The leader., 1905-06-28

W Wise VOO UuhO IuO SllONhOe w I'LL
an early start and only Is miles
from Vicksburg, they dauntlessly
fought their way with the mos
quitos through Big Black swamp
and came off with flying colors.
Tirelessly they trudged on over
the hills and through the valleys
and at last from the heights as the
sunset tints were fading, they
viewed in the distance their hearts
desire, Vicksburg. They camped
about quarter Of a mile from the
city on the lawn of I. X. Ham
NETT where they were treated
very kindly.
1t was Saturday night and the
boys wanted to see the sights, so
they discarded their overalls and
straw bonnets for their Sunday
go-meetin' clothes and took in the
town, and most of them for the
first time looked upon the rushing
waters of the Mississippi. 1t is
to be noted that the majority of
the boys disliked Vicksburg be-
cause of its many vile saloons.
They returned to camp very
tired and ate late luncheon, On
Sunday morning they attended
the First Baptist church by COM
mon consent. Clyde in reference
to the pipe organ, remarked about
the size of the pipes in that big
steam heater. Leon Oberschmidt
speaking of the racks on the back
of the seats for the individual
communion cups, said to the Sec
retary that Clyde did not know
what those finger rests were for,
and placed his handkerchief in
one of them.
Upon arriving in camp after
church they enjoyed their humble
meal of pancakes, corn, ham and
coffee and were then treated to ice
cream by Mr.. and Mrs. Hammett,
which was greatly appreciated.
During the afternoon they went
over the famous battlefield and
we're deeply interested in the
great cannon that dot the field.
They enjoyed charging ub the hills
and recapturing the cannon that
once belched forth their breath of
fame and death, but now silent
reminders of the awful scene of
long ago. They saw the lines
where the Ohio troops made their
last advances May %, 1868, and
we're held back by the valiant
Southern troops. The boys shall
always like to mention that they
have, been over that historic ground
that once was drenched in human
blood. Returning to camp they
we're given a cold supper by Mrs.
Hammett, and then sweet repose
after tiresome day.
Monday morning they again
marched to town to see the sights.
1t was hot day and the boys be-
ing near the City Hall and thirsty
the secretary took them in to get
them some ice water but learned
from an official that the City Hall
was not a public place and that
water was not flee. The little,
official even threatened them with
arrest, for bringing such large
crowd in there, but the secretary
saw that the boys all had a drink
before retiring from the unhospit-
able place. Fifteen cents was left
at the Mayors Office to pay for
the water. The boys then did
some purchasing and went out to
the National Cemetery, bat did
not take much interest in it as
they said there were only Yankees
buried there.
During the afternoon Lucien
was telegraphed to come home the
next morning on account of the
serious illness of his sister. Oys-
ter soup was served for supper
and after the usual fun the boys
dropped off to sleep.
The secretary drove to town
Tuesday morning with Lucien and
left him at the depot, where he
took the one O'Clock train for
home. Lucien was very much
disappointed in having to miss
the return with the boys and the.
boys were sorry too. The tent
was struck at Camp Vicksburg
Tuesday about noon, and the boys
started homeward. They were glad
to get back at the plums and
blackberries again, though they
enjoyed themselves immensely in
old Vicksburg. It had been a
hot, beautiful day and they had
almost reached Big Black river,
when Felix excitedly called to the
others to come back and see the
fire. They hurriedly returned and
discovered the supposed fire to be
a blazing sunset beyond a thick
woodland, and the boys we'll,
they laughed.
Arriving at the river they we're
weary and with the usual light
luncheon over, they parched
marshmallows until they could
stand no more and then retired
only to be disturbed by the rain
beating in upon them. There was a
great deal Of shifting of blankets
and weary boys and all we're soon