The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-22

worst cases. / cannot complain OF the
treatment I received while there as the
men in charge did all they could'for me.
While in the hospital we were put on
light diet of milk, chicken broth and oat
meal One of the ladies Of the Red
Cross society of Chattanooga came to the
hospital frequently and cooked the food
for the special diet cases.
1.-The food in camp consisted of two
kinds of meat, fresh beef and SOW belly
or bacon, potatoes, bread, rice, hominy,
baked beans occasionally. when there
was great rejoicing. although each man
had to draw double ratious in order to
get enough to eat Tea and coffee, or
apologies for such, were also issued. The
food was in very poor condition when
we got it and was often so bad that we
could not eat it and had to throw it
away, and although am sorry to say it,
I have gone hungry many times, and l
am not the only one. Some of the boys
would take drink of muddy water and
q cigarette and cali 1t a square meal
Although the heat during the day was
intense we soon got used to it and did
not seem to mind it much. The evenings
are quite cool and very damp. We drill
about five hours day, including dress
parade at night Our first drill is at
O'Clock in the mornings don't think
the boys can complain much about the
number of hours they drill, although
there always seems to be plenty of guard
duty to do, which with the number Of
men we have sick, makes 1t rather hard.
81 would like to make statement in
regard to an article recently published
in the Portland papers, referring to the
water in camp The article stated that
all the water now used was filtered
and boiled before being served to the
men. This may be true as regards some
of the officers, but I know of no filter
that is in use excepting perhaps one that
is at the regimental hospital, and as
or the water being boiled the cooks
have nothing that they could use to boil
it in. The water is brought to us in bar.
rails. The barrels are loaded onto teams
early in the morning and are not brought
back to us until about noon. 1t Is prob.
ably spring water, but it is very muddy
and dirty when we get it and not dt to
drink. although we are glad to get even
that.
"When word was received that the
sick men were to be sent home on fur
Tough to recuperate, the news seemed
too good to be true and many of the men
could not believe it, but when it was
an assured fact they were highly elated
and there was great rejoicing. Although
many of the boys were SO sick and
weak that they could hardly move.
When the day arrived for us to start there
were plenty of ambulances to transport
the men from the division hospital and
convalescents in the companies to the
rades in arms made everything as COM
Portable as possible for US on our journey
home. On our way here we received
every attention end too much praise
cannot be given to DR.. Wheeler for the
untiring manner in which he cared for
the sick. Col. Printable and the other
gentlemen who met us on the train are
also entitled to much praise, for all were
willing and anxious to make our journey
as comfortable as possible. and their
kind words and thoughtfulness will al
ways remain with us.
"There were about $50 cases Of measles
in camp when we left, although they are
roped off from the other patients and are
under the red flag. These cases seem to
We altogether in the Southern regiments.
''All the sick men have 80 days fur
Tough, after which they are to report to
their regiment, wherever it may be, al
though we are all in hopes that the
First Maine may be ordered back to Au-
gusta before our furlough expires as we
all need Maine air and water.
FLOWERS FOR THE SOLDIERS.
Col. John D. Printable of the Gov
ernor's staff received a telegram from
Gov. Powers Saturday, through Gen.
Richards, requesting him to place bou-
quet of flowers at the head of each cot of
| the sick members of the First Maine
volunteers at the Maine General hospital.
The bouquets were placed at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning by Col. Printable,
who was assisted 6y Edward Cornell of
Co. L, and A. c. Fitzpatrick of Co. B.
| Mr.. Sewall Lang sent handsome bou-
quet Of sweet peas Saturday morning to
each of the "a Maine soldiers who are at
the Maine General hospital The boys
were well pleased with his thoughtful
ness and some said they were the first
flowers they had seen since leaving
home. MIR. Lang also sent four bou-
quets to the children's ward in the hos.
pital.
ALL DOING WE'LL
It was reported from the hospitals yes
| erday that all the patients were improv-
| ing.
PRAISE FOR OFFICERS.
The parents of Henry j. Murren re-
ceived letter from him from Chicka-
manga the past week in which he speaks
| In hioh praise of the officers of the First