Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-08-10
Large Volunteer. Army of Young
Men Are Well Provided For
at Army Training Camp-Y.
M. c. A. and Red Cross Doing
Good Work.

".
The soldiers expect TO be move,
soon to Admission, Alabama, wher,
there is better ground for target pre- :
tice.
Some account of what / saw may be
OF interest to the readers of this M.
per.
| Fort Oglethorpe, or more clearly
stated Post Oglethorpe, is situated in
the famous Chickamauga park, where
u great battle, or rather battles. were
fought In the year 1868, including tho
Battle of the Clouds" fought on
Lookout mountain, which overooks
-" park and Missionary Ridge, near
by and Snodgrass Hill, which is in the
park. The army post proper, where
the regular army and officers houses
are located. Is situnted OH the northern
and Eastern part of Chiokamnurn
which embraces hundreds of acres of
ground with broad parade grounds,
groves Of trees and some parts in ori-
ginal Forest. 1t ia an ideal location for
la training and mobilization camp,
not too near nor too far from the city
OIL Chattanooga, about miles, with
ample car facilities, etc.
10000 Troops There.
There are 10000 soldiers In camp
at Fort Ogethorpe, including the
regular army post which hns been
established there for long time
established I believe. directly after
the SpnnishAmerican war There
are several regiments infantry, cav.
airy and artillery. There il one regi-
ment Of cplorcd troops. They are
said to be fine soldiers. Skirting the
Post arc the comfortable homes of
the officers, hospital is also cstab-
lished there, in tents. The side of the
tents were all raised and comfortable
looking cots and beds could be soon.
as clean as q penny pnd spotlessly
white, What do they do at an army
post? They drill and drill and then
drill some more. Tho soldiers list
en- to lectures, md the officers and
others too, have books on military
tactics which they study.
This war game, particularly this
modern war game, is 10 child's play.
Its one continuous school of prepara-
tion and training from morning until
night, winter and summon,
Tho new army of volunteers are
located in another section of the
park. These boys have been there
about month undergoing intensive
training. They are housed in tents
There were as many Rs seven boys
in one tent snw, but the usual
number is from two to four. They
| sleep on cots, do thcir own washing,
an cat their meals sitting on the
ground. If it rains or is muddy.
they spread an oil cloth Oh the
ground.
The cooking is done under a large
shed by soldiers. The hoys line up
nt mess call, each man has tin
plate, cup, knife, fork and spoon
They file by the kitchen and have
their plates filled. The boys, rs stat
ed, do their own washing, hang their
clothes on line in front of their
tents to dry. saw one mana col
lege graduate, too, taking in his
wash OH Sunday afternoon, from n
line. / saw others washing their
clothes. Sunday is "wash day" gen
orally, as there is little time for it
during the week. A boy has n small
table, made usually of n goods box,
which he turns upsida down, spreads
his garments ON it n1d uses II brush.
There is d laundry convenient, where
the boys can go. their washing done
if they prefer, and have money to
pay for II, which is not generally the
case.
The boys get up at about 5:15,
when reville is sounded, are given n
few minutes to dress ad then "fall
in" line for the march to the cook
tent. After meals it is work, work,
work.
Boys Well Cared For.
Let no one think, however, that
the boys are not we'll treated. They
have an abundance Of good, strong
food, and the boys told me it was
well cooked The camp all through
is kept spotlessly clean. No city in
the State, perhaps, is kept cleaner
and few small towns are as well kept
There are shower baths provided,
and cleanliness is compulsory. Uncle
Sam is doing his best for his boys
and the boys are satisfied and happy
They are growing strong and gain
; ing an experience to be had in NJ
other way, and that will be of untolt
, benefit to them obedience to or
ders and work" arc the two absolut,
requisites to which there is no ex
ception and no excuses asked or nc
cepted for failure. The physica
training is proving of untold benefit
A.; Habits of systematic performance o
!. duty, are enforced upon every mai
alike. There are no preference
D shown. Every man is on a wholesome
Democratic level. 1t is common
d sight to see University and colleg
: graduates currying and cleaning tn
horses and stables, digging ditche
: or cleaning fields. 1t is grea
school for the training and makin
e of men.