Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-12
LIFE AT CAMP LEE.
MORE OF THE MEN GET OUT
UNDER THE CANVAS.
FAIR VISITORS REMEMBER THE BOYS.
Norfolk Ladies' Bring the Soldiers
Packages from HOmc-NOraciOus
Appctitcs, and How They Arc APP
pcnsed-The Fitz Lee Rifles.

There were hundreds of visitors at
Camp Lee yesterday, despite the rain that
fell from early in the morning until well
into the afternoon.
Many OF the visitors, indeed, the majori-
~ Of them, were Richmond people. but
many were from Norfolk, coming up on
the excursion run from that city. The
Norfolk boys were entertaining visitors
all day, including a large number Of
ladies. Nearly every visitor bore pack
age for one or more members of the COM
pany, and not a Rifleman but what en-
joyed some deiIcacy from home, for
while some may have been neglected by
the home people, their comrades were
generous, and all the boys were eating
half the time. The people at home evil
IDENTIFY think the cuisine at the camp is
very limited in quality and quantity. BE
that as IL may, delicacies Of a tempting
nature were in evidence in every tent
after the visitors had departed.
GETTING THE TENTS UP.
Despite the rain of the morning. the
men were at work early getting up more
tents. The second company street has
now been completed. and the Roanoke
and Salem companies will 80 into tents
to-day. The Staunton company will also
be under canvas to-day, Snd probably
Company X. of Petersburg, also 1t Will
be necessary to establish two more com
pany streets to-day, i'm order TO accom-
modate the men who will have reached
here by tonight.
The men who were not at work stald
pretty close in their tents during the
rain. beguiling time with cards and
music. a Norfolk man who came up 10
visit the soldiers yesterday bringing his
banjo, and furnishing music for several
Of the tents.
All the soldiers i'm tents expressed great
satisfaction at their first nights expert
ence under canvas. They slept like tops,
and not a man among them is in the
least unwell. Private Wrenn. of Company
a, Fourth Regiment fell over board
and hurt his knee right severely, but not
at all seriously. He is laughingly referred
to by his comrades as the first wounded
man Of the company.
WANTS HER son TO RETURN.
Captain Sheen. Of this company, has
of his men, enclosing a check for her boy,
and requesting the Captain 10 send him
home, as she wants to see him. and has
decided that she cannot allow him 10
serve in the army. Captain Sheen turned
the check over 10 the son. and told him
to tell his mother that Uncle Si.m now
ruled the family. and unless his consent
were obtained no Norfolk man would see
the city by the sea for two years. unless
Spain is knocked into cooked hat in the
mean time.
Company +, of the Third O.ynchburg
Home Guard, lacks several men Of hav-
ing its quota, and has not been mustered
in. Captain Scruggs wants a few good
men, and is DESTROYS that they call at his
tent. He could have enlisted far above the
number required. but has been very care
full i'm making his selections. Every man
in his company knows every other; and
there is consequently a genial family air
about the quarters Of this company that
is very pleasant. This is also true Of the
zouaves. of Lynchburg; Of the Norfolk
men. and TO a less extent, of the other
companies in camp.
THEY THINK ABOUT EATING.
Jolly, good fellows there are i'm plenty,
and these are always company favorites
easily picked out by the group about
them. listening 10 stories and jokes, gem
orally at the expense of a comrade pres
sent.
The appetities of the men are constant
themes Of conversation. Eating at Camp
Lee is a duty which the men all find it
easy to discharge. The fare is not in
anyway sumptuous but the way in which
the men destroy provisions is something
terrible TO behold.
nj ~ "a
J. supper at 6. The men are marched to
the long mess-hall by companies four
being served at a time. Be-
tween each four. one hour is allowed in
which 10 prepare the tables for the re-
ception of the next to come. Thus, the
first companies are marched into dinner
at l o'clock, and when they are marched
out, it is an hour before more are brought
in
Cooking is done on a great scale. Great
stacks of bread, piles of hams and beef,
mountains of cabbage. potatoes, and
other vegetables, are seen in the kitchen
while the cooks are preparing TO feed
the hungry would-be veterans. Mr.. David
Brown, who now has the contract for
feeding the men, says he will have TO
give dinner to 1000 tomorrow
The laundry work Of the men is done
i'm Richmond. the messes paying a stated
sum each. The men are anxious to re-
ceive the regulation blue shirts, which
will be issued soon. These will greatly
lessen the laundry bills.
THE FITZ LEE RIFLES
The members of the Fitz Lee Rifles are
assuming more OF a solderly air, the
criticism to which they have been sub
iected since their arrival evidently having
had a good effect There are good
men i'm the company, fact being dis
covered by other soldiers in camp, and
this class is beginning TO gain the as
tendency. The company occupies the
southeast corner of the building, and
regular duty is required Of the men. Cap
tain Miller and other commissioned Off
GERS of the company, as well as many
Of the men, are anxious to have investi-
gated reports TO the effect that certain
of the company endeavored 10 pawn or
sell the overcoats issued 10 them the
night after their arrival. Captain Miller
saws ne has taken steps TO prove a clean
record for the company, or II any of the
charges should be sustained, TO have IL
disbanded at once, instead Of being mus
tered in with "A stained reputation.
On Monday, the day of the arrival OF
the company, the men were told upon
reaching the mcss-hall at supper time
that they could not be furnished with sup
per. Thinking that they We're being dis
eliminated against, as entirely raw
recruits. they became disagruntled and
expressed their dissatisfaction quite
freely. However, all three Lynchburg
were treated alike. They ar
rived in camp only at 3 o'clock i'm the
afternoon, and were given their dinners
al 4 O'Clock. Just one hour after the
I.ynchburg men had finished their dinner
the Lee Rifles. of Norfolk. who had been
here since Saturday. and who had their
dinner at l o'clock. were marched into
the mess-hall for supper, and IL was i'm