The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-10
LETTER FROM CAMP ALGER
Giving an Account of the Daily Rou-
tine of Camp Life.

To the Editor of the State Journal
Camp Alger, Va, June THE
Twenty-second regiment, Kansas vol
unteers, has settled down to the duties
and provisions of military camp life.
The strictest discipline is observed,
and there is no boys play. We arise
at 5:15 a. M sharp, at the call of the
bugle. We breakfast at 5:45 at the
call of the bugIe. We fold our blankets,
clean up our tents, polish our shoes,
form in line and march on the field to
drill at the sound of the bugle. We re-
turn to camp, eat dinner, report at
guard mount, again march to drill, re-
turn prepare our toilets, eat supper,
make beds, retire to quarters, blow out
the lights and retire at the call of the
bugle. Everything is prompt to the
minute, and woe to the man that is be-
hind time. No excuses go. Colonel H
c. Lindsey and Lieut.. Col Graham are
very kind and conSiderate, but will
tolerate no negligence of duty. The
Twenty-second Kansas is rapidly gain
ing the respect of all the high officials
and regiments in the camp for the per-
lection of it's discipline, the courtesy
and ability of it's officers, and the de-
pertinent of it's men. Women dare not
venture within the lines of some of the
regiments from the effete east, but no
woman need blush at the treatment
accorded her by the men of the Twen-
ty-second Kansas. And this fact seems
to be recognized, as lady callers are
numerous every day. When a lady
passes along a line OF Kansas boys, al
most every hat is raised to do her hon
or, and if she calls at headquarters, Col.
Lindsey and his brother officers treat
her with DIS much chivalry and consid-
Grafton as she would receive in the
parlors of society.
Preparations are being made by the
government for pay day, and the boys
are expectancy itself. We lie down
at night to dream of receiving the
stipend due US, however small, and in
those dreams are visions of all the good
things imaginable, of changes from
pork and beans to strawberries and
cream, and fish, and butter, and such
other delicacies as are furnished by an
unlimited market.
Congressman Ridgely and neice, Miss
Alice Root, of Girard, Kan, visited and
dined with Col. Lindsey, Sunday. They,
with other visitors, attended divine
worship in the Y. NJ. c. A. tent and
listened to an eloquent discourse by
Chaplain Biddison. The chaplain went
to Falls Church at night by invitation,
and preached in the Methodist church.
Hospital steward, Fred Gordon, of
Topeka, is the proud possessor of a
fine pair of white duck trousers, with
which he has been exciting the envy
of the band boys for several days.
When he awoke Monday morning, he
found that some rascal had ornamented
them with great daubS of green paint.
Fred'S wrath knew no bounds.
Guard duty is the thing from which
the soldier shrinks in horror, and more
men are sick just before guard mount
than at any other time. Our physicians
have diagnosed most of these cases,
and have prepared a huge black bottle,
the sight of which seems to be pan
acea for every i'll. Guard duty, or any
thing, is preferable to the second dose
from that bottle.
While the mail of this regiment is
very heavy, taking from $40 to $12
worth of stamps each day to mail the
letters written, the receipt of Kansas
papers has been very unsatisfactory.
Several have written for the State
Journal, but seem to be unable to get
it, There is great desire all through
the regiment to see the leading daily
of Kansas.
Colonel Lindsey and a detail of men
will shortly leave for Kansas to enlist
recruits to raise the companies of this
regiment from "a to 106 men. He will
recruit at the same stations at which
the former recruiting was done. He
wants none but men, physically, men
falIU and otherwise.