The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-01-18
CHATTER Continued.

>. service Tor three years or during
the war, unless sooner discharged by
proper authority.
Recruiting parties with squads
were daily arriving. The Colonels
long rows of neat cottage buildings
were full, and a large quantity Of
lumber procured 10 build quarters.
We were bountifully supplied with
excellent beef and bacon. The
services of an experienced baker were
secured, who furnished ms good bread,
full rations of coffee and sugar, and
often a wagon load Of potatoes were
dumped into camp as a donation from
some good old farmer But the in
sufficient number Of skillets, frying
pans and coffee pots, promiscuously
gathered up and brought in by
thoughtful recruits, and the great
number Of self appointed, inexperien-
ced cooks, caused confusion and no
little discord. To avoid this a certain
number Of cooks were selected for
each company or part of company,
20 attend to culinary affairs alone
After this judicious arrangement we
lived well for soldiers, and many Of
those company cooks were there
given mick names" that they carried
throughout the war. One Harris,
of Company IL. for his scrupulous
cleanliness and dexterity in handling
the dish cloth, received the aifec-
tionate name Of mother" / Ward.
Company +, kindly answered to the
name Of Aunt Sally" etc.
The 4th Of October, Capt Jamison
arrived with a full company from
about the three forks Of the Kentucky
River. A few days later, Capt.
Winhorn with another squad arrived
and joined US, thus augmenting our
company, III, 10 about sixty. Lieut.
c. Benton soon after came in with a
large squad, that subsequently be-
came Company f. BY the 18th
October there were no less than
fifteen parts of companies and full
companies in camp. Col. Barnes in
formed us that companies could have
only until the 10Th November TO
complete their organizations. Then
considerable splicing Of squads took
place, and parts of squads boiling to
other parts of companies, the men
not being pleased with the selfish ar
rangements their recognized leaders
we're trying 10 make with others. Sc
curing 10 themselves a lieutenantcy,
and making no provision for even a
non commissioned officer for any OF
their devoted followers. Thus men
were, after being sworn in, allowed
to leave any company not full and
join what company they chose, and
then have a choice in che selection Of
company officers, even down TO Sth
corporal.
The 23d October our encampment
was thrown into a Juror Of excitement
on the receipt Of the news of Gen.
Zollicoifer aud his rebel horde being
defeated in the spirited little fight
at Wild Cat Mountain, by a few
regiments Of lndianians and a few
raw Kentucky recruits About the
18th October, Captains Mayhem, Nc
Daniel and j b. Banton's companies
from Barbourville and Manchester
arrived at the Springs. Our re-
ception of this important addition 10
our command was enthusiastically
warm and noisy. These companies
had smelt powder at Wild Cat, and
we met them in the town Of Irvine
with music and much cheering, aud
escorted them as conquering heroes
to our camp.
The measles had broken out among
us, and Notwithstanding good medi-
cal aid was secured, several hundred
of the Eighth boys went through this
sickening contagion Though none
died Immediately from the disease, it
no doubt subsequently caused the
death Of large number
Several hours each day were spent
in an awkward attempt at drill, Pro
gress was unavoidably slow, as nearly
all the self-appointed officers and
drill sergeants were as little skilled
in. tactics as the men, who found it
difficult to habituate themselves to
being disciplined by such awkward
superiors. Lieutenant Colonel May,
Major g. b. Broadhus and Captain
Powell had served in the Mexican
war as Lieutenahts, and Captain r.
b. Hickman had attended a military
school few months previous to
joining the Eighth. All the other
officers were novices in tactics and
regulations.
From the lst to the 10th of No
vember the principal excitement in
camp was the splicing Of squads into