The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-15
OUR SOLDIER BOYS.
Happenings of Interest to Home Folks
Concerning Anderson Volunteers
At Chlckamauga Park.
CAMP GEO. II. THOMAS,

the 1st Regiment S. Z. V. On Mon
day evening, before we left Camp
Ellerbe, the Governor made Us very
affecting speech, and as we passed
through Columbia thousands of men:
women and children crowded the side
walks and waved handkerchiefs and
cheered. When we at last got on
board the train the boys talkcdsfrom
the windows of the cars to the crowds
that thronged the union shed. Final
ly, the train moved slowly from the
shed and the people yelled themselves
hoarse as it steamed away.
From Columbia to Augusta, at
every station, great crowds gathered
and cheered us on our way. When
darkness had settled down bonfres
were built at the stations along the
route, and the people gathered around
these fires and waved their handker
chiefs and yelled as the train passed
by.
There were four sections. The first
two carried Companies A to +, under
command Of Col. Tillman; the second
two carried companies G to NJ, under
command of Col. Alston. The first
two sections came over the S. G. &
Ga, and the sec md two over the
Southern.
Before we left Camp Ellerbe Mr.. e.
M. Scott was transferred to the regi-
mental band, and it was good selec-
tion, for Mr.. Scott is musician OF
the highest order.
A day and night were consumed in
making the trip from Camp Ellerbe to
Camp Thomas. Along the route,
between the "coffee Stations we ate
"hard tack Boston baked beans and
corned beef, and enjoyed it. We ran
through some very pretty scenery and
about dusk on Tuesday we reached
the end of the railroad, and, unload
ing our tents, camp utensils and bag
gage, we placed them on the wagons
that were waiting at the depot for US
and marched three miles over one Of
the dustiest roads I have ever seen in
my life. In places the dust was
actually over our shoe tops.
On each side of the road for the
entire three miles there was almost
continuous string of men and tents,
and the soldiers assembled there
cheered us as we passed.
Notwithstanding our disagrceable
march, 1 never heard murmur OF
dissatisfaction from any Of the men,
and when we were dismissed the men
rolled up in their blankets and slept on
the ground wherever they happened
to be.
Camp Thomas is as pretty place to
camp as one could wish for. About
hundred yards below the place where
Company c is located is the famous
Chickamauga creek where our fore
fathers fought and died before US, and
it is one of the prettiest streams l
have ever seen.
1t is strange freak of fate that the
1st Regiment S. c. v should be in
the same brigade with Minnesota
aud Pcnns lvauia Regiment, the
sons of men who were the enemies OF
our forcfathers thirty odd years ago.
We arc on the fricndliest of terms
with the northern regiments, who are
fine looking lot Of men.
There are now encamped at Camp
Thomas about $1,000 men.
| neglected to mention in my last
week $ notes that Company c presented
Captain Watkins with sword before
we left Camp Ellerbe. He was much
affected by this evidence Of the regard
which his men held for him.
Lieut.. Grant has been very sick for
several days, being threatened with
pneumonia but, | am glad to state. is
now we'll again.
On Thursday night Col. Aston,
Lieut.. Col. Tilman, Adjt Frost and
Major Earle each made short but elo-
quent address IS to the men of 1st
Regiment s. G. ", and while the
other speeches were good Col. Till
man seems to be endowed with the
same magnetism that his famous
uncle possesses, and was cheercd over
and over again.
Mr.. Milledge Bonham has been ap-
pointed Sergeant Major of the lst
Battalion.
l understand that uniforms for the
lst Regiment s. e. V. will be given
out to-day, and if this is true, the
men will certainly be glad to get
E. l;fo hoo ohout ruined