West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-09-15
Our First Regiment.
An Interesting Letter From Our
Regular Correspondent Ira Z.
Gibson.
corresponaence Of the Arrus.

years and years ago Living IN the
midst OF a military age as we are, il is
no wonder that our thoughts more
often turn TO war than anything else.
a person, i'm no matter how trying and
arduous position they may be placed,
viii naturally get Into philosophiling
sometimes and spend some time pom
dering over past events and past mis-
takes. Now a soldier has lots sf time
for ''philosophiziug" and ne sometimes
does il in "A very humorous way that
does not eompare very favorably with
his previous good estimation of him
self.
Mary OF the soldiers enlisted under
the patriotic impulses of the stirring
tunes last spring aud soon tired OF the
humdrum life. Numbers of Others
gave mp good positions and paying jobs
that they might fight for a cause that
they earnestly believed to Ue Just and
right Now that the war is over, this
latter class wants to be mustered out
that they ma return TO their homes
and families and take mp the thread Of
life where it was broken off. The
former class wants to have realized II
is no excursion picnic or summer out
ing. Neither is it a childrenS' day
celebration or Fourth OF July bl owout
but just simply soldiers every day
life and the sameness OF u thing some
times becomes unbearable. as the little
boy said after eating too many green
apples,
There is still third class of soldiers,
who love war Tor it's own sake and are
perfectly willing and satisfied to go
any place and do anything just so
long rs they remain one of Uncle Sans
boys in blue. No doubt but what many
will join the regulars even should they
be discharged from the volunteer ser.
vice, as we have heard several declare
their intention of doing so.
As TO whatr regiments will be mus
tered out Is, of course, a question
known only TO the war officials. The
average soldier lnows no more about
things than an uninterested spectator
on the Samoan Islands, as he, like nm
outsider, must rely on the ne
for his information and the -wspape
these war times, are mighty uncertain
mediums OF Information. A morning
paper will make "a statement and an
evening paper will deny it. Thus IL is
sort ofa 'see-saw" game or NOW you
see and now You don't" The Chatta-
noogR Times beats the band for making
absurd statements aud illogica; propo-
s%itions. 1t had the LIST w. Va. ON ITS
way to Santiago and San Juan several
times and II that unreliable paper had
had its way our boys would have had
the opportunity to stand before the
lannon's mouth But the boys dnaily
got on 20 its uureliabiiitv ana would
not buy it 1t remains to be seen II the
Knoxville papers Will profit by the OK
ample.
Ia the army n person meets all
elias e., conditions and sorts Of men.
Anyone who has his prec,ptivc faculty
developed even h little bit. will soon
notice the difference between the
stern, rockbound "Michiganiers" with
their eyer present red necktic and the
soft talking, ea-y-2oiug Georgia
crackers, with rolling RS" ~ Cob
poral OF the Guahd, nambah fohteen,
relief" The Georgian loves corn
whislsey with all the intensity OF his
soul and he hates a niger wors, than
the devil hates holy water. These are
his chief characteristics II he can
have his desire in the matters he cares
not how other things go. But the
southern people as a general rule. does
have the everlasting go. the get-up-and-
keep atiyeuess, the eternal sand OF
their moro southern brethren. There
is even a marked difference between
the ceaseless activity and decorous
Of the merchants here and
those at Chattanooga There the APP
proach OF a soldier seemed TO be the
sign for a double in price in goods.
II is currently reported that the srd
North Carolina regiment of negroes
will be brought here and brigaded
with the S1st Michigan and 1st Georgia
A Cracker" remarked that Uncle Sam
should lay ia a new supply OF conins.
Moses Watson, son of I. J. Watson,
" htthoNAiitfi - ia Tue OiFtslOu HOSPITAL
down with the fever. lie is getting
along very nicely at this time. The
other boys from Preston are enjoying
very good health, so far as We know.
Only one West Vir0inian has died
IN the Hospital here that We know Of
aud his name was Nichols, but we do
not know his company or oyen What
place he was from At the present
time there are about go in the Hospital
with f@eyers, malaria and typnus.
mumps, measles, aud kindred diseases.
the fever was evidently contracted at
Chickamauga.
The Hospital here is located on a
high knoll and IS an ideal place from
every sanitary and medicinal point Of
view A large pavilion used formerly
for a summer sporting house has been
converted into a splendid hospital
The view is a magnificent one In every
direction, especially towards the city
aod when there are any breczss going
Co mnf IL ON fTarwrr Del ~. 49,.