The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-13
CHAPLAIN MEDBURY'SLECTURE
He Describes an Indiana Regiments
Life in Southern Camps.

Rev. C.. s. Medbury. of Angola. who
served as chaplain of the One-hundred-and-
ffty-seventh Indiana Regiment during the
Spanish-American war. gave a lecture last
night at the Broadway NJ. Z. Church. at
Broadway and T~wenty-second street, on
Some Experiences as a Soldier in the
Spanish-American War;" Mr.. Medbury is
a young man and the members of the regi-
ment. on their return. spoke fondly of his
services and kindly attention 10 the boys.
During the widespread sickness and death
at the camp at Fernandina Mr.. Medbury
worked necessarily to make the life easier
for the suffering young soldiers until the
fever claimed him. too. He was brought
back to Indiana with his cousin. whose
home was in Ohio. Before the chaplain re-
covered his cousin died. The cousin had
erected a pole ON the top of his family's
house and had flown a flag there before he
left for the South. The chaplain said last
night that the flag was still. flying. though
tattered and nearly worn out.
Mr.. Medbury began his address with a de-
scription CT the gathering of the companies
at the home towns and the trip to Camp
Mount. The day OF mastering in came and
the boys marched with quick steps to the
mastering officer and took the oath. mo
one knew what was coming in the South
land" said the chaplain, but so patriotic
were those young men that when they went
back TO the barns they cheered and exulted
that they were in the service and were
ready to go where Uncle Sam bid them
serve him."
He said that the soldiers had not yet quit
talking of the loving courtesy the people
took the trains for the South that day when
the regiment marched from the fair
grounds through the city between walls of
wildly enthusiastic neonle- AT one sion on
the trip South, Mr.. Medbury related, a
typical Southern farmer said. w are
fght with our boys" and so was the
whole Nation" said the chaplain. right
smart glad that that was true" The lack
of water and the dust that made the whole
camp. cough at Chickamauga was dis
spiriting enough, Mr.. Medbury said, but
when the order came to move to Tampa
seemed to mean ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
The trip to Tampa had its p%leasantries.
There was the flag all the way" Mr.; Med.
Southern people. All the way there were
Uncle Toms and Topsies-Uncle Tom Just as
reached Tampa on the morning of June 8.
and Colonel Studebaker received a telegram
to go on to Port Tampa. 1t seemed to mean
for Cuba and it sent a thrill through the
train. AS one OF the boys said. MI. Med
on place and then got orders not to jump.
At Tampa and F~ernandina. according to
the chaplain's narrative, 1t seemed that
the mos luitoeS came on guard at b O'CLOCK
In the e, ening and were relieved at 4 o'clock
in the morning by. the flies. The bacon
piled up like cords of wood did not stimulate
the appetite. The boys lived In pup tents
and the rain poured down in sheets. There
were days and days of grubbing annette
roots at Tampa and cutting cactus push at
Fernandina.
Mr.. Medbury described the homes from
which many of the boys came as "carpeted
and comfortable. with pictures on the walls
ond ufd0 nnn,f forte hla beds " and then mic
tured six of the boys sleeping In a nine
foot tent and marching TO the cook tent
with q tin plate for their meals. He
sketched with the rapidity of thorough
earnestness the .stagnant pools OF water
after the rain had fallen for days and days.
The sand soaked 1T up until one couid not
dig twelve inches into the ground without
striking water. The sinks were pools or
stale water on which noated the refuse OF
turned it into pest holes breathing poison.
picture such a camp" he said, and then
think tina we were there eight weeks. Is II
a wonder that the boys became homesick!
Some Of So-m 4hs Soys let k so ag yet ht there % Siee
ninety-nine out OF one hundred VINO grltuiy
and bravely stood it without repining. and
1 honor and love them for the glory OF their
between the hospital tents and the sick
rooms at home. THE best care that could
be given there was given at the hospitals,
he said. but Ii was meager. Inc deatn
scenes that occurred every day. the solemn
funerals, the shipping of the bodies nome,
he described with the eloquence or one VINO
| was there. He ended with an appeal for the
patriotism that IS needed in the peace that
has followed the war, and after he mad
done many of the members of the audience
went to the front to shake hands with the
chaplain of the misunderstanding
seventh.