The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-03

came together Several men were slightly
Injured sHn as result No Word has as set
regarding the recruiting officer who IS 10
fill up the regiment.
Medical men Of high standing In the Sec
ond Army Corps have advised me to put q
stop to visits of applicants in this depart
nent if possible. Some one has started the
story that there was shortage OF medlcaI
men and applications have been pouring IN
by the thousands. There are enough appn-
cations in to I'LL vacancies in a ten-year
war. At present all positions are filled IN
this corps and with competent men,
Commissary Sergeant Campbell tied his
he at Dunn Lorlng oaturaay anu ont
the entire neighborhood for the next day
and giving the horse up as lost, he was sur
prlsed next day TO have 1t brought IN py an
old colored man who said it had wandered
into his yard the day before. He Wanteo
y Tor the keep during the day For a sn nor
time there was a question in the sergeant
mind as to whether he should settle or give
the horse to the finder. He has pressing
need for a mount and stood the ''gouge.
There are many errors in the mail delivery
at Camp Alger and the complaints keep the
postmaster chaplain busy. This is remark
able in view of the fact that in almost every
case Of misplaced mail the address is found
TO have been plainly written. The last pay
DAY has gone the way of all pay DAYS ana ana
soldier letter" law, which allows postage
10 be collected at home. The law says COM
manders should mark such letters ana s ren
poStoftice men who reach Camp Alger nave
objected TO forwarding such mail, but nnally
and cents u looks Ks a sS bic as cart Wheel.
There is a mania in camp over the ques-
tlon or hair, and fully two-thirds or the
Col George w. Mccoy, of Vincennes, VINO
is now in command of the regiment, Whlle
Colonel Barnett is in charge of the brigade
has been identified with the old First Reg1-
ment for many years. He has risen from the
position of captain and, in case of Colonel
Barnett's promotion there will be a unani-
nous demand for his elevation to the posi-
ton thus vacated from the officers who have
been associated with him.
A large tent has been erected on the edge
of the camp by the Y. NJ. c. A. In order TO
secure the privilege the association prom
lsed writing room with free stationery for
the men, and that supply OF stamps
should always be kept on hand and sold at
government prices.
Since the heavy thunderstorm few days
ago the men have learned a thing or two.
Almost every tent is being supplied with an
elevated bed made of green timber cut from
the woods. There are all kinds of beds One
mess in Company B has folding or disap-
pearing bed 1t can be taken down during
the day and stored away. The most common
way is to drive four forks into the ground
and fasten cross pieces upon which the
straw ticks are placed. They are all foot
above the ground.
the bill of fare these days. One can buy
very fine berries for &c a quart. 1t is COM
not yet learned to accustom themselves to
the army diet and any delicacies allowed in
camp by the doctors are welcome. Every
thing else in the line of table goods is much
higher here than at Indianapolis. Lieut.. j.
E. Thomas, of Terre Haute who is acting
as caterer for the line officers mess, reports
that it takes 50 per man each week, instead
of 81, which was ample at Camp Mount.
Potatoes sell for SIPS per bushel and every
thing else in proportion. You pay 8 cents
straight for small loaves Of bread.
Another notable difference between the
camp in Indiana and Virginia is the scarcity
of newspapers Newsboys are so scarce that
men are even trapped sometimes into buy
ing Philadelphia paper. So far but one
Washington paper has found its way into
the Indiana camp and that in limited num-
bers. The arrival of Indianapolis papers is
awaited with impatience each day. Indiana
people learn to appreciate the State and the
things which thrive, grow and are created
In Indiana all the more when they are away
from the native heath G. w. b.
The investigation of Camp Alger (which
was undertaken by the secretary of war to-
day, will probably lead to the abandonment
of the camp and the transfer of the sol
diers to more healthful locality. On ac-
count Of the poor and insufficient water
and other serious sanitary conditions a
great many of the volunteers are in hos
pital. If the camp is moved 1t will Prob
ably be to some point up the Potomac