The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-14

THE weather is more delightful than
you could imagine of Jacksonville. II
one can keep himself protected from the
sun. there is no reason why he should
suffer from heat at Jacksonville. Ihey
have a regular Morehead City breeze
there all day. and at night it is some
times intentionally cool | found no
suffering from heat ut all among those
who had learned to remain as much rs
possible in the shade, and the most Of
the soldiers had learned this, and re
NAMED in their tents during the heat of
the day. | found most of the soldiers
poorly equipped in the way of under
clothes. shirts and shoes, and went to see
General Lee. and had an order made
for these things, when they received an
order that the necessary clothing and
shoes be issued them, and they were
issued them. | left the soldiers fairly
well furnished with clothing, and the
promise of more | think Quartermastcr
General Harrell is doing all in his
power. but the army is top-heavy, and
the management at Jacksonville is very
poor, and is worse at Tampa than ut
Jacksonville. ! know that it is easy to
throw slurs at 1.-The powers that be,
but | do not believe there is following
Gomez such n mob as there is at Tam
pa. There is too much gold buttons and
lace in the way of organization People
whose business it is-tO do, do not know
how, and the result is the organization
is not what you would expect to find in
the army backed by the richest govern
ment in the world. Things are badly
congcsted. | understand Tampa has
mile upon mile of railroad track occupied
by cars of provisions. and | understand
there are cars partially filed with bag
gage. and that cattle cars stand on side
tracks in the broiling sun.
1.-THE ten days ] spent ut Jacksonville
did not see or hear of any bad con-
duct on the part of North Carolinans.
There was complaint made at the bad
manners of some of the Western men.
notably those from Wisconsin. but not
a whisper reached me of bad conduct
on the part of North Carolina troops.
There arc a great many North Caro-
linians residing in Jacksonville. and they
have been very clever to the North Car
DINA troops. They express Il great deal
OF regret at the poor condition in which
the North Carolina troops were permit
ted to leave home, anda in contrast with
the condition Of some of the other Regi-
ments they show up very badly, and
they feel this very keenly.
''Of afternoons when on dress parade
/ think the First North Carolina Regi-
ment attracts as many visitors rs any
in camp The First and Fourth
Virginia are possibly the finest body of
soldiers in the camp at Jacksonville.
They are the best equipped by odds.
fine looking fellows, well dressed and
have Il nice camp.
THE First North Carolina Regiment
suffers from lack of good band. They
have a band of ten or twelve pieces
picked up from the various companies
composing the regiment. and / suppose
in the course of time it will develop into
n first class band. Good music draws
next TO fine military and adds very
largely to the military.
1.-THE Second Illinois, which is in camp
alongside the First North Carolina, has
a magnificent band, and in afternoons
when they go on dress parade they cut
quite Il dash.
"CoI. Armfield, Col. Cowles and the
other field officers give great satisfac-
ton so far as | could learn, and es-
pecialIy Col Armfeld. / do not think
of the field officers. They all seem to
be at their post daily, and in gooa trim.
They are well mounted and make fine
appearance on dress parade, but the
men are in poor shape. As ! have be-
fore stated, they need ready money TO
buy little comforts with, which the
government does not furnish or issue or
provide for. For instance, the com
pany purchases 100 pounds of ice each
morning. which the men have to pay
for at the rate of 40 cents per 100
pounds. or about so cents per day. or
nearly $1,000 per month. They need
medicines. The provision made for the
medical department at Jacksonville IS
very poor indeed. When a soldier goes
TO a regimental or division hospital for
medicine. he is given few pills or pei,
let's in his hand: if he needs a LIQUID
medicine. he must carry an old beer bot
tic or something of that kind to receive
it in.
"They are so poorly equipped in the
FIRST Regiment that the Judge Advo-
cate told me he had to provide his paper
on which to note the proceedings of
court | have lived in camp as | have
stated, purposcy to see the needs and
wants of the men, and / know the facts
/ state A great many Of the soldiers
haven't sufficient money TO buy stations
cry to write home on, and the govern
ment makes no provision for it. but a
more cheerful lot of men under such
circumstances ! have never seen. All
seem to be very well satisfied. ! saw
only one or two case of home sickness
during my stay ut Jacksonville. Twice
last week, Monday night and Tuesday
night. and early Wednesday morning,
they had good rains in Jacksonville.
'"The camp is very approachable from
the town, and is situated, / think, from
a mile to mile and half from the
centre Of Jacksonville. and the street
car line runs directly through the camp.
Several times | saw sick soldiers, or
their friends take prescriptions and so
down town to have them filed Mt the
drug stores, rather than 90 to the regi-
mental or brigade hospital. The gov
eminent issues no vegetables at all be-
yond Irish potatoes. The beef issued at
the camp upon the whole is poor, but
sometimes they get good beef. The
contractor who furnishes it, whoever he
is. n time or two supplied very poor
beef. but the companies or commissary