Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-07-02
THE MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS.

for men TO defend the uation's hon.
or, Missouri nobly responded with
over Eve thousand of her citizens,
Kansas City alone furnished nearly
two whole regiments. They are
citizen soldiers, who left their
homes and loved ones for their
country's sake. They were fret
sworn into the state service and
mobilized at Jefferson Barracks.
near st. Louis. After two weeks of
drill and camp life they were mus
tered into the volunteer army of the
United States. The boys were all
enthusiastic and very little COM
plant was heard, although they
were put under strict military dis
cipline.
On the 18th of May the 3rd regi-
ment was ordered to proceed to
Camp Alger, Va. twelve miles from
Washington. d. c. At I o'clock the
following day tents were struck,
and we marched to the trains that
were to carry us from our native
state. some of us never to return.
After hours of waiting the troops
were all loaded and we were ON our
way. We passed through eight
states en- route, and II would be
hard to tell where the most enthus-
iasm was shown. Great crowds
with flowers, lunches and souven-
ire met us at every station. The
finest scenery was near Harpers
Ferry. The train arrived In Wash
ington on the 18th after three days
of hard travel. From there we were
sent to Falls Church, Va, then
marched three miles to Camp Al
ger. We were given hearty vel
come by the troops already in
camp. Everyone was surprised to
see that we were to camp in pine
forest, with underbrush 60 thick
that il had TO be cut before we could
march through II, twelve miles
from the capitol of the L. S.
The creeks here are called "runs."
Bull's Run is but Is miles from us.
Camp Aiger 10 located on 100
acre plantation, owned by a Mrs.
Campbell. Before the revolution IL
was the Lord Fairfax estate. An
old house stands near the center, or
rather the ruins of one. The bricks
with which IL was built were
brought from England.
A part of Wa shington's army was
eucamped here. and the road they
cut through the forest has always
been kept open. II 10 known az the
Gallows road, from the fact that q
set of gallows were erected near Il
on which number of British spies
were hanged. This 10 certainly his.
toric ground. Washington's army
camped here in l776. The north
and south fought here in 1854 and
today 5000 sons of both blue and
gray are tenting together only wait
ing for the word to- 20 to the front.
II is rumored now that the soldiers
from Missouri will soon be on their
way to Porto Rico. If they go they
will prove that they are from Mis-
souri, aud the Spaniards will have
to show them.
1t is amusing to hear what the
fasteners think of us, or rather
what they thought before they got
a good look at us. They imagined
we were half savages.
As we were marching into camp
a lady and gentleman were stand
ing near, watching the boys from
the far west. AS we passed by, the
lady turned to her companion and
said: II thought you told me they
all had long hair" We did not
hear the reply.
The other night little German
was on guard. The countersign
was St. Paul. A corporal with a
squad approached the guard lines
and was brought to a stop by the
cry, Halt! Who goes
there?' Friend" replied the cor
porai. advance. friend, and say
ST. Paul" demanded the guard in
the full German dialect. The off,
Ger did so and was then asked II
the rest of the party knew anything
about St. Paul. When told that
they did, they were allowed to pass.
The sentry was relieved in few
minutes and spent the balance of
the night in the guard house.
We were all paid Friday and the
boys are happy rs there are lots of
on the grounds, and they
have a chance to spend their mon
ey. We may be having hard time.
bit their will be hot old time in
X. c., when the third comes march
ing home. A. L. BARBER.
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