Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-06-09
Bouquets For The Boys.
COURTESIES SHOWN THE FIFTH
REGIMENT WHILE EN- ROUTE
TO CHlCKAMAUGA.
Sergeant Hutton Says He Lost all His
Brass Buttons While Passing
Through Kentucky - Our
Boys Feeling Well.
Correspondence OF the Ledger.

Il
Missouri Volunteers, reached Chick
amauga camp and settled down to
routine army life. Eza,s&s-,5--.ssss,s
believe my last letter was posted
at indianapolis, and also believe that
said l was saving my brass buttons
for the time when we went through
Goods country"-Kentucky. Well,
we did go through Kentucky, and, SAY,
there was not a mementO left for the
people through Tennessee. Those
Kentucky people simply outdid them
selves They scrambled over each
other to give the boys coffee, lunches,
flowers and keepsakes. or course,
many addresses found their way into
the inside pockets of the soldiers uni
forms, but then I'll write nothing
about that; there will probably be too
much written about that anyway.
1t would be very bad taste not to
mention the ovation rendered the boys
in blue at Cincinnati. When the train
neared the city every steam whistle
in the town opened up and there must
have been some borrowed ones, too.
Well, at any rate, those whistles were
kept chattering from the time we
reached Cincinnati until we pulled
over to the Kentucky side, about an
hour and Is minutes. Although the
ovation was trying on the nerves 1t
was gratifying to the boys; but fol-
lowed by the 'God bless you, my boys
frora the matrons, maidens and men
of kentucky the boys were soon in
the proper shape again. If the boys
were compelled to 60 through few
more States like Kentucky they would
really begin to think that they were
heroes.
Since writing the last sentence l
heard something which one would
scarcely forget in lifetime; it was
the singing of "Home, Sweet Home" 1"
The regimental band was serenading
headquarters and struck up the above
| mentioned tune and only few notes
had been played when nearly every
man In the regiment was looking to-
wards the stars and singing out the
pent up desires of his heart. Those
who heard the chorus, "Tenting To-
night" in America can understand
the sublimity of the situation when /
say there is no comparison in the two.
The piece was topped off with "The
Girl / Left Behind Me" It's great
favorite among the men. AS one of
tho boys said: clears as large as
Lieut.. Eagon's diamonds run down
some of the boys cheeks after these
selections"
All the members of Company l. are
doing spIendidly; all in good health
and the majority in excellent spirits.
By all mean all but or 8, and they
will soon get over their slight spell of
inconsistencies.
Quite a cloud of gloom was spread
over the camp when the news of Dick
Mason's death reached us. 1t is sad
to see one of our comrades fall meath
the heavy hand of death before we are
fairly started. The following resolu-
tions were presented and passed at
breakfast call:
"Death has made his first assault on
the ranks of Company l., Fifth Mis-
souri, Volunteers, and there is sor-
rowful hush when the name of Private
Dick Mason is called upon the roll.
"When the company was ordered to
rendezvous at Jefferson Barracks
there seemed no stronger, braver and
more cheerful soldier than our dead
conrade, Mason. He was not a saint
in the eyes of the church, but there
are church saints and state saints.
Every faithful soldier, ready to answer
his country's call to every duty-be 1t
menial or heroic, to digging trenches
or scaling frowning battlements a
saint in the eyes of the state. Dick
Mason was state saint; he did his
duty without a murmur and loved his
country with unwavering devotion.
"Orphaned in childhood, he had
known none of the softening influences
OF a mothers love and lacked the
re finement which home alone can
give. But beneath his rough exterior
there beat true and generous heart.
There was nothing mean or little about
him. He scorned deed of littleness
al1d would have divided his last piece
OF hardtack with needy comrade.
"Death won no easy victory over our
gritty comrade. While the doctors
shook their heads in doubt, Dick
always said to the last day, 81 am
better" His heart was set on accom-
panying his comrades to the front,
and not till marching orders came
did his hope die.
"On Friday morning, May q, Dick
was mustered out. He has received an
honorable discharge and gone to his
long home. On this memorial day
Company L, camping on the Chick
amauga battlefield, consecrated with
the rich blood of both armies of the
republic, joins the nation in its loving
}AUAuCiAhk Y oACo OA bAu hCASAS oheAAh sh@e
sleep meath grassy mounds In the Gem
tIteries Of our land, and adds the name
M Private Mason to the list Of those
whom the nation honors."
We are looking for moving orders
AL the time now. Arrangements are
being made for the complete equip
ment OF the regiment. This is taken
In only one way by the officers and
men-our departure for either Cuba
or the Philippines, which, we do no,
care. Company mules and commits
, sary wagons even were issued to-day
As has been said many times before
, "We're ready" w. g. HUTTON.
Sheriff Nelson's Father.
The Shelbyville (Mo.) Herald, speak
ing of our popular Snerif Matt Mel.
sons father, says: Squire ]. D. Mel.
son. of this city. waa 40 vaara r,lf