Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-06-02
The Filth Regiment En- Route.
MISSOURI BOYS AT TERRE HAUTE,
INDIANA, ON THEIR WAY TO
CHICKAMAUGA.
First Sergeant Hutton Writes of the
Break-Up in Camp and Also of the
Frip-Arrive at Destination
Sometime Tonight.
Correspondence of the Ledger !.


On TRAIN EN- ROUTE TO CHIcKA-
MAUGA, May 26.-The train bearing
the third battalion of the Fifth Regi-
ment has just crossed the Indiana
State line. Company L is a part Of
the third battalion. 1t ia 7:20 O'Clock
and she boys are beginning to ciamor
for some breakfast, but present indir
cations point to our breakfasting at
Cincinnati, between $50 and 100 miles
away. We just pulled out of Terre
Haute. ;
1t was beautiful sight yesterday.
afternoon when the bugle corps of the
Fifth sounded "the general" and every
tent in the regiment fell as If struck by
one mighty hand. All tents, of course,
fell towards that of the Colonel. In a
very few moments after tents we're
struck they were neatly tied in bundles
and carried to the head of their re-
spective compony streets, where they
were placed i'll large piles to await the
wagons which were to haul them to
the Iron Mountain depot, about a mile
and a half away. Before this pleasant
duty was performed, though, great
deal of work was to be done. First,
issue call was sounded and Quarter
master j. W. Fowles reported at the
commissary tent and got the rations
for the trip, hard tack, corn beef, to-
matoes, beans, etc.
While this was being done the men
were making rolls of their blankets
and packing their stuff. Next a gen.
eral police call was issued and the
boys had to clean up the camp. All
trash, straw, etc., were raked into
piles ready for burning. Some differ
ent opinions existed as to the way this
should be done, but nevertheless it
was done and when assembly was
sounded the twelve companies lined
up on their respective company streets
between piles of trash. Headed by
the Fifth Regiment band Company A
started the march to the station about
$3.50, the different companies falling
into line at the proper time and the
entire regiment was soon marching in
columns of fours to inspiring music.
Once during the march to the station
the band played Home, Sweet Home
and it touched the hardest heart as they
listened to this old melody and march
ed between rows of tear-stained faces
which thronged the line of march.
After reaching the vicinity of the
station the men of the third battalion
were compelled to wait in ranks until
II O'Clock before they were placed in
the cars, where they have been ever
since, as guards we're ordered placed
at each door of each car and to allow
no one but officers go in or out.
Before going on the train the boys
had been furnished with nice lunch
by the ladies of st. Louis and when
the train was backed into Union Sta
tion where it remained about half an
hour, there were immense pots of
steaming coffee awaiting them. There
was enough to give each man a little
more than his quart cup full. 1t
frightened up the boys greatly. Quite
a reception was rendered the boys in
blue at Union Station. The same pro-
gramme has been carried out through
Illinois and as far as we have gone
through Indiana.
Some of the boys look as If they
were living in a country where brass
buttons never grew. The girls' p1teous
appeals for souvenirs are almost
pathetic. One of our little Lieuten-
ants was almost talked out of one OF
his shoulder straps by pretty little
black-eyed lass back in Illinois.
So far have escaped uninjured, but
it was only by declaring that would
lose my stripes If any of my brass
buttons we're missing, that saved the
respectable looks of my clothes. You
see am saving the desired articles,
for we 60 through Kentucky, the land
of pretty, fascinating and hospitable
giris-and women-and men. / don't
believe there will be a button or
shoulder strap in the regiment when
we run over the Kentucky Tennessee
line. hope not, at any rate.
Richard Mason was left In the St.
Louis City Hospital. All others are
we'll. HUTTON.
Born, May 25, to Mr.. and Mrs. P. K.
Kearns, of this city, son.