The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-31
HARMONY IN CAMP.
NOrtherners and sOutherners United
scenes at Lyle and Along the Roads.

LYLE, Ga, May ZJ.-Over the nils ana
wales Of Chickamauga the hush of very
warm Sunday FELL and the rumbling of
heavy wagons and the shouts of the drivers
were strangely silent. To-day and to-mor-
row, the Sabbath and the sacred Memorial
day following, mean much to the young sol
diers from the North; the Sabbath brings
them really the first day of rest since all
this hustle and stir of war began, and
the strewing of flowers on the very field
where thousands of their sires or relatives
laid down their lives to keep the Nation
whole, robs the day of any perfunctory OBJ
servation into which it may have fallen in
localities remote from the scenes of actual
conflict During the Grand Army Encamp-
ment in indianapolis, when dozens of brass
bands played Marching through Georgia
every five minutes. people grew weary in
deed of the air, and wished that they could
escape its blare and swing for years to
come. Here 1t has a freshness and a time
illness that again sets the blood to tingling.
One of the beneficent results predicted of
this war was the complete unification of the
two sections of the country, the North and
the South, and that this prediction
wise forecast is evident in the amicable re-
latiOns established on the camp ground be-
tween the young fellows from Maryland,
Arkansas, Tennessee and those from the
States north of the Ohio river. The gener-
Gus tone in which they talk over the deeds
of the men from their own States and from
the States of their erstwhile enemies is paw
ing the way for a comradeship which will
know no North nor South. At leisure mo-
ments the soldiers find much interest in
reading the inscriptions to be found so pro-
fusely over the ground, and in studying,
Tryffh he afd Of he of
the opposing armies in the two days battle
Groups Of Arkansas and Ohio boys may be
seen together, going over the great fight
again, not as their fathers did, with bayo-
net to bayonet, but with arm linked in arm.
One sees how lightly rests the old bitter
memories, when one hears the young South
erners referring to their own heroes as reb-
els and the Northerners calling their own
men 'Yanks." For the most part however,
the considerate use of the terms Federal
and Confederate is general, particularly
among the officers. Occasionally there is
little chatting over the long-ago conditions.
A Vermont man was inclined to think the
South was tagging in contributing its share
of men to the Spanish war. ''Oh, you fell
lows killed off all our white men in SO, and
we haven't any able bodied men left except
niggahs." replied the Southerner, good hu-
moredly. -
Lytle, Ca, the depot for the volunteer
army, has grown from a sleeping wayside
station to a remarkable mushroom town.
Two weeks ago It consisted of two stores
and two country houses. To-day it is a
collection of nondescript shanties. and it's
atmosphere is filed with a horrible din that
begins early in the morning and lasts till
late at night. The Chattanooga, Rome &
oIr1c TJ-,fIr
this station frcm Chattanooga, passing over
Missionary Ridge at steep grade On
either side of the track at Lyle the United
States government has erected immense
frame shells for commissary depots. and
in juxtapostion to these buildings is anoth-
er huge structure. erected in a few days,
for bakery purposes. Night and day it is
turning out tons of warm bread for the
army. The midway is the feature of
Lyle. Facing a country road, hundred
or more stands and shanties including a
theater," have been thrown up and the
business interests centered in this long line
or nimsy houses represent almost every
lining to be found in large city, with the
snack houses, where tough pies and vile
connections of temperance drinks are re-
tailed, predominating. Metropolitan news
papers have their tents along the row. and
dozens of hoarse newsboys dart in and out
crying out papers from all parts of the
country. The telegraph companies tents
adjoin the newspaper quarters. Officers on
horses, privates on foot and on mules mes
6engers on sod-cutter bicycles war corre-
spondent on hony nags rented at fabulous
prices and negroes in broken-down vehicles.
family full. make up a strange congIomera-
ton to longest this long street at all hours.
mud rI,.o,. 81
cargoes of traveled-stained and tired SOL
diers. the movement in the thoroughfare
stops for it is impossible for it to continue
Till the jam is relieved by the soldiers
marching off TO their quarters several miles
away. One private residence in the midst
of all this inextricable confusion would have
Jared badly had not General Brooke ordered
a guard of soldiers detailed for the front
yard night and day.
On side track back from the station
several postal cars have been switched. and
here the crews of perspiring mail clerks are
busy distributing the tons of matter which
come to the camp. Every morning and ev-
cry evening a soldier from each regiment
rides down TO the station with a govern
ment mail bag thrown over his mule, bring
ing with him the letters for home and TAX
lis bdNh Win lHt nldQe up Tor
the regiment by the postal clerks. AT each
regimental headquarters a rough box has
been nailed to tree, and into this the boys
drop their letters. When the mail comes
it is assorted by the chaplain and assist
ants, and then is distributed by companies.
A dusty road up small hin leads away
from Lyle TO the park A quarter of
mile on the road finds pump. where hun
dreds Of soldiers are in line at all times.
waiting to fiji their tubs or their buckets
with the water. At this pump horses are
permitted to be watered, and Ii is a wise
man who takes the precauton of giving his
beast refreshment here. as he may find no
chance elsewhere to give the painting ami
NAL the water is Graves. Because of the
scarcity of water horses are furnished a
trough at only few places in the park
and these places are often too far away
to be convenient for the soldiers carrying
tubs TO reach. From tie first pump met on
tho trip through the park from Lyle it is
about haif-mile 10 the Lafayette road,
the main highway of the park. and just be-
yond where the Brotherton road crosses ii
the nd-fifty-seventh Indiana
is encamped. Lying in an angle made by
two well-trampled roads this regiment is
enveloped during the day by a veil of red
dust. AS one reaches the Lafayette road in
going out the Brotherton road from Lyle