Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-20
CHiCkAMAUGA LIFE
As Seen by a Gardiner Boy With the
LIST Maine.

The following letter from a Gardi-
her boy who is now with the LIST Maine
at Chickamauga, gives additional
facts about the life the men there are
living. Hunter was a member of Co.
A. ID Regiment, and when the regi-
ment was ordered home from Augusta
enlisted in Co. d of Norway. that he
might get a taste of army life. The
letter was received by John II. Wight.
baggagemaster at the Maine Central
station:
'Fiend John: l received your letter
Of the 18th. | was very glad to hear
from you and that you We're thought
full enough to write. We like to get
letters from home very much. There
isn't much happening here now now
but | will give you a description of our
life here.
Il believe this is the meanest coun-
try there is in the United States
Nothing grows here. The ground is
very hard, and in dry weather the
dust is something awful. 1t is so fine
that it gets into a fellows eyes. nose
and throat and is very disagreeable.
1T is very hot Some days, it has
been 105 and 1906. on an average it is
about 80. That is very warm for us
fellows but we are holding out first
rate.
We have the least sickness of any
regiment here and there are 46 regi-
ments here now. We have lost one
man, the captain of our company.
You probably saw that in the papers
We'll, about our daily life We have
to turn out at 40 and have roll cali
Then breakfast: then at we go to
the drill ground and drill until 100
Then we come back to camp and have
the rest of the day to ourselves until
6 =. NJ. Then we have another drill
until 40. The rest of the evening we
have to ourselves until 9.15 when we
have to go to bed. 1t is rather Il dull
life and we are all getting tired of
staying here 50 long. We want to go
to Cuba where we can see the fun
I'VE have an army canteen here
where beer and cigars are sold They
are great thing for us. The profits
are divided every week and we get
from $25 to SS5. This is spent for grub
so that we live very we'll. It is good
wholesome grub.
Walter and like this life first rate.
We have both been Well and have been
able to do our work every day since we
left Augusta.
Il shall be glad when we get back
to Maine. l have a great respect for
that State, compared with the South
ern states. The people are all right
here than flies. Some of the boys are
homesck and it makes me laugh to
see them. There is one sitting in
front of me now while | am writing.
who is from Bath. He has his face
drawn down to about six below zero
and looks as though he hadn't a friend
in the world.
Il see that Marley and several other
of Co A boys have enlisted in the bat
terry. Well it is in a good cause but |
hope that they won't be sent here to
get broken in.
The worst thing here is the water.
1t is yellow with mud and quite thick.
but it don't seem to hurt any of the
boys, so l guess that it is all right
Il don't have the least idea when or
where we will go from here. Some of
the officers say we will go to Porto
Rico. l hope it win be there before
long. l would like a chance to shoot
Spaniard before l go home l don't
much expect to though. I think this
war is about over. 1t don't seem as
though the Spaniards could hold out
much longer.
I'VE have sham battles here, with
blank cartridges and the noise is
something awful. 1t must be great in
actual battle with big guns. l met a
!, Maine man the other day, Capt. Bal
lard of the Sd Wisconsin Regiment.
He used to work in Whites drug
store. Perhaps you remember him. 1t
is surprising how many Maine people
are scattered over the country. have