Richmond planet., 1898-12-17
( 9Th Va. Vol. Inf.
( Camp Haskell,
Macon, Ga. Dec. 13 '9S.

At last the 9th Virginia's have been
turned loose, at least, to a certain ex-
tent. Last Friday afternoon we mount
ed our wn guard, and the Immunes
who have been ding us for thre,
weeks have returned TO their camps.
The first night our men were on was
q miserable one. 1t was the coolest
Ione we have experienced since being
nn the Sunny Souta. First, it rained,
hailed and when we awoke in the
lmorning the ground was frozen stif
hno covered with an inch and half
boating of snow.
When il was known among the other
re2sments here that cur b1Ys had been
rreed, a mighty cheer arose from thous
Ands OF throats, and ITS echoes rever-
Iberated thr Ju IN these Georgia pines in
tones not heard since the Civil War
PASSES BEING GRANTED.
Passes are now being granted to en-.
listed men at the rate of 8 men per day
from each company. The Provost
Guard in Town are very strict. and ab.
solutelY no soldiers are allowed in
town after O'Clock in the afternoon.
Any soldier caught in town after dark.
pass or no pass, rs arrested by the Pro-
vost, and confined ali night, and in the
morning charges are preferred against
him, and he is returned to his regi-
ment for trial by Summary Court.
CORPORAL JACKSON ILL
The health of our men continues ex-
cellent, only two being confined TO the
hospital Corporal Jackson has been
confined TO quarters for several days.
with a severe attack of stomach
troubles, but he is much better now,
and walking around doing light duty
The boys continue to have trouble
about the bread and meat supply. The
bread runs short nearly every day,
some meals they have none at all, anu
the beef furnished seems to be about
the worst and toughest that could be
found in the state of Georgia, and the
boys do not fail to show their dissatis-
faction, all to no avail however as the
trouble does not lie in our Regiment.
REGULAR U. s. CAVALRY.
The 7th u. S. Cavalry OF the regular
army reached camp last Saturday.
They have q full regiment OF 1900 men
and 1900 horses, and q wagon train
with about $50 mules. They are en-
camped at the race track in the Fair
Grounds about half mile from town.
On Sunday / witnessed a sad and i'm
pressive ceremony, funeral OF one of
| the troopers who had committed SUI
| eide by Shooting himself on the train
| coming from Huntsville. Ala. I bad
the pleasure of spending Sunday in the
| city, and visited many places of inter.
| est. Macon is situated at the head OF
| navigation on the Ocmulgee river II
| is near the geographical centre of the
| state, and is in the heart of the fruit
| growing region. 1t is q great central
point for the shipping of peaches and
water-melons.
GOOD CAMPING GROUND.
The ground IS rolling ald we'll adapt
| ed to natural drainage. but they have
| very good system Of sewerage, and
ample water supply. The colored peo-
| pie here seem to be very Industrious
and have several very handsome
churches, but the average colored
person, met with seems to be sadly
lacking in ordinary intelligence. Sew
eral large cOtton mills and factories
are located here, and this is the staple
of trade. The streets are very broad
| and parked III the centre which gives q
very picturesque effect. Architecture
IN the residential portion of the city is
in the classic ante bellum style, long
driveways and broad virandas around
each house, which is so often found in
old fashioned Southern homes.
a LONG, MARCH.
This morning Reveille was sounded
at $50, the boys were given breakfast
at 5 40 and everything put in readiness
for the Grand Review given for our
Corps Commander, Maj. GenI Wilson
in the city at 9 o'clock. At z O'Clock,
our command left camp for the long
march to town, which was reached
shortly after 8 O'Clock. Every man
was in heavy marching ord er, with his
rifle, canteen. haversack with lunch
shelter tent, ponche and blanket rolled
across from shoulder to waist, More