The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-09
FIRST SUNDAY IN CAMP
YALE BATTERY PASSES "A DISMAL
NIGHT IN CAMP HAVEN.

Eirst Night for Captain Beach's Battery
IA bad one-Yale Men Forage for Food
SUNDAY ServIces-Hnrd Work Not Yet
Begun-Horses and Equipment Ex-
pected Soon.
As the writer of this article APP
preached the top of the last long hill
between New London and Mantle at
dawn of day yesterday morning there
suddenly appeared to view on the left
the sound and the broad mouth of the
swift Mantle. Turning to the right a
glimpse of the white tents of Camp
Haven, lying just across the river
could be seen through an opening in
the trees. Descending slowly the view
gradually unfolded until near the bot
tom of the hill the camp appeared in
full view, white, silent and as peaceful
in appearance as the tents of a Metho-
dist camp meeting. The only signs of
life were the sentries pacing slowly
back and forth upon the outskirts Of
the camp. But suddenly flash of fire
from the parade ground was followed
by the boom of the sunrise gun. At
the same instant "Old Glory rose
swiftly and proudly to the top of the
flagstaff.
Soon all the camp was astir and the
various streets between the tents filled
rapidly with men fastening to the roll
call. The men awoke to find a cold
northeast wind blowing almost a gale
across the camp ground. Every few
minutes an unusually strong gust
would bring shower which did its
best to danlpen the good spirits and
enthusiasm of the men, but without re-
suit. The more hardsh1ps they have to
endure the more they seen to enjoy it.
Owing to the comparatively unsettled
condition of the camp and the lack Of
equipment very little work has been
done during the past week and the dis
cipline has not been rigid. Although
the men may have much time on their
hands, very few passes outside of the
lines are given and these only on ur
gent reasons.
After roll call the men separated to
prepare for breakfast and for inspec-
ton of tents which follow Immediately
after. Only a. few professional cooks
have been enlisted and consequently
the cooking must be done by the men
themselves. A squad Of men from
each company have volunteered for
this duty, and are in most cases doing
excellent work.
Battery A of the light artillery, of
which the Yale men form the third
platoon, has pitched it's tents on the
very bank of the river. A hundred
yards back are the First Regiment S
quarters, where Captain Beach's COM
pany Of heavy artillery has been plac-
ed for the time being. Their first
nights experience is one which they
will remember for some time to come.
When they arrived they found that on
1y their overcoats had been secured for
them and they had to pass the night
without blankets and mattresses
The Yale men have made themselves
thoroughly at home in the camp and
are enjoying themselves as much as
anyone could under the circumstances
Even the fact that they had to get up
before 6 o'clock on Sunday morning
whereas for the last three or four years
they have been accustomed to sleep
until o:30 and 10 o'clock is cheerfully
endured, since, as one of the fellows
said: ut is easier to get up than it is
to sleep on these beds" When Treat
who is head cook for the platoon, and
his assistants went out to prepare
breakfast they found the mess tents
and tables upset and scattered by the
wind. But fortunately the mess halls
had been opened on the day before and
the boys were assured of sheltered
place in which to eat. that is, if any
thing to eat could be found. The ra.
lions which were to have come on Sat
urday had not been heard of and the
ingenuity of the cooks was put to tho
test in finding enough to eat for those
forty hungry fellows. They say that
they're always hungry and they must
be to eat what was served to them yes.
terday for breakfast. Coffee there was
and in abundance, but such coffee
black, muddy and strong enough tt
make the most timid willing to fight
Beans, only half cooked, and dry bread
served only to whet their appetities
and they had settled themselves for 6
hungry wait until dinner, and wher
Sanford appeared with a large piece Of
bacon procured from he only knows
! where. Sanford, by the way, has the
reputation of being the most sociablt
man in the whole camp. Along about
meal time he will stroll over to one Of
the messes where of course, he receives
an invitation to eat. AS the meal time:
for the different companies are some
what irregular at present, he is able tt
accept two or three such invitations tt
meal. 1t is further rumored that if hi
cannot find anything to suit him hi
will manage to bring a piece of meat
back to a broiler in his own tent
where he feasts in royal style. After
a breakfast which, If placed before
them anywhere else than in camr
would have been left untouched, the
fellows cleaned their plates, knives
forks and spoons with chunks of bread
and with them under their arms started
for their tents. But the wind had in
creased even more in force making il
almost impossible to keep hats on ant
the parade ground was soon full of off
GERS and men chasing hats. Many
fa1Iow walked across and then ran al