Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-09-28

COMPANY "M" FOURTH WISCONSIN 2EGIx ENT.
ADMISSION, ALABAMA, Sept. 20, 1898.
FRIEND MUNsoN: just few words OF
the Fourth's new camp and trip s,uth.
Probably the past seven days have con-
tanned more for most of the boys OF
Company M than any seven weeks OF
their lives. The word came Monday
That transportation had been arran ped
and the cars were on the way. Tuesday
evening was the last dress parade and it
would not have been difficult for a close
observer to have told from the appear
ance OF ne men that an important
change was soon to be made Colonel
Seaman had the colors brought to the
front and gave the men short talk.
He told them to remember the flag : the
grsndest flag the sun ever shone on to
remember the grand state they repre-
sented and the reputation her soldiers
had, and be men under any and all cir
cumstances, etc. The meu were stand
ing at ease and could not cheer, but as
soon as they were dismissed they yelled
L Il
to play and the whole regiment fell in
behind and made such a noise that the
people down town thought the camp
was going crazy. Wednesday it rained
most OF the forenoon, but finally cleared
up, and after early mess tents were
struck and IN short time everything
packed, ready for the long journey. The
teams were slow in getting the innum-
cradle boxes aboard the cars and it was
nearly 4 o'clock before the last section
got started. There we're four trains.
Company M went in the section with A
(Waukesha )snd II Milwaukee )and each
company had four coaches. The boys
received the same reception along the
road accorded the regiments heretofore,
and which has been so often described
in the papers. Tourist sleepers could
not be had on account of SO many being
required to transport the returning
regiments from their station south. A
great crowd assembled at the depot in
Milwaukee, and the boys were all allow
ed to get off and mingle with the peo-
pie short time. The only viroquains
present were Miss Rusk and Mrs. Boyle,
and il any one thinks it was not happy
surprise to see two familiar faces emerge
from the great throng of strangers, they
are very much mistaken.
Sergeant A. E. Groves Lett us at Mil
waukee, and it was a sad farewell for
every boy in the Company. Asa was
popular with the boys, and his happy
disposition was always ray of sunshine
on the "blue days." that always came
occasionally to camp He started out
as quartermaster sergeant and was pro-
noted to first sergeant, which position
he held until his discharge. The exact
ing duties of both positions were per-
formed with rare tact and ability, and
his honorable discharge came as great
surprise to him es his friends. 1t was
brought about by his brother Johr, who
thought, under the present conditions,
he had more need Of his brothers SER
vices than did Uncle Sam.
Henry Tate, N. d. Ward and his
daughter, and Mr.. Marker, boarded the
train at Chicago, but most every body,
including myself, were sleeping and was
not disturbed. Everybody was up
early enjoying the fine country south Of
Chicago, through the state of Illinois.
Coffee was served at Bloomington, a
short stop at Springfield and our special
sped southwark. We took dinner at
East st Louis and remained there one
hour. The negro population gathered
80 fY,ll forna orI the vrr,t - :. -
interesting snap shots. We arrived at
Cairo about 10 p. m and it was after
a. IN the following day before the last
of the train was ferried over the Ohio.
The run through Kentucky, Tennes-
see and Mississippi, was thoroughly on.
joyed by everybody. We were travel
ing through "Dixie Land" and the
boys looked in vain for some OF the
beauties of the southland. Corn and
cotton we're the only growing crops to
be seen, and 'niggers! niggers" every
where. We all enjoyed the short visits
with the people in the little towns
where stops were made. Our boys
seemed to be the special admiration OF
the people along the road. One old fell
low in conversation wondered why our
boys looked so much more rugged than
their boys, and said he had never seen
such foe looking body of men. An
old grey headed, one armed confederate
veteran standing near said: 81 s'pose
Wheeler or Lee will be your general,
and they are both good lighters" We
saw an exaggerated duplicate OF every
southern character that we ever saw
portrayed on the stage at home, and it
was all full of interest. We have made
up our minds that the negroes will soon
be in the majority in this country.
Every family seemed to consist OF about
ten, all nearly the same siza. W. con-
tinued south to Artesia, then took q
north -essterly course to our destination
We arrived at Admission early Saturday
morning and laid there several hours
waiting for the other sections to unload
and get out OF our way.
| The description of Admission in last
weeks CENSOR was complete and little
could be added to it. The people are
very kind and hospitsble and the city Is
beautiful and healthy. The camp ie
one and three fourth miles from the city,
but an electric street car line runs near
ly to camp. Prices are reasonable and
no disposition shown to take advantage
Of the soldiers in any way. There is q
beautiful lake six miles south of the
city, and fine swimming pool near il
open free to the soldiers.
There is nothing beautiful about the
camp, proper, but it must be healthful
We are located on ruggy incline and
it is almost necessary to prop ourselves
up with rocks to keep from rolling down
hill while asleep. propped up the foot
OF my cot with stones to keep from
sliding out, and the boys claim they
pick out large pebbles from between
their ribs in tina mornings. We have
picked up the rocks, however. and dug
out the stumps and when we get oul
floors in, we will be square with the
J world.
We were the fifth regiment in camp
The Second Arkansas, Third Tennessee
Fourth New York and Second Alabama
preceded us. The latter lis coloreo
J regiment. Some of these, We have beer
, told, have had very little advantage q
|, drills, and 1t is said our regiment com.
pares favorably with those here. There
| : l:tklo ~ hara q. l-sll.r- Ia