Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-08-17
FROM cHICKAMAUGA.
CAMP TIL oNAs GA Auo 8

CAMP 1 IL OMAS, ia, Aug. z, 'SS.
EDS. INDEX: AS there are only TWO
soldiers from Barber county IN the list
regiment, and ;ss Corporal VIM. Heath
is TOO busy to write it is plainly my du
ty to act as war correspondent.
First, the general health of the regl-
ment Is good, although there has been
hve deaths since we arrived. The last
one was JAS. Schwander. band boy
from Galya. Most of the sickness is
from malaria, rheumatism and colds,
with an occasional attack of typhoid.
The location of our camp Is all right
and perfectly drained. l have been
laid up with an attack OF malaria for
the past two or three weeks, but will be
back for drill duty in few days. While
Commissioning am acting as camp offi-
the camp, do police work, construct
sinks, etc.
The 2lst is now thoroughly equipped
and ready for the command to proceed
to Porto Rico and put the finishing
touches on the Spaniards. We are
weary OF camp life and the tedious
routine of drill and battle maneuvers,
and would hail an order to move with
JOY. We get about 5 hours day of
drilling exercises. These consist OF
calisthenics intended to take the kinks
out of your back, expand your chest,
strengthen all your muscles-in fact to
transform the the slouchy, easy going,
round shouldered volunteer into the
erect military type of the manly Amer
lean soldier. After these exercises
comes the regular manual of arms,
platoon and company movements until
we are ready to quit when the bugle
sounds the call. After dinner we tack
the battalion and reglmental move
mentS and in the evening comes dress
parade where every body is supposed TO
become the ideal soldier and march by
the reviewing officers without batting
an eyelid. In the intervals between
the drills the boys dispose of their time
as they see tit-unless by some careless
ness on their part they are soaked
for extra duty. We get up at 4:30 at
the sound of the bugle-in fact our
whole lives are ruled by the notes of
that harmless instrument.
Our camp was struck by lightning OH
last Friday evening. No one was seri-
ouly hurt but several of the boys were
shocked and badly scared. A guard
house prisoner working III trench got
the worst of 1t, as when the lightning
struck be had pickaX above his head
and ne had to be taken to the hospital.
AT last accounts he was coming along
all right.
The boys still continue to find relics
OF The civil war, such as minnie balls
and canister shot. l have not been
lucky enough to pick up anything of
the sort. The 2lst boys have proven
themselves crackerjacks when it come $
our turn to practice at the rifle ranges,
nearly every man in the regiment Is a
fair shot.
Corporal VIM. Heath, mentioned
above, formerly was i'll the employ of
u. S. Lands last April.
The 9th Illinois, the'regiment which
was ordered to Porto Rico and had got
on the train ready to leave, but was Or
dered back, Is about the SoreSt regi
ment in the park. Some of them broke
their guns and nearly the whole regi-
ment threw discipline to the winds and
went into the city for good time. The
commanding officer IS now getting in
his work and the offending soldiers are
misSiOned officers lost their stripes.
The New Workers are our neighbors
and when they get tangled in discus
sion too deep for any argument but
blows, they adjourn to spot close TO
| the Kansas camp and settle according
| to the FitZsimmons code. The Kan
sans climb the trees and and act as ref
erees-also to announce the approach
of the corporal of the guard who gener-
| rlly is trlfle too late to catch the pugi-
| lists. The Kansans are not inclined to
brawling, and have yet to see any VI
them indnlging in that pastime. May.
be the reason of it is that our canteens
! does sell anything OF an intoxicating
nature. The New York canteens sci
beer.
| In closing will tell you that my ole
| friends will be compelled to address me
| by my new title, which rs
Corporal w. NJ. FLEMING.