The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-17
ANACONDA NE VS..
A SOLDIER RETURNS.
Carl Gerdts of the Rough Riders Home
Again.

again.
Carl Gerdts, a well known young
man. formerly an employe OF the ana
conda brewery, who has been at Cnlck-
amauga park for the past four ana a
half months, returned home last even
ing. Mr.. Gerdts came by way OF Fort
Worth, Texas. where he visited trienos
for a few days. Gerdts enlisted IN SUI
vers' company at Butte as a bugler. lie
looks every inch the soldier. having on
a saber and revolver, heavy canvas leg
gings, a blue uniform and one or Uncle
Sans overcoats of blue lined with yell
low.
Gerdts is not at all in love with what
he has gone through. When asked II
he would go back to Chlckamauga
again IL opportunity offered, ne sald:
IF ! were asked whether l would rain
er go to hell or to Chickamauga, would
say / would go to hell, for ! don't know
what sort of a place that is. but l DO
know what Chickamauga is
Gerdts says that there were ~ men
in his troop, of whom ~ were mustered
put and AZ were in the hospitals when
he left. This is a total of so per cent.
sick. Gerdts says that for a time, when
the cavalry first went to Chickamauga,
the filth and dirt in the camp was
something awful. Neither General
Brooke nor General Wade, who succeed
ed him, seemed to care a snap whether
the camp was kept clean or not, u
when General Breckenridge was put in
command things were different. Cen
eral Breckenridge started the work OF
cleansing the amp Immediately upon
taking command.
The water was the chief source OF
sickness. When the soldiers first went
to Chickamauga there were several
good springs from which excellent water
was obtainable. but the 20, 900 men there,
being unrestrained, soon polluted the
water from the springs until II became
unfit for use. Afterwards water was
brought from a distance of four or five
miles, and 1t was mighty poor at that.
Gerdts' accoun of the bill of fare Is
amusing. When the troop had beans to
eat IL was considered a holiday. On
ordinary days breakfast consisted OF
rice without milk, coffee n bread. The
dinner and supper consisted principally
of bacon. Fresh meat was provided,
but being shipped from Chicago without
sufficient ice to keep it cold, 1t often
had to be condemned. Sometimes the
meat was green when it reached the
camp. In one week the meat was con-
demned five days in succession and the
boys mad ecourse TO their bacon.
Gerdts says that there seemed to be
a general lack OF management, as 1t
was entirely practicable to move camp
to a more suitable locality, but for some
reason this was not done. The weather.
he says, was very hot and there was a
great deal of suffering. When the
horses were galloped their prescribed
seven miles the perspiration would roll
off them until the water stood in pools
about their feet. The horses, however,
stood the test far better than the men.
The troop lost but one horse, and he
committed suicide by butting his head
| against a tree. Gerdts says that 1t was
the generally accepted statement in the
troop hat General Miles had no use for
Montana's soldiers. and for that rea-
son they were not sent to Cuba. Gerdts
has a pair of cavalry gauntlets which a
trooper named Hulen wore in the battle
of Santiago. and which he presented to
Gerdts as a souvenir. Gerdts is glad
to get home again and will resume his
duties at once.