The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-06-08
AT CHICAMAUGUA.
The BrOokhaven Boys Arrive
there Safely and were Glad
of the Change.


An Interesting Letter from
Quartermaster Sergeant
Hardy Magee.
Special Correspondence of THE LEADHRl
CHICKAMAUGA PARK, June L.
The First Mississippi Regiment,
under the command of Col. Govan,
reached here yesterday at 1890
and went into camp in one of the
prettiest groves in the park, and
the boys are aleady feeling the
better for having been moved from
Jackson, where they were watered
on Pearl River slop and given
rations of-dust until life had
about become unbearable. Now
that their condition has been
changed they give vent to many
expressions of sympathy for the
boys who remain in Jackson for
the formation of the Second Regi.
ment of Volunteers.
We left Jackson Monday even
ing about $3.50 and came away in
four sections-two over the A. & V.
road and two over the /. g. The
Brookhaven boys came over the
latter under the command of Major
Porter and we we're treated royalty
by the people all along the line
with the exception of Oxford and
Decatur, Ala. The people who re-
side in these two places were not
even patriotic enough to turn out
in any number and see the boys
pass through, much less give them
a farewell yell. At Durant, Can
ton and Water Valley brass bands
met the trains and gave US several
choice selections amid the boom of
cannon and the wave of "Old
Glory,o all of which was highly
appreciated by the boys of the
First, and when they begin to drive
nails in the Spanish coffin a heavy
lick will be struck for each of the
three above named places. The
young ladies of Water Valley were
more than kind and friendly to our
boys and numerous lunches and
bouquets were given them by the
fair maids who promised to do the
praying while we did the fighting.
"God bless the Water Valley girls"
can be heard all through Maj.
POrter's battalion at any hour of
the day or night.
Our arrival in Chickamauga was
the cause of numerous yells from
the boys already here, and of course
taking all things into considera
ton, the sight that met our eyes
was a grand one and ere this many
a Mississippi lad has trod over the
same battle ground that his father
did during the late war, though
our walks over the battle field are
under more pleasant circumstances
and with less danger than in those
days. There are at present about
$1,000 of Uncle Sans boys here
and more are arriving dailJ.
Three regiments left here this
morning for Tampa and three more
will follow in the morning, making
six thousand in all. 1t was one OF
the grandest sights | have ever
witnessed to see so many men
marching out in full equipment
followed by at least one hundred
heavily laden wagons drawn by
four mules each, and the boys all
seemed glad that their time had
come to move to the front. The
general opinion of all here is that
the Mississippi boys will be equip
ell at once and sent to the front as
they arc more accustomed to the
hot sun of this lower country
and can stand the campaign with
less danger, The health of camp
is good, oonsideringlthe large num-
ber of men here and the poor ac'
given a soldier.
There have only been five deaths
in camp since the first troops ar,
rived, and the most of the sickness
is confined to the regiments from
Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and New
York. Our boys are all enjoying
good health and looking fine ex-
cept Capt. Ewing who was left at
Chattanooga to recuperate from
slight illness rather than allow him
TO come ont here and run the risk
of set back from the poor com.
forts of camp life. Word from him
this morning says be will be ready
to join us in a day or two.
Well, Mr.. LEADER, l have told
you about all there is to tell nov,
with the exception that we get
down to hard drilling tomorrow
aud viii do our part well, and will
now bid you good bye for this
time. Love to all our friends ard