West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-07-28
Way Down In Dixie
Another Entertaining letter from
Oae OF the DoIs In Camp.

read them with intease irterest. /
must tell ycn this time about a trim |
took TO Chattanooga and lookout
Mountain, twelve miles north of hers.
couradc aud l. aftsr trying fonr days
to get pass To leave camp. -secee ded
In getting away on the 18th After
arriving "a. Chattanooga, which lies at
the foot of Lockout Mountain, ave
ooardcd. an tncline car, which took MS
tothe summit at The place ,whcrc the
Union force la so5, had 60 y, n each
other M with ropes Upon arriving al
the summit we step from the car into
Il tirst-class hotel and frcm there we
can board a railroad train which 9 lrr..S
It's passengers TO the various points of
interest on the mountain top. This Is
where. as every school boy knows. Tho
place where TINT famous battle was
fought in 90. known as the 'Battle OF
lookout Mountain" or "Thc battle
above the clouds" This, no doubt
seems almost incredible To those who
have never been on n high mountain,
but, speaking from my own >personal
experience, can say that 70 they were
not above the clouds, II must have
been very clear day when the .battle
was fought. You have doubtless seen
pictures which represented eagl soar
ing in the air beneath someone ON a
mountain top. Just imagine YOU sec
the writer Ia the picture. and IL Is the
best description of some OF the scenery.
that l can give.
The Illinois troops ,wero visited n
few days ago by their Governor, and
after listening Co some inspiring
speeches by the executive and some
members of hisstaff, the 1000 troops
from Illinois passed In review. The
sun was shining brightly when we got
the order TO fall in for review" but
Just as we got in position on the Geld,
the rain began falling In torrents and
continued throughout the ceremonies,
which lasted something near two
hours. Most of the officers and men
seemed To take IL all in good spirit
though, considering the circumstances,
and we are becoming SO accustomed to
army life that nothing is thought OF
being out In a soaking rain, providing
we can get "a chance To dry or change
our clothing.
IL is perhaps not necessary TO tell
how the news OF the fall of Santiago.
was received here, still il is 30 good
must tell part of IL. just after our
review, messenger ION horse back
| dashed up TO headquarters and shouted
Santiago has falieni" In an instant
che Co.onel seized the flag and ms he
stepped into the company street way
ing the flag and repeating the message.
the camp seemed as IL 1t was composed
OF a set of wild men. The fun had
] commenced. The bands under waving
flags started on parade through the
company streets, with the multitude
following, continually sending up
chsers that see med Co make the trees
tremble. The I'd Brigade, consisting
of the 9Th Ohio. 4th Pennsylvania and
| Bird Illinois, assent led In front of the
| Bird Illinois regimental headquarters.
and III we ever listened TO patriotic
words, they were uttered on sthis oc-
casion by the commanders OF the reg
inients just named, While the .troops
here are rejoicing over the brilliant
victories, won by those at the front
yet they are impatient. Why? Be
cause they want To be on the move and
want to get TO the front In order that
they may haye "a chance to do that
which they enlisted for; that is, to
march from one end OF the island 20
the other ard drive the last spauiard
into the sea-
There are a few cases OF sickness
here. but the average is much lower
here understand, than ia most of the
other camps. Some OF the sickness at
first was caused, II Is thought. by the
good things that came from the friends
at home. The physicians here made a
complaint abont so many boxes ueinQ
received, aud as the troops are becom-
ing accustomed TO army rations they
can do without the goodies" much
better than at first. II friend at
home wants 10 send soldier some
thing, IL IL better to send something
ia the way Of dry goods, and then
make the package very small, so he
won't be loaded down when he goes 10
march. For instance, one OF the fel-
lowing articles Is a very desira ble pres
enty. A pin cushion. pair Of socks.
towel. handkerchief, etc, etc OF
course the 'swee tbeart' usually wants
TO send something more, so for her
benefit we might mention few arr
ticies like these $50 ring; n 800
watch; $50 photo Of bersell; 3 90
diamond. Any Of these articles are
easily carried and not at all oxpon.
sive On see Wben tho solder
moves he takes on his back. his wsr.i.
robe, his tea set his bed. his tent. his
library. etc. Ia short when lac moves
he picks up bis mouse and starts and,
IL his friends hil ~ too fan III nice
things. he will uccessarialig have 10
unload part Of IL hen be has 70 move.
II some ~ our friends were here some
evening at TAPS" they would doubt
legs imagins they we're ia circus.
The rules are very strict about every
one being az their quarters az bedtime,
but not so strict about keeping real
quiet. and occasionally wh.n some Of
the boys get q funny SPELL everyone
tries % initiate some different animal
: To your right you hear a dog bark. TO
] your left you hear calf bieaI here
Z you hear a turkey gobbie, AMI there
[ you hear pig squenL II there Is one
/ in the regiment W no doesn't initiate