The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-02-01
History of the Eighth Kentucky
Thrilling Story of the Part this Gallant
Regiment Took in Our Civil War

deep snow was scraped away, and
tents erected in regular order.
Marques we're issued to the officers,
two to a company The next day
the men were organized into messes
of eight men each. Officers messes
were also established, with regular
cooks. Thus we began to live quite
in military style The officers com
missary bills were light. The men
drew more rations than they could
consume, but instead of this surplus
being accounted for as company say
ings, the men cheerfully gave it to
their Captains and Lieutenants. But
the reader will remember that the
science of war has TO be learned be
fore il is practised. We remained
here at Camp Swamp" seventeen
days, drilling vigorously whenever
the weather would permit. About
ten days after our arrival here some
Of the men began to sicken with a
kind Of fever afterward called camp
fever-which proved fatal to many
of the Eighth during the winter, es-
pecially those who had recently re-
covered from the measles. Our first
death occurred the lSth-Granyille
Lady, Company c. We buried him
according to regulations. The con
valescents arrived from Irvine the
10Th, the men continuing to increase
the sick list Colonel Barnes de
cided to move camp 10 a higher and
dryer place.
The 10Th we moved camp half
mile east of Lebanon, and pitched
tents in Spaulding's apple orchard
a high piece Of ground, but unpro-
tected from the cold winds. Our
Quartermaster appeared to expert
ence much difficulty in procuring
sufficient straw for bedding. The
few teams Of citizens which came
from Estill County with the regi-
ment were kept busy all day in trans
ferring the camp and garrison. A
large number of the men were sick,
and the company officers began to
look more closely after the health
and comfort Of the men. Details
we're sent into adjacent cornfelds to
gather dead grass. Captain Powell
gave Company B permission to take
hay from stack near camp, but
Colonel Barnes soon stopped them,
when the Captain and the Colonel
INDUCED in some short words about
unauthorized and promiscuous forag
ing The men gathered up old boards
and placed them under the straw
on the ground for hunks. Neither
surgeons, officers nor men appeared
to realize the Importance Of having
the hunks raised of the ground,
where the straw soon absorbed moist
ure enough to kill healthy man in
two weeks But the line officers
were anxious to do all they could for
their men, and money was made up
by them and sheet-iron stoves pur-
chased for each tent. Still the sick
ness increased at a fearful rate.
The last Of December our Quarter
master received our transportation
outfit twelve old army wagons and
number of unbroken mules. Our
newly appointed teamsters had some
lively times drilling their awkward
squads Of drafted four footed recruits.
Hauling our daily supply of wood
gave them an excellent opportunity
to practice the mule in the mud.
As the Christmas holidays APP
preached a number of married men
of the Eighth began 10 importune
Colonel Barnes for furloughs 30 visit
their families Some had enlisted
only a few days before the regiment
marched from Estill Springs, and
had left their domestic affairs in a
very bad condition. But the wise
old Colonel we'll knew that il he
granted the married men leave of
absence the boys would urgently
plead to be allowed to 60 home to
see their intended wives, and as it
was impossible to furlough all, none
were granted. As we had not yet
been mustered into the United States
service, a good many believed they
would risk the terrors of a court
martial, and on the morning of the
26th several members of Companies
H and f failed to put in an appear
ance at roll call. A few days after
Lieutenant Cox, of Company IL, pro
ceeded to Madison and Estill Counties
with orders to bring back the alb
sentees. Several amusing incidents
occurred while the Lieutenant was
collecting these fond husbands, who
afterward proved to be the best and
bravest soldiers.
Isaac T, the father of several
children and the husband of a good
a. Il