The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-06
CAMP MEADE LETTER
Bridgeman Writes a Descrip-
tive Account of Army Life.
WAS AT PEACE JUBILEE
Camp Bakery Turns Out Two
Thousand Loves a Day.

The following very interesting letter
from Captain S. N. Bridgman, stationed
at Camp Meade, Pa, was received here
Sunday, addressed to one of the captain S
intimate friends in this city:
Camp Mead, Pa,
October 2S. 1898.
My Dear Fr1end-Your letter addressed
TO Frank Gn reply to one he wrote you),
arrived during our absence from camp,
visiting in Philadelphia, where we Drank
and y have been attending the great
Peace Jubilee. We have been absent Just
4 week.
We both greatly appreciated your letter,
1>as welcome from home, conveying the
hearty good cheer OF a friend the news
political-together with the "Multum in
parvo" style Of putting things We both
Of US rejoice in the fact of w. E. Stan
ley's chances at home being so good for
getting big vote in his own city. We
notice in the Eagle every day that the
representative people of all parties are
coming out for him in interviews 1t would
be an everlasting shame and bring de-
served odium upon the Republican party
In Sedgwick county that never could be
shaken of, were he to fai, of a magnificent
vote there. Not altogether because It is
Stanley, but because, for the first time in
the states history, the Republican party
has recognized the Importance of coming
TO our city for a governor. And if we
should fail Of a handsome majority for
him We alone will be TO blame for no
further recognition in the future. I would
Ike to get home to vote, but that is i'm
possible. 1 would like you to do Frank
and 1 great favor. Just as soon as the
results Of the election is known, wire me
In full, covering everything that you think
VII interest US.
We had most interesting trip to the
Quaker City" Having never before seen
an ocean liner, you can imagine the in
terest 1 took in the monster war vessels
as they lay at anchor In the Delaware, at
the head Of which stood the giant new
battleship just completed by Cramps for
the japanese navy. Next, and the first of
the American navy. was the Topeka, the
largest and most magnificent of the many
here. As we glided past the monster, the
thought occurred to me, If l had only pre-
pared some kind of banner to present to
her commanding officer, with an inscrip-
tion something ike this: The United States
First, Then Kansas" 1 would have been
perfectly satisfied. AS it is, 1 only have
IL - 't'- - "--otrought Next
after the TOPEKA do4.Ie 49, .----..; C;'ou-
cester. which still bears some scars from
the part of the engagement she took in
the sinking of Cervera's feet. After the
Gloucester came the Winslow, so well
knoV q to fame by the heroic and daring
acts Of her late commander, Bagley, who
was killed by the bursting of a shell from
a land battery at the mouth of Havana
harbor. This little craft is a queer, insig-
nifcent looking object. compared with the
others described, lying with her back just
out Of the water, looking for all the world
like monster turtle, barely showing itself
above the surface of the water. Then
followed the Marblehead. Texas, with the
gallant Sigsbee in command, the Columbia
End several others stationed equi-distant
and reaching from Cramps shipyard north
to League island south. There was no
room for the ships to maneuver, hence
their remaining at anchor.
7 had the honor of an invitation from
the Union League club to attend the re-
reption given in honor of the president
members of the cabinet and heroes Of the
Spanish war, which I was not slow to ac-
cept. as it afforded opportunities nor
often presented. I will mail you the invita-
ton. and kindly ask that you preserve it
until my return home.
I read in the Eagle that I was post COM
misary at Harrisburg. That is mistake
! am assigned as assistant purchasing COM
missary for the Second corps. and am To-
Gated at commissary department Camp
Meade. I am CHARTERED az Harrisburg.
going back and forth night and morning,
BY street car. appreciate the assignment
very much. the distinctive honor of being
made assistant purchasing commisssry for
the corps. and also the position enables
me-to thoroughly familiarize myself with
every detail of the commisssry depart
ment IN a comparative short time; where
p IN brigade work my information would
be naturally circumscribed and gained
slowly. I do not know when I shall leave
here or where I shall be sent to when the
second corps goes south.
The chances are that 7 will remain here
after the troops are gone and until the
supplies are all shipped TO their respective
destinations and the business of this camp
Is closed up. after which I have no intima-
ton Of where viii be assigned.
To give YOU partial idea Of the i'm
mensity Of this camp. viii give. briefly as
possible. a partial description Of It. Be-
ginning about nine miles below Harris
burg. and on the north bank OF the Sus-
quehanna. it extends down the river al
most to Middletown, and covers about six
miles in length by three and one-half 20
four wide: not compactly. OF course. for
the brgades are purPose,y scattered. as
2 precautionary measure for the better
health and comfort OF the troops. The
center Of life in the camp is Of course at
the depot of supplies. The subsistence
department Is supplied with a building
along the tracks OF the Pennsylvania rail-
-oaG. s00x50 feet wide and twenty feet from
floor 20 plates. and is constantly filed 10
Overlooking with provisions. There is no
day when less Than five carloads is taken
into the building. and as much taken OUT
by the army of teams constantly coming
and going, delivering the same TO the diff
ferent divisions Of the camp. It Is an
every day occurrence (and I believe the
number underestinated) for 800 four and
eix mule teams 10 load at the different
buildings and from the cars during A day.
The throng Of teams and hustle of the
men detailed 70 load The wagons (for every
team must have a detail Of soldiers who
dc the loading) make the supply depot a
veritable bes hive from a. m. ,untit dark
every day.
The ouartermaster's building Is an exact
duplicate of the commissary already de-