Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-10-11
Third MANASSAS.
Business Side of a Great
Sham Battle.
HOW MILITIA IS TRAINED FOR WAR

Story of the Recent Manoeuvers as
Seen by a ouartermaster-The Tre-
nnendous Problems of Transporting
and Providing For Large Bodies Of
Troops-Interestins Details Of Sol.
dier Life In the Field.
(By Lieut.. ]. r. Lindsay.
We were up early the next morning
and got the first glimpse Of our sur
roundings. The weather was beauti-
fully clear, the atmosphere bracing
and the whole scene very lively and
interesting. Our own camp was busy
getting itself in shape and from all
sides came the notes Of bugles and
the beat of drums. Our camp was on
knoll and as far as the eye could
reach other camps were to be seen.
The situation Of the different camps
had been carefully chosen by, the gov
ernment weeks before the arrival OF
the troops and were so we'll selected
that each camp had plenty Of room
/
interfere with each other in any way.
To our right and rear was the Tennes-
see regiment; right and front the
Florida regiment; in front, New York
regiment; to the left field hospital;
further in front, Brigadier General
Bliss's headquarters, and General
Grants headquarters; also the base
hospitals.
Then came the road leading from the
railroad station and on this road were
the postoff1ce, telegraph office, tele-
phone office (centraD and row Of
tents for offices Of the chiefs Of depart
ments, quartermasters, paymasters,
etc., etc. In each camp and at every
headquarters, was a telephone so that
every part Of the camp was In speak
ing distance Of every other part.
was told that each general Of division
was followed in the field by force
which put up telephone wires, so that
the commanding general was always
able to keep in touch with his camp
and base Of supplies.
| On the same knoll with our camp were
two deep wells and two gasoline pumps
were constantly at work pumping wa
ter from these wells into a large tank
from which 1t was piped to the differ
ent camps supplied from this source.
In every cluster Of camps these tanks
could be seen. Each company had a
faucet of water at the head Of its
street, Just next to the company kitch-
en-, there were two at headquarters,
one at each end Of the line Of tents.
Water for shower baths was also
furnished from these tanks. / had
heard that the government intended to
furnish its troops with shower baths,
but thought 1t joke. However, these
baths were centainly there. They had
wooden floors and were covered by
tents. There were two at our head
quarters for officers and between our
camp and the New York regiment
were six bath tents, each with six
sprinklers, so that thirty-six men could
bathe at one time. BY the time the
water got round to the further compa-
nies, 1t was somewhat warm; and Ice
was issued to camp every day. Just
as the water came from the pump 1t
was delightfully."- cool and very pure.
Water from every well and spring
within the maneuver zone had been
analysed by the government and II 1t
| was not pure a sign was posted on the
road or path leading to 1t of bad wa
ter" Everything possible to insure the
health and comfort Of the troops had
been done by the government
btu in return 1t worked them
hard. Plenty Of dry pine wood was
| hauled to our camp by government
wagons, and soon the troops were eat
ing what smelled like a good break
fast. AS arrangements for the officers
mess were not completed, we had to
take several meals at farm house
near the camp. The people living al
this farm were named Dogan and had
lived in the same house and owned the
farm during the real war Of the '6Os.
The Dogans were mighty pleasant, nice
people and 1t was at their dining table
] that an incident happened which prov
ed beyond doubt that had the appear
ance Of being a military man OF con-
siderable rank. 1t was this way; seated
at the dining table, presided over by
one of the ladies Of the house, (and
charming hostess was she and most
| discriminating judge Of mem were
| party of officers, all Of whom were
| above me in rank; one even being
-, but I won't name his rank. The
hostess had gone out Of the room for
something connected with the meal.
| Upon her return she stopped in the
door way and seemed to be looking the
party over. A very brief survey suf-
| feed to satisfy her as to whom to
speak to, and passing entirely around
the table, she leaned over my chair and
said with quiet dignity, Colonel, may
1 speak to you about something's" l
was so inflated with pride at being
thus distinguished, that had not been
held down in my chair by the large
quantity Of the excellent dinner al
| ready eaten would have risen to the
ceiling and bumped the same. but In
my most courtly manner, replied, i
am at your service madam" She then
said, none of the people eating here
have registered, consequently we do
not know their names or rank. and l
have just discovered that there Is
private at your table. Shall I have
him remove his plate to a side table?'
said, Certainly not, madam, it makes
not the slightest difference in this par
ticular instance"
Wasn't this great for second lieu