The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1898-06-14
ketter From billiard Hadden to Bis
Father.

Chickam&ugs Park, Chattanooga,
Gs.-Kentucky Boys, End Regiment,
Company C:---While we are in camp
and not on duty now, my thoughts
are turned to old Kentucky and the
loved ones that are busily following
their vocations of life.
We had very delightful trip from
Lexington. On our way here, at
every town, the depot was crowded
with patriotic men and women. The
girls gave us flowers and boxes OF
nice things to cheer and encourage us
boys to defend the honor and prin-
ciples of our country. We went into
camp about IL o'clock the next day
after we left Lexington and that night
did not have the pleasure OF passing
our nights slumber in our tents, but
had our camp fires aud slept in our
blankets on naked ground. 1t was
Que of the grsndest sights ever wit
messed, to see all the camp fires and
hear the bands play. There were
about forty-five thousand troops al
ready there 10 cheer the Kentucky
boys. The Kentucky boys are looked
upon as the brave soldiers. The next
day we got our tents up and at pres
ent are enjoying soldier life in reality
except the fighting. .
We have our bareback, middling
and coffee three times a day and it
goes hard with some of the boys, but
their bravery overcomes that and they
look and hope for the time to come so
that they may cross swords with the
SpAniards. You cannot imagine how
beautiful Chicksmauga Park looks at
this time. You have all read Of the
battles fought here and of Lookout
Mountain as 1t stares you in the face
with its grandeur and lofty peaks of
rock. The whole park, which con-
tsins about 1900 acres, is decorated
with monuments of our brave coun-
trymen, and is full of iron signs
which show the position of the armies
when the great battle was fought
aud where the brave warriors fell. 1t
reminds me OF the history l studied
in School-days, picturing the reality
of my study of those days. The can
mons that were used in the battle hold
the same positions they occupied dur
ing that great conflict.
Troops are coming and going all the
time, and our hearts go out in SYM
pathy to our fellowman who is being
oppressed and down-troden by cru
el people; and with love for them we
go forward to our duty as representa-
tives of God-fearing people to lay
down our lives upon the battle field
to help free our fellowman and make
him an independent and God-loving
creature.
At night before the call to retire to
our humble, home-like tents, ss they
must be while in service, is grand
sight 10 behold, and 10 add to it the
bands cheer US up with their sweet
melodies as they float in the air over
our camp, and the camp fires burn to
the glory and Independence of our
native land.
II Is much warmer here than in
Old Kentucky, but the boys stand it
ike men and take hold of war life
IKE they mean to be warriors.
We often think of our home and
friends, which causes us to ask,
'why did we come to this
when we had our ways and wishes
fulfilled at home ?" But then the
thoughts of our duty turn our minds
o the cruel and vicious treatment of
'ur fellOwman by the Spaniards; that
hey must be freed from the cruel op-
'ression by people of independence
md Of right desires; we must con-
luer or fall Oh the battle field in the
.ttempt