The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-12-29
NEWS FROM COMFY /.
CAMP HASKELL, DEC. %, 1898.

To the Editor Of The MoNMoUTH INQUIRER,-
Since my last letter to you there
has been no change in the orders
which were issued for us to be in
readiness to move at any time and we
of course are anxiously awaiting to
know what we are to do in the future
and day after day the rumors float
the winds that we are going to be
mustered out and then another to the
effect that we are to move at once to
Cuba and it is hard matter for us to
keep in good spirits all the time but
we endeavor TO carry a smile part Of
the time Camp life is getting to be
an old thing with a great number of
us and if we are to be kept in the ser
vice any length Of time, most of us
would like to go to Cuba and see
what kind of Country it is, instead of
staying where we are BY the way,
we do feel pretty good at, present be
cause the Committee appointed by the
citizens OF Freehold have received a
check torthe sum of $112.80 and we are
sure of a good feast on Monday next,
something which has not taken place
often since we have been in the service
and the kindness OF our citizens in do
mating so Handsomely and cheerfuliy
VIII DC dplfSCldttd d ny Us all Ai1C
committee consisting of Lieut.. Jos. ).
Yard, 1st Sergeant Joseph s. Thomp-
son. Musician Alfred Petit, Priv.
Schanck Dubois and myself
have taken the responsibility upon
ourselves to perform the duties en-
trusted to us and although an unde-
sirable position to fill, we will try our
best to please the members of Co /
with grand repast on Monday, the
Goth inst, and knowing weIl that IL
we discharge out duties properly, that
the citizens of cur nice little town will
also be content. The committee un-
der great difficulties, have at
last succeeded in obtaining what
we wish, or at least what is
supposed to be first class
dinner IN the South and especially so
for soldier, who is unaccustoned to
the dainties of a citizen. Capt. Vred
enburgh has made application to the
proper authorities for leave of bsence
on Monday of our entire company so
that we can have our grand feast,
something which we have not par
taken of in a body since enlistment.
OF course any one who has ever been
upon a committee in q like case, can
readily understand that in dealing
with and trying to satisfy about one
hundred men, that we have difficult
task to perform and should we be able
to get through with our work salts
factorily to all concerned, why it will
be a miracle similar to the defeat of
the Spanish fleets by our navy and
should any of our kind people hear of
complaints why do not hold any mall
ice toward the committee anyway
but take the blame upon yourselves
because you surely are the instigators.
Our plan is to have nice dinner
consisting of turkey, with dressing,
cranberry sauce, celery, sweet pOta-
toes, coffee, pickles, bread and butter
inince pies and cigars, which will not
cost the amount donated to us, and
the balance OF which will be used to
have nice dinner New Years q
statement of the expenditures made
by us will be forwarded for publication
for the benefit of our friends home.
We are quite glad to think that holi-
days do occur once in awhile because
we do have an opportunity to get
enough to eat then and about this time
our grub is pretty slim and you see
a Christmas dinner will come in quite
handy. If the farmers don't refrain
from raising nice fat hogs and those
little white beans they won't have
many soldier friends because we are
receiving introductions to both of
them quite often. Our cooks are
growing in some respect like our ven
cradle Justices of the Peace, only
when on ask the Justice, what it is,
he says ninety days and costs and the
cooks reply is, SOW belly'' and
beans" and if the Quarter-master
doesn't change the diet pretty soon,
he will have large contract upon
his hands to dispose of.then.
The agreement with Mr.. Parr who
is to furnish us with dinner is to give
all of us enough to eat, no matter
how good our appetite may be and
we have been resting up for the oc
casion and no doubt will give him
quite a run for his money.
Jacob Rue, Louis Craig, Walter
Kerwin and Howard Jones have been
appointed Corporals of Co |, the lat
ter beingin charge of the cook house.
Everything has been going along
smoothly in camp until yesterday
when Priv. Brooks and Ryan, of Co
a and Priv. Hughes of Co III who
were drinking freely and became in
toxicated and held up farmer living
near Athensand assaulted him severe
ly cutting his face considerable and
and bruising him otherwise, be-
cause he refused tc get out of his wag
on and treat them. to II drink. No
tice of the occurrence was brought to
camp and guards were Immediately
sent for them and had considerable
trouble in bringing them to the
guard house where they called the
officers all kinds of names and threat
ened to kill them all when they were
released.
By order of the officers they were
all tied but were soon united by fell
low prisoners and extra guards were
placed around the guard house for
the night and in the morning they,
with Private Joe Carson, of Co B,
were llandcuffed and taken to the
City prison, Carson being implicated
in releasing them from the ropes
placed upon them. Capt. Vreden-
burgh was Brigade officer OF the day,
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