Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-31
THE FIRST WEST VIRGINIA.
An Interesting Letter From Member of
Company Is.

Company Is.
camp Geo. H. Thomas, Ga, July %.
we are still here in Georgia encamp-
ed On American SOIL How long we
Will be We cannot tell, as we are ex-
pectlng orders to leave here at any
tlme. Troops are leaving the park
every day. Yesterday four regiments
lett here and another or two early this
morning. We expected to get orders
to leave to-day, but we hear almost
anything here and being anxious to
near lots OF false reports are started
On Wednesday we had orders to
make a forced march to Ringold and
return. One brigade was to go. but
the weather was so bad the order was
countermanded and We unpacked all
our stuff. Then came an order for our
company to go to the rife range for
target practice, but about the time we
were to start, having everything ready,
the order was countermanded and we
were ordered not to move till we got
further orders.
1t has rained every day for a week,
but yesterday was the first day that
we did not have any drills at all, and
as one of our boys remarked, 1T is
with us as it was with the niger
more rain mere rest''
The air gets SO damp here that it
softens mucilage On postage stamps
and envelopes, and we have lots of
trouble with them. as they stick to
everything that they come In contact
with, even themselves.
our health report has been excellent.
Yesterday there were only twelve on
the sick list of the regiment of over
LOO men. l heard that one regiment
was placed back from going on the
Porto Rican expedition on account of
their sick report How true that is
L do not know. A new we'll has been
drilled in our regfmental camp and
now we can get all the water we want
without walking about an eight of a
mile to one WE'LL or to another Just
outside the guard lines, and here take
our place in a long line and about the
time you would get near the well. drill
call would blow and you would have to
leave here and do without water and
go on the next drill unless you had
money to get something at the coun-
tiers or at the stands just outside of our
guard lines. When we would come in
VA eAtS DCNolIo vi III We usually IOuuu
water from the springs, which had
been hauled in: but all this has been
remedied now by the new well.
We expect to get our money some
time next week. The paymasters are
at Lytie, Ga, three miles from our
camp.
, Our regimental Young Mems Chris
tian Association has been formed and
hold meetings every Sunday afternoon.
We have been having our church SER
vices in temporary theatre here. It
is used all week as house of amuse-
ment and as place of worship of AL
mighty God on Sunday.
Our regimental band instruments
have arrived, and now we have a little
more music than the buglers could fur
nish.
Photographer Spikes has been kept
busy taking pictures of officers and
men and companies and groups in all
sizes. He has arranged elevated seats
for taking the company pictures and
has taken nearly every company's pic
lures.
One of the boys here was sentenced
to two months at hard labor and i'm
prisonment and fifty dollars fine from
his wages, by general courtmartial.
for sleeping on the post while he was
camp guard. Since then another one
has been caught asleep, and is now in
the guard house awaiting trial
We have had to add several additions
to the guard house in the way CT small
tents to accommodate the prisoners.
A man who had charge of one of the
shooting galleries that are just outside
Of the guard line, was shot and almost
instantly killed accidentally by one of
his own guns, which went off when
they thought that it was not loaded.
Those who have friends here should
address all their mail here because we
may be here an indefinite length of
time, and even if we do leave here the
mail will be sent to us and catch us on
the move.
Well, l must close this time. Harry
Cook and Parker, the peddler, each
wish to be remembered to their friends
there. | am, as ever,
JOHN H. GILLESPY.
Co. 3, First w. Va.