The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-09-23
THE FIRST TENNES SEE.
The Soldier Boys are Poorly Fed and
Cursed Like Ours.
Can't. Whittho rne and Lieutenants FOw-
Ter apd Ragsdale are Well
Thought of by Their Men.
CAMP MERRIAM, SAN FRAN

CISCO, CAL, sept III, 1875,
Nh Dear Mother:-It is just beginning
TO grow dark here, so l presume you
people are thinking about going to bed.
/ am rather cold, but will manage to
give you people what little news that
Eve gathered since / wro.e you.
am sitting Hat on the floor writing
on a box, by the light of short piece of
candle, which is stuck to the top of the
box. When the little piece burns out
| I'll have to quit,for we are only allowed
one candle tor two nights; so If we hap
pen to burn too much the first night we
sit in darkness the next.
Co. f. has the blues to night, for she
/ bade two men goodbye this afternoon.
| Jack Hubles, of Union City, and George
/ Mains, of Nashville. They received
! honorable discharges for physical dis
ability, and were given Sl45 for railroad
! fare, provisions and back pay. Many
of the boys felt choking sensation as
they watched the two start 10 dear old
Tennessee. Many amusing messages
were sent home, such rs "Jack, think
of me and eat an extra piece of fried
chicken and biscuit" "George, enjoy
| that soft bed for me tOO,and sleep on two
pillows, please; ""Lend me quarter un-
! ill YOU get back" "Kss Annie for me-"
etc, The boys all joined in "Home,
Sweet Home" aud much hankshaking
ended the last farewell.
There are 95 sick ones in our regi-
ment to-day. Candles out.
SUNDAY, Sept, II Now l will finish
my letter. Friday m. we went over
to the Preside Heights, and had
sham battle, the First Battalion against
the Second and Third. The first ba-
TALON went over first, and Maj. Bay
less placed Co. F. in squads as the ad-
vance firing line. The hill declines
into hollow, then rises again, then
another low place, and then another
hill. The enemy was supposed to adj
vance down the first hill, so "Co. F."
was placed just below the top of the
second HILL in single line. We were to
wait here, lying fiat on the ground un-
til the advance guard of the enemy was
near enough to fire, and then crawl to
the top and "Open up' on them by vol
ley firing. The rest of the first battalion
was placed on the third hill in two
lines as preserve" and Support"
The enemy tried to flank us on the
left for our left extended up close to
grove, and from this part of the enemy
emerged; but Lieut.. Eastman, with
part of eco. F )" apprehended the APP
proach and surprised them by suddenly
firing upon them. They fell back to the
"support," which was advancing and in
a short while "Co. F." was in the thick
y
then began to retreat, firing as we did
so, The enemy then gained the hill, in
which but short time before we had
been stationed, and charged down upon
us. We had to retreat, our supply of
ammunition having been exhausted,
but they were checked by our line of
support, which was at length routed.
The enemy then charged in the ere
serve" line. In the meantime "CO. F."
though her ammunition was exhaus-
ted, formed a line in the rear for a
bluff" but it didn't work, so we had to
hoist the white flag This is as nearly
as | shall ever be able to describe | sup.
pOse-'though there is much talk of our
going to Manila. We will be gone
when we are gone,
The forces at the Preside were form
eriy called "Expeditionary Forces"
now they are called Revolutionary
Forces;" for we have given so many
l exhibition drills, dress parades, etc.
4 Mr. Bayless told US yesterday that we
y would be paid Tuesday. We are sure
i of few Square meals" then. Con-
l corning what reports have said of our
n treatment, | can only say, "The half
II has not been told" No more is the
Y poor soldier allowed to say even when
II he is cursed like a cur.
X There are about three burials a day
n here. We call it "mustering out"
II i muse W no nave never dtIeuueu q Wlll-
U tary funeral cannot imagine what a sad
N and impressive sight it is. The hearse
Il is four-wheel wagon, "a caisson) upon
IN the hind wheels of which is placed 4
u broad board. Upon this the coffin is
U placed. First goes the band, playing
n the funeral march, to which the pro-
III cession keeps slow and steady step.
NJ Next comes the coffin, alongside
ii it walking the pail bearers. Then a
u firing squad" composed of eight men
m from the dead soldiers company; then
4 the chaplain, the rest of The deceased
NJ company, with only their side arms
il Then another company with guns and
Il side arms. Every soldier that is passed
nj along the route comes to attention"
II and, removing his hat with his right
" hand he places it over his heart, with
il his right arm extending across his
n heart. When the cemetery is reached
nj the "bereaved" company lines up on
u the right near the grave, with the accom-
U panylng company on the left. The lat
nj ter company presents arms" while the
IL coffin is carried to the grave, and stands
NJ at parade rest while the chaplain
u prays and performs the sad rites. Then
the coffin is lowered into the grave, the
nj firing" squad steps up to the edge OF
IL the grave, fires three volleys, and then
" the bugler takes his place at the edge
u of the grave. In sweet, sad, low notes
lI ne OloMs Taps, Wnlcn is the soldier
m boys good night" Thus one more
" mound is added to the thousands of
" others in Uncle Sans City of the
MI Dead"
NJ am in the chaplain's big tent now.
nj One of the boys has been playing some
VI old Sunday-school tunes, and it made
u me long for home, and wonder how
NJ many prayers have gone up in the
nj churches to-day for the soldier boys so
W far away.
VI Well, we are in state of "twixt"
III and tween 1t is only matter of a
m few weeks until we have the pleasure
III of "twixt" going to Manila, or
~ tween" going home. l will take
III "'tween,' if there is no fighting to be
In done.
b The hospital corps has Just passed
with man on stretcher. He was
- groaning most pitifully. A common
occurrence here.
must be ready to go down to "mess :"
a.. and mess it IL. | wish had pone OF
- clean corn bread. l once despised il.