Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-07-14
BOOT BLACK BILLIE.
SERGEANT HUTTON KEEPS LIEU
TENANT M'KINLEY'S SHOES
SHINED UP.
Rumored That the Fifth Missouri Reg
iment Will Move Shortly, and the
Boys are Anxiously Waiting
For Such Orders.
Correspondence of the Ledger.

Correspondence of the Ledger.
CHIcKAMAUaA PARK, GA, July g.
Leaving out the excitement caused by
the wild rumors constantly in circula-
ton in the Park there is nothing I'M
usual going on in the Fifth Missouri.
Regiment camp. Only one mar, BENZ
Thompson, one of the new recruits, lie
on the sick report of the company and
he will be returned to duty to-mor-
row.
The arms of the old men who were
vaccinated some time ago are about
well, but we will have another batch
of men with arms in sings in a few
days, as the new men were vaccinated
yesterday. Only two tainted. One, a
printer, ran 20 yards from the hospita
and dropped right under one of the
surgeons horses.
The much expected pay day has not
yet arrived unless to-day turns out to
be 1t. 1t Is understood here that the
paymaster wanted to pay us Saturday,
but was requested not to by the chap
lain and put US last on the list.
A consignment of knick-knacks
from the ladies of st. Louis reached
the camp on Monday and were eager
ly seized upon by the boys. There
YER handkerchief, towels, house,
wife's knife, fork and spoon cases,
canned goods, etc. They were dis
tributed by lots, the ones drawing
homeless canned chicken and picked
tongue considering themselves lucky,
but when the alleged lucky ones be-
came sick from over-indulgence the
tables turned. 1t is feared nat three
of them will be permanently afflicted
with the govt.
Captain Herbert Black continues
to enjoy good health, as do the
rest of the officers and men. The
Captain is very popular with the men
and any of them may be heard to say
that Company L has the best captain
in the regiment. Lieut.. Mckinley is
q thorough military nan and is ad-
mired both for his fairness on all ques-
tions coming up and for his considera-
ton for the mems feelings at all times
and in all cases He is across the
officers street at his tent now threat
ening to shoot me with q big "Colt's
cannon" unless / come and black his
shoes. 1 usually attend to that pleas-
ami duty three times a day.
at is reported, and with good
authority" that the Fifth Missouri, the
Second Arkansas and the Second
Kentucky will be transferred to the
first army corps under Gen. Brooke
and be sent into the field at once. Six
regiments of the first corps left for
Santiago last night and more will fol-
low until all r gone. We are all
anxious that we be picked for this
work and have q chance to fight. The
reason assigned for transferring the
Fifth is the excellent health of the
regiment. 1t Is the healthiest in the
camp and the regiment is said to have
made the greatest advancement in
drilling.
! understand that several officers of
the regiment r ordering uniforms
without stripes or insignia of rank.
The great number of officers killed in
action is the reason. 1t marks them
for targets for Spanish sharp shooters.
A change has been made in the or
ders of the day; revielle is now at 8 a.
m. and breakfast at 4:30 and drill from
8 to 8. A battalion or regimental
parade, review or drill is held from 6
to 1880 p. m. Taps remain as before at
9:15. 1 will keep the LEDGER informed
as to any changes in the condition of
the Fifth. WILL G. HUTTON,