle. Inc trouble began two
weeks ago when some soldiers lost
their money in she'll game, whereup.
on they chased the gambler away and
smashed everythin in the room. Gov
Atkinson ordered the arrest of the
salonists and gam blers, who were
taken in charge by the sheriff The
citizens have made complaint to the
Park commissioners against the regi.
metal ''canteens. Friday regiment
of Illinois troops looted q store at
Chicamauga and last night Saturday
a store in Lyle was r. ided. 4
The 21st Kaus. played the 18th New
York game of ball Monday. The
slender, pale faced Bowenrites were
no match for the stout, rudy Kan
sans
Go. CA" has developed such taste
for onions that the officers fear when |
they reach Cnba they may follow the
example of the 1sraelites, who muir,
INJURED against Moses and desired to
return to Egypt and her onions.
The rainy season, which lasts about |
SIX weeks here, began about two
weeks ago and light showers fall al
most every morning and evening with
an occasional trash mover. As our
camp ground has excellent drainage
the showers are welcome visitors
Today Capt. and Mrs. Newton took
their first pleasure trip together since
their marriage, tri to Lookout Mt.
The Captain said he never spent
money with more pleasure, or saw
more beautiful scenery.
The Great Bend papers are most
welcome visitors and are eagerly read
by the Barton boys, but they would
be more highly appreciated were they
received in reasonable time. They
usually come a week or ten DAYS after
publication.
The 21st Kansas now lacks but
twenty three recruits of having it's full
Chaplain Woodward is also the reg.
mental postmaster and handles about
| 500 letters daily. About four DAYS
are required for letters from Great
Bend to reach camp.
Gen. Fred Grant at AZ bears a
resemblance to his father
when at about the same age.
Generally speaking, an army camp
8 very poor place for young men,
men whose habits are not firmly
grounded and who are generally be-
ieved to be easily misled. 1t can be