Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-10-14

some troops were using real bullets a.
nearly every one had seen wounded
men with bandages on, being carried
to the rear in hospital wagons. Thii
report was true except as to the actua
wounds. Desiring that every brancf
of the service might be brought int
ph Y, the company officers were given
say three tags. These tags indicated
gun shot wounds and were to be at
tached to some three men in the com.
pany. The hospital corps would come
to the company, take the three men
lactually bandage them for the wounds
described on the tags, put them In ar
ambulance and see how quickly this
could be done and the wounded mer
gotten to a place Of safety. After the
first day, however, this was discon-
tinued as the hospital corps was kept
busy looking after men who were real
lly sick from exhaustion, sprained an
Ikles, and various minor troubles incl
dent to forced marches.
Nothing has yet been said as to the
sanitary arrangement Of the camp
Before the arrival Of the troops sinks
had been dug. Those for officers COW
cred with tents and for the men with
brush. Lime, straw and oil were fur
nished by the government with orders
to put the straw in the sinks, saturate
lit with oil and burn; afterwards to
put in the lime. Before leaving camp
orders were given to fill up the sinks
and burn the brush. Large metal gar
bage cans were given to each compa-
ny to put slop from its kitchen in and
this slop was hauled away daily.
A want Of perfect cleanliness in our
camp is the next criticism have to
make; but as was in charge of the
camp and had been for some time pre-
vious to the inspection by the gov
ernment officer, 1 will have to take the
blame. However, the camp was not so
very dirty, according to a militia
mans view and it was cleaned up af-
terwards.
The officer. making the inspection
was Captain T. Sumter Bratton, for
merly of Yorkville, now surgeon In
United States army. When DR.. Bratton
came to my tent and told me his bus
mess, I promptly invited him to in
spect the sink used by officers, as 1t
was the nearest. The truth is, fear
ed our camp would not bear critical
examination. The doctor said he
would not bother with officers quar-
ters; but wanted to see the condition
Of company streets, etc, that we would
commence with our own home compa-
ny from Yorkville.
After lecturing me little as to what
must be done towards cleaning up the
camp, the doctor invited me to dinner
with him at the base hospital. AS this
was just in sight Of my own quarters
II went and besides the dinner, was
much interested in the arrangement
of the hospital which the doctor show
ed me through. He also called my at
ltention to a fact which would prob
ably prevent disease, even If the camps
were in bad condition. That was the
almost total absence Of flies. I had
not noticed this before, but it was GER
tainly the case.
The only commissioned officer left In
camp outside Of quartermaster and
Icommissary departments, was the
chaplain, Captain w. J. Snider. I be-
lieve he did go to the front for a few
hours, but most Of his time was spent
in camp where he was very popular
Now Captain Snider not only was a
fine fellow; but when he had his dress
uniform on, he was the handsomest Of
fcer in the regiment, and I suspect
that he knew it. At any rate he took
Occasion to make a joke out Of one OF
two things that happened to me in my
capacity as commander Of the camp
and / propose to heap Goals of fire or
his head by saying that don't think
he earned the captains pay he drew, II
only preaching and praying is consider
ed. We got there one Sunday, left the
next Sunday. consequently the chap
to me confidentially, that he wished
he could even ask blessing at the Of
ficers' table; but as they did not all sit
down to table at the same time and
commencement Of a meal, he could not
do it. I am partial to preachers and g
good Judge of their qualifications and
l do not hesitate to say that our chap
received, if for no other reason thar
his ability, instantly to become blind
or deaf, and as instantly to recover his
sight or hearing.
Joking aside, I heard it remarked
more than once, that Captain Snidel
was Going twice the good among the
men by his kindly consideration Of
them, and his own presence than he
could have done by lecturing them.
The chaplain's best joke on me, sc
he says, was this. The privates were
given many rounds of blank cartridges
for use in the battles. OF course, they
did not use them all up and on Wed.
!. nesday as stragglers were coming into
camp there was a constant popping
None, or a very few of our boys hat
returned to camp and there had beer
no shooting within our lines. 1 wa!
standing in front of my tent when al
} orderly rode up to the coloners ten
and asked who was in command. Tht
chaplain pointed to me and the orderl!
rode up, saluted and said, Genera
Bliss compliments to the commander o
this camp, and says that the shooting
of blank cartridges must be stopped
otherwise he will be compelled to senC