Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-26

Complaint the Regular Corre-
spondent, Heard From Again. Too-A
Chatty Letter.
Apart from its accustomed COM
munication from its own correspond
ent which appears in this same con-
| nection. The ARGUS is in receipt of a
letter from one of the members of
Company A. apropos of the fare the
soldiers are having at Camp Alger in
which he says: '.On our arrival here
we were almost famished for some
thing to eat. While | have always
attempted to put on the best appear
ance in my letters home as to how
we were Getting along, yet we feel
that already We have seen little of
the worst side of the soldier life-we
did so before leaving Illinois. Two of
our company took sick atCamp Tanner,
William Frey and 5. Louis Bledsoe.
Frey we left in Springfield hospital
and Bledsoe died here in camp,
through nothing else but neglect
In the letter, which bears the date OF
May II, the writer goes on to saw:
I'VE have not had piece of fresh
meat since we left Springfield, and
our sole means of subsistence is hard.
tack and beans. Further than this,
it is almost impossible to get drink
ing water. We might expect this
treatment in foreign country. but
it is pretty tough to be obliged to sub
nit to it here in our own land and in
sight of the dome of the capital. We
were on the road from Springfield two
days and three nights. and SO fatigued
were some of our boys that they &C,
tually fell down in the Smile march
from the station to the depot.
ldon't see how some of them stood il
to get here at all. Some of us are
tough and can stand this, but if it
keeps on it will be pretty hard on
some of the boys. Those who are
feeling all right have some little
money of their own and can buy pro.
visions on the grounds, as everything
outside our regular mess is sold.
lam not writing this because | an
sorry | enlisted. am glad | did so
and hope to 30 through to the end
but it makes the ordinary fellow fee
discouraged to see such treatment be-
fore we are in active service Mos
of the boys are afraid to write of tn,
condition we have been in so far. ;
1t is understood conditions have i'm
proved since the above was written
1HE ARGUS proposes to ascertain
and if they have not, will undertake,
to provide relief for the bows.
Foster Reports Things Better.
Col. Foster of the 9th Illinois, act
ling general of the I'd brigade, has Sc
lected Adjt. j. j. Cairns. of the 6tl
Illinois. rs brigade adjutant an,
Lieut.. c. f. Walton. of the 9th Mas
sachusetts, as his brigade quarter
master. In honor of his generalship
ICol. Foster was serenaded vesterda'
morning at $50 bv the 6th's band
Whether the colonel was glad or sor
Try at receiving serenade at thi
untimely hour could not be told iron
his pleasant cOuntenance The 9th
now provided with all the necessitie
of life according to 4 telegram from tn
Chicago Times-Herald's Camp Alge
correspondent this morning. Quar
termaster Barber, of that regiment
yesterday drew 10000 pounds o
potatoes, which would certainly seen
to be enough for some little time t
come.
Col. Foster has received many let
tiers from anxious mothers whose son
are with his regiment inquirin
whether their boys are among tn
sick. and he is trying to answer eac
one personally. The stories of ba
, supplies, wet straw and lack of blanket
annoy the hospital surgeons exceed
ing. These stories, however. hav
had one good result; thew hav
: brought offers from Washington ladie
who felt that perhaps they might cor
tribute to the comfort of the sick.
Col. Foster has turned over tn
command of the regiment to Lieut.
Col. Kittilsen.
From "Rosey."
Camp Alger. Falls Church. Va
May 23.-There is only one man i'll i
our company, and his condition
not at all serious-so our folks an
friends out home have no reason t
feel apprehensive at this time, I,
ports to the contrary notwithstand
ing. Most of the sickness in camI
So far as | can learn. is due to til
water. Many of the boys are suffer
ing from severe colds-or might sa
their pipes are frozen up.
The provisions are not as good a
they might be. We had for breakfas
this morning pork, bareback, coffee
and other rations familiar to arm
life-but none of the food is lik
mother used to make. We haven
seen Murphy since we left Spring
field.
Jack Glass Walter Coy + Wolf