Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-25
A SHAM BATTLE.
ONLY KIND OF AN ENGAGEMENT
THE POOR BOYS AT cHlCKA-
MAUGA INDUCED In.
Rumors of Removal From the Present
Camp, Which is Very Filthy
Water Boiled and Hauled Sew
eral Miles-It is Saddle
Colored at Best.


eral Miles-It is Saddle
Colored at Best.
Correspondence of the Ledger.
CHICKAMAUGA, GA, Aug. 20.-The
LEDGER will soon have to change the
address of the large and highly ap-
preciated bunch of Evening LEDGERs
to some other place than ChIcka-
manga Park, Ga. That some change
is to be made very soon Is believed by
all and the reports of our alleged des-
tination are becoming so thick that
they have great difficulty in steering
clear of each other to prevent collis-
ions. One a hear a different report
from nearly every acquaintance whom
he meets.
The two most engrossing reports
to-day have been that our destination
would be fret, Lexington, KY; Sec
ond, Jefferson Barracks. Another
report says we'n 60 to Jefferson City.
Any would be welcome, as all r dis
gusted with the conditions here in the
park. The health of the troops here
in the park is gradually becoming
worse and n a hardly see the end
while so many men r here. The
surface drainage is, in my mind, the
poorest and worst kind. One regiment
virtually lives In the filth of another.
Those regiments which rely on the
seepags or spring water, is never sure
of the cleanliness of the water, and the
wells are also looked upon with fear.
OF the water received through the
pipe lines from Chickamauga Park /
had best not write, az l have no de-
sire to cause adepreciation in the stock
of Mexico restaurants and eating
houses. Taking nothing else into
consideration the clean dirt in the
water Is awful. I do not know of a
saddle dealer in Mexico who handles
yellow saddles which will compare in
color to this water. A system of boil
ing water hauled several miles, from
Blue Springs, has been started and the
water supply has been greatly purified
thereby, but it ID inadequate to the de-
mand. You see the 9th New York,
| Grigsby's Rough Riders and the sth
New York have moved too far away,
and the closest canteen is three
quarters of a mile away.
Yesterday friday morning the
largest sham battle yet held here was
INDUCED in by two divisions, nearly
1880 participating. The second di-
vision of the third army corps, under
Gen. Compton, and the second divis-
ion of the first army corps, under
Gen. Sanger. The men thought that
they were going on a practice march
until they got into the field and then
the commanding officers informed the
men that they were fighting. Gen.
Compton, under whom the 9th Mis-
souri, was serving, took a position on
Snodgrass Hill, where Gen. Sanger's
scouts soon located him and the fight
was on. AS one private expressed it,
we did nothing but march up a hill
and then back and received orders to
"continue the exercise"
Very early in the fight the 9th Mis-
souri, was thrown into battle formation
and went 60 the attack with the enemy
on the far side of quite a deep little
valley and halted at a lie-down posi-
ton where the enemy, who held an
excellent position, could rake US of
from three sides and those on the left.
being cavalry, could have stopped our
clock in about four minutes. The
natural rise which we were on made
it possible that the enemy who should
fire, through excitement or ignorance.
too high at the firing line of our regi-
ment would have done murderous
work in the ranks of our rsserv and
support, and a battery wouldn't have
done a thing to us. In a few moments
after we gained this position, and by
rights should have been dead, an
officer from among those who were
seeing that fair play was being dealt
out rode to our side and, sit ID said,'
ordered the 9th Missouri from the
field as a lost regiment. I do moi
know how true the report is, but l dc
know that the regiment was assem-
bled and marched from the field ant
conflict. On next Monday there will
be another and larger sham battle be-
tween the same forces. 1 do hope tina
the 9th Missouri will be luckier in hel
assignment.
A late edition of the Times says o
the 9th Missouri:
! "In the review Wednesday the 5tl
! Missouri attracted marked attention
was complimented by many observers
among them army officers competen
! to Judge, and was quito frequentl.
cheered along the whole line.
"The 9th now has regular battalion
and regimental drills In the morning
t In the afternoon there is parade an
review.
Aho ooA AdS pCAhiAo0AoA W 'Sh
D home twenty-five convalescent, but
B. may prove quite a task to find tina
many in the regiment.
sergeant Downs, Company B., VIII
has been absent on sick leave, report
! ed for duty Wednesday.
y "Lieut. Mcclellan, Go. D., is pre-
pairing a Typographical map OF tn
route from Camp Thomas to Ringgold
showing the springs along the wa
4 and the other features of the route, til
A knowledge Of which would be of valu
a to the officers on the march. Tn
: doubtless ia preparatory to a practic
march for the regiment OF perhaE
for the whole brigade.