Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-09-14
THE BOYS in ARMY CAMP.
GOOD Letter From Captain SilDaugh
About the Young Soldiers and Their
March-Description of the Reservation
Where They Are Ordered to in Alabama.

VnSiS IhSy are Orucred to In Alabama
) HEADQUARTERS COMPANY IN" FOURTH REG.
i CAMP DOUGLAS, Sept. 0, 1895
! FRIEND MUNsoN:-The past week hal
been tnll OF events with the Fourth
Wednesday the pay rolls were made u,
and Thursday morning the entire regi
, ment started off on a practice march
Each man was 10 heavy marching order
We took dinner at New Lisbon and al
4 o'clock started for Mansion, distanc,
OF nine miles from New Lisbon. Tn.
heat was something terrible, and on th.
sandy roads it was far from pleasant
Many dropped out and some of the com
panies struggled badly.
| We reached Mansion about D. m
and camped on the fine shaded square
near the heart OF the city. Tents were
pitched and mess eaten by moonlight
and but few felt like going down town
Some boys were SO tired they stretched
out and slept until morning without
eating supper or removing their cloth
ing. 1t was beautiful camp there
among the trees and the bright neon
light shining through on about 270 white
tents. We rested until noon Friday,
and then started for Linden, distance
OF twelve miles This proved to be the
hardest part of the march, and quite a
number fell out. The Second battalion
did the best by far and was comp'i-
mented very highly by the colonel. We
reached Linden at $50. as dusty and
dirty as men could we'll be. The water
was not very convenient SO many did
not bother to wash. The wagons had
been sent ahead so supper was ready
for the boys when they arrived. Tents
we're pitched in stubble field and some
OF those bumps felt about foot high.
The ground was soft however and it did
not take long to wear them down Sat
urdav the boys did not feel very well
rested The Milwaukee Sentinel was
delivered in camp at an early hour and
the boys all read the news that the
Fourth was to be mustered ort. The
paper was read without any outward
manifestation either of regret or pleas
ure, and the order soon came to return
at once to camp to be mustered out.
MANY OF the sore and lame boys were
excused and went back by train and
some left without being excused The
greater part of the distance to Mauston
was covered before dinner and this
proved to be one of the hardest half
days out. Company I'M" was marching
near the rear of the column during this
time and l sent Peck ahead as a scout
to look up team. He soon brought
up the rear with fine pair of gravs
and the order was given to load packs
and haversacks. Never was an order
more quickly and cheerfully complied
with. Those grays seemed to haul the
whole thing much easier than any Of
the boys carried one. The packs were
carried this way until not far from
| Mansion when orders came from head
quarters that the packs must be carried
by the men.
At Mansion the news was received by
telegram that the order had been coun-
fernandez and that the Fourth was
ordered sou h. There was some cheer
ing among the men at this news.
Another stop.over night at Mansion
and weary journey to camp on Sunday.
The people along the road were very
kind to the boys and especially SO at
Mansion. A large flag is posted on top
of one of the highest buildings and un-
der it the words, I'm Memory of Co d."
The boys were not allowed to go in the
orchards, but in many places they would
bring apples down to the side of the
road and hand them out to the boys
as they passed along, Many places
they handed out all the milk they had,
and one kind lady spread butter and
bread and gave the boys. She said che
had boy in Puerto Rico with the Third
reg,ment and that she was anxious to
10 something for the soldier boys. The
Lcys were anxious to get home in time
for the excursion and were very sorry
that the season of visiting was so short.
This week has been one of uncertainty
and much has been said in the papers
and elsewhere. We have tried to i'm
press it upon Company "M'' that the
thing to do wss to keep out of the
paper and do what we are ordered with.
out complaint. Had request come for
an expression of the feelings of the
regiment, as was at one time intimated,
our company would have been given a
chance for free and frank one and
their wishes would have been ours, and
rome emong them would have gone
home more cheerfully than the officers.
We intend to stay with the men wherever
they 60, and do everything to provide
for their health and comfort. The stay
here has become monotonous and has
tended to make the men restless, but
as between going south and home, a
majority are in favor of making the trip.
The camp is said to be beautiful one
and the regiment will doubtless go to
Puerto Rico or Cuba later.
We have had another substantial ex-
preston of the good will and kindly
Interest our home people feel for us in
| he large donat ions of eatables sent the
boys this week. Also that Mr.. Tate has
not forgotten rs. This time it's brush
and box of backing for each squad.
When the scar load" of eatables came,
Tuesday morning, it was the talk of the
camp and town. They think the Viro-
qua people are a wonder. You can't
imagine the good impression it has
made for the people at home. Our boys
appreciate the donations, and by it
know that they are remembered.
Company M had a romantic surprise
on vest ,rday, when Regimental Chap
lain Jacobs, Lieutenant Jagerson and
the writer were quietly invited to one
of the down town hotels, the former to
perform and the latter to witness the
ceremony which made Private Elmer
Fl. Slime and Miss Emma Briggson man
aud wife. The young woman's parents
live near Folsom. She has been em-
ployed at Madison for some time, wnere
she returned the day following the
happy event. Elmer is one of the best
young men of our company.
Some changes have been effected in
COMPANY Ms non commissioned Off
GERS. Corporal Isaac Ewers has been
promoted to quartermaster, and PM
Yates Greneo, Peck and Delbert Will
Jams are promoted to corporals.
Orders came this morning to move at
once, SO we are only awaiting transpor-
tation. We expect to start Sunday or
Monday, and by the Tina your readers
have this issue of the paper, we will be
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