Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-23
CAMP ALGER EXCITED
OVER THE RuMoRs OF ORDERS TO
MOVE.
VIRGINIA TROOPS NOT EQUIPPED.
Cold Night and the Long Roll
Pnymnster at Camp Cuba Libre-
A Blues Dinner-A Practice March
Notes.

CAMP ALGER, VA, June 22.--(special.)
To-day has been one OF suppressed excite
ment in camp, and rumors of every kind
have been freely circulated. Ths infor-
nation that the Michigan troops would
leave to-day for Norfolk by steamer, and
from there go TO Santiago by transports
was taken as an indication that we would
not be long in following The troops that
eft this afternoon were the Thirty-third
Michigan and one battalion Of the Thirty
fourth Michigan. The Ninth Massachu-
setts Is still i'm camp. but will probably go
tomorrow. This afternoon the belief that
We would move soon was strengthened,
when Colonel Keller summoned every line
officer 10 headquarters, and asked for in
formation as to the number Of men who
are fully equipped TO take the field. He
was told by each officer in sue
cession that not single man
was fully equipped, though it was ascer-
tanned that $50 are nearly fitted out. That
the regiment will leave here in the near
future can hardly be doubted, though no
official information can be obtained on the
subject
ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
A rumor was also circulated yesterday
afternoon late that arms and ammunition
for the regiment had arrived at Dunn
Loring, and Quartermaster Cooper imme
diately sent wagons tor them. but they
had not come. He told me to-day that
he was looking for them hourly. The
other articles necessary for the complete
equipment Of the regiment will probably
be here in very short time, and as soon
as they arrive the regiment will be ready
to take the field. The raw recruits, who
are now coming I'm quite rapidly, are being
assigned to the different companies, and
are also being drilled hard.
The boys had little chance TO run the
blockade TO spend their money last night
as the sentines were instructed to keep
a sharp lookout, and every precaution was
taken to catch any absentees. A few of
the boys visited the other camps before
taps, but only four Of them were caught,
these being members OF Company \, who.
together with the good things they had
purchased found a sorry resting-place in
the regimental guard tents.
COLD WEATHER.
Last night was actually cold here.
strange as the statement may sound and
the men had n hard time keeping warm.
Tney piled blankets, overcoats, and every
thing else they could find on the beds, and
then even the cold crept through. To
make matters worse, the whole regiment
was hauled out at midnight and the COM
panies lined up to answer to the long
roll, which sounded for the second time
at Camp Alger. The call showed that
only two privates of the entire regiment
were absent, and these, | learn, were sub
sequently accounted for.
Chaplain Ferguson has mailed any num-
ber OF registered letters to the people at
home for the boys. and the majority OF
tnSm have disposed of portion Of their
pay i'm this manner.
Though a large number of the men were
supplied with shoes while i'm Richmond,
there are others who We're not, and con-
slant drilling has worn out the ones they
had. No shoes have yet been distributed
and none have arrived.