Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-07-21
IN A DOG TENT"
THIS IS WHERE LOCKE MAGYAR
LANE SLEPT THE FIRST
NIGHT IN CAMP.
1t Rained All Night but Mac" Sum-
bered Like a Log-A Soldiers
Life at Chlckamauga-
Mexico Boys are
All Well.

Locke M~acfarlane, son of Mrs.
Judge Macfarlane, of this city, writes
his mother as follows:
CHICKAMAUGA, GA, July 14.-MY
DEAR MOTHER: You have probably
read many descriptions of this place;
in regard to the routine of the camp,
ETC., but as yet 1 have failed to find
anything that gives a good idea of the
place itself.
We had a rather tiresome journey to
Chattanooga, in company with a num-
Der of recruits destined for the Sec
ond Nebraska. With one or two ex-
ceptions, they were merely animals
"muggers," the slang of the day would
put it. They had no ideas either of
ventilation or sanitation, and after a
few hours travel the car was filed
with an odor which all of the per-
fumes of Arabia would not have made
pleasant. An escape to the rear plat
form, even though it was raining, was
a positive relief. I am thankful that
the company to which ! have been as
signed is Of a higher order Of humanity.
1t was sloppy and muddy when we
arrived at Lytle, or "Battlefield,"
Georgia. The place reminded me of
Cripple Greek in the early days.
Nothing in sight but frame buildings,
variety theatres and stores, in which
a man could buy almost anything he
did not want. Things worth having
were at a premium, however.
There was no sign of an army camp
O. We struck off cross country to
the camp of the Fifth Missouri. The
first place we struck was Gen. Brooke's
headquarters, and we made a detour
to keep out Of the guard lines. We
drilled along the muddy roads, the OBJ
jects of much good natured "joshing"
from those who had been in the camp
for a day or two previous. This did
not bother us, however. We passed
through the woods, and everywhere
found monuments, parade grounds
and regiments in camp. The regi-
ments are from 200 yards to half a
mile apart, the Fifth Missouri being
between the Ninth New York and
Grigsby's Rough Riders, and by the
way, Capt. Seawright, formerly of the
M. NJ. A, is now a Sergeant in this
command. The Second Arkansas is
just south of US.
1 met Col. Morgan and was assigned
to Company I, the University Com
pany, of which Geo. English is Cap
tain. / at once made arrangements to
dodge as much work as possible, and
vas assigned to the bugle corps. This
gets me out of drill, but I will have to
lay down my horn and take up a gun
if we &C into action. Please send me
my silver bugle, as the Government
may never get n here before Christ
mas.
1 was placed in a "dog tent" for the
night This Ia q pieee of oanvass
stretched on two sticks about two feet
high. 1t rained all night, but I slept
like a log. 1 was awake early in the
morning and heard the bugles singing
all through the woods. Each regiment
has its W time for getting up and
had heard the reveille at least twenty
times before young Fitzhugh, former
ly of the NJ. M. A, had called our regi-
ment out of bed. Shouse had man
aged to kick n of my shoes Dot OF
the tent and it was full of water.
Otherwise I felt exceedingly we'll. All
of the Mexico boys are we'll and as
soon as I get time I will write some
thing about them.
Your Son,
LOCKE MACFARLANE,
Company l, Fifth Missouri Volun-
teers, Camp Geo. F. Thomas.