The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-03

Harry Smiths Regiment Pleasantly
Situated There.


Correspondence of the Journal.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, with the One-hun-
dred-and- fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteers at
Camp Poland Sept. 1.-The One-hundred-
and-fifty-eighth Regiment is now nicely
situated in Knoxville Tenn, and the change
from the malarial region of Chickamauga
or River of DEATH" as the name implies
to the beautiful hills about Knoxville is a
most agreeable one. This regiment left
Camp Thomas little after noon last
Thursday and marched to Rossville, a dis
lance OF six miles. The cars were waiting
and all the baggage and property, includ-
ing horses and mules, was loaded during
the afternoon. 1t requires sixty-eight cars
to move a regiment. The train pulled out
in two sections about supper time and
reached Knoxville in the middle of the
night. The men were Immediately unloaded
and marched to their camp. The One-hun-
dred-and-fifty- eighth is encamped on a hill
in Lincoln Park. The camp is partially in
the shade and partially in the open. Be
side it is a large brick house, with spacious
grounds surrounding, where the headquar-
tiers of the Second Brigade is located. The
Sixth Ohio and First West Virginia are
camped entirely in the open. A dummy line
into the city runs through the brigade
camp. Colonel Smith is commanding the
brigade. The Third Brigade. composed of
the Fourteenth Minnesota, the Second Ohio
and the First Pennsylvania, came in Sun
day night and are camped at Lonsdale.
where all the troops were unloaded. The
First Georgia and the Thirty-first Michigan
are camped west of the city in the open.
These two regiments make up the First
Brigade
on large hill about half mile from this
brigade are located the tents of General
Mckee and his staff. This is the headquar-
tiers of Camp Poland, which is named in
honor of the late General Poland. officers
and men alike are delighted with the change
from Camp Thomas. Here they have a
fine, bracing atmosphere. high altitude,
pure water, and, best of all, they are treated
as gentlemen and friends by the people OF
this hospitable city. Street cars run right
into the various camps, and a ride of ten
or fifteen minutes puts the men right into
the heart of the city No restrictions have
been placed on the men going into the city.
except that they must report at the drill
hours and for all duty As a result many
of the soldiers are to be found down town,
but they behave themselves there. A resi-
dent of Knoxville the other evening said
that there had been less trouble with the
ten thousand men belonging to this di-
vision than there had with the regi-
ment of Tennessee volunteers which have
been camped near the city.
Last Sunday many of the officers and men
took advantage of their return to civiliza-
ton and attended services at the different
churches In the city. 1t was the first time
they had had opportunity of going to
church since they had left home.
The division hospital is in what was
formerly Tuner Park. The men are in a
pavilion. the floor of which is high above
the ground, and the men are in no danger
OF suffering from any malarial poisoning ex-
cept what they brought with them from
Cnickamauga.
There are few cases of typhoid fever in
this hospital, but they are cases which have
developed since coming to Knoxville. The
general opinion OF every one here is that
when the men have been here while and
rid themselves of the poison ABSORBED at
Camp Thomas their health will be greatly
improved. The impression which has been
circulated by sensational new spapers as TO
the horrible condition OF the SICK men in the
army should be corrected. There has been a
great deal of sickness, but the death rate
has been very low. Especially is this the
case in the hospital OF this division, OF
which Maj. Fred Charlton of Indianapolis,
is in charge. This hospital has treated over
one thousand cases, with fourteen deaths,
three of which were the result of acct
dents which could not but have proved fatal.
The death rate was per cent. Major Chart
ton is assisted by Major Baguley. a physi-
clan of West Virginia; MAJOR Meyers, of
Ohio; Captain Dutton, of Minneapolis, and
Jieutenants NesDit of West Virginia, and
Little of Georgia.
The men have not had all the comforts
OF home, but the iconditions have been far
above what an intelligent being would call
horrible. In this camp every tent has a
board floor. Water has been piped into
every camp, and lighthouses have been built
for every battalion. Lawn fetes for the
benefit of sick soldiers are being given every
evening" at which some regimental band
usually furnishes the music. These are lib
orally patronized by the soldiers, who mingie
in the crowd. spend their money freely and
thus contribute to the purchase of delica-
cies for their sick comrades.
The regular routine of drills has not vet
been resumed. The men have worked hard
all week policing the camp and attending
TO the details necessary to their comfort.
The shower-bath houses are being erected
under the direction of Lieutenant Poland.
Privates Dean and Bratton. of Company
n. who accompanied the remains of a COM
rade TO his home at Charlottesville, have
returned to the regiment.
The muster and pay rolls are now being
made out. and the merchants Of Knoxvflle
are expecting a boom. Very near $500 coo W II
be paid out here within the next ten days
and Knoxville hopes to get at least half Of
this.
DR. Charlton is sick as a result of hard
word. and is taking rest for few days
DR. Harry s. Moore Is sick in the division
hospital Both he and Frank Bridges who
has been sick also. areson the mend.
H. 1. j.