New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-04
IN Il BIG ARMY CAMP.
Human Nature Side of the Gather
inc at Manassas.

'Tentng tonight on the old camp ground"
means more than song to the thirty thousand
Yoldiers. regulars and volunteers-the largest
army assembled on this continent since the final
muster out in 1S65-who are to-day encamped
upon the ground memorable for two Union
defeats. the first Of which was the opening bat
tie Of the great Civil War. Although the mimic
viii furnish endless historic "reminiscences
about this battlefield 10 the outside world. the
>aemores Of the camp. the strange. the pleas
mt and the arduous phases Of the soldiers life,
the hours around the campfire or in the leaking
tent, the rollicking in the company street, the
woe of the recruit and the romance Of the vet
eran will be the memories that will last longest
with the combatants.
First of all. the soldier is a sociable being.
whose life on duty is only minor detail. Drill,
guard mount, sentry duty, standing roIcan'
IRE the things best forgotten. since they are
only routine
The hour when the first orderly brought in
he bundles of home mail is far pleasanter to
remember than the long hours OF unloading
baggage. and it will longer remain in their
minds when the veterans of this latest Manas-
sas take their departure. The CHEEKY 'Poky,
Poky. Beans" OF the mess call will be a happy
recollection Of this third Bull Run. when the
scientific flank march the final rally on
ground where "Stonewall" stood. or Beaure-
gard wavered. Johnston marched to the
rebel aid are relegated to the works Of strate
gists. The incidents of the day and the march.
not the object the result, make the life of
the private soldier.
You ask me what I remember of Bull RUM"
said white haired veteran. who fought and
marched and retreated in the black July days OF
1851 What 1 best remember is how, after We
got tired of retreating climbed up on an
army wagon that had been abandoned and filed
haversacks with sugar. My, but did
have a sweet tooth! Then went on back in
the rain. / have forgotten about most of what
went before"
II would Joke, but II is a fact that in
sham warfare hurt and more are sick
AT the first sick call that sounded at Manassas
the advance guard of the 'sogers." who find
beating the doctor" a successful method of
az oding drill and guard, focked to the tent
where the Red Cross flag floated. For busy
hour the surgeon chose the really sick from the
Enthusiastically lazy. with harsh but humorous
scrutiny.
You've got a cramp in your foot?" he Ques-
tons a great husky chap, who looks forward TO
a day of rest What you need is TO be exer-
cised, not excused" Thus with touch-and-go
justice he settles the health questions for the
day, and few the men whose condition really
appeals to him and for whom comfortable cot
beds in the hospital tent made ready.
Camp life at Manassas is a life in the field.
The ordinary camp life is thus robbed of half
the drudgery and most of the routine. Instead
of pacing endless guard lines about regimental
camp, at Peekskil, the New-York National
Guardsman is out on post, guarding road
protecting a bridge, and night and day scanning
the distance eagerly for the coming of an enemy.
The qui vive of real campaign is there. and
only the trying strain of actual battle is
wanting And yet, back of the outposts, the life
is the same, in or in peace No sooner
had the first regiment OF soldiers left its
trains on the old battlefield. and marched to ths