Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1898 — UNCLE SAM'S FIGHTERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UNCLE SAM'S FIGHTERS

THE War Department has made a new assignment of the volunteer army to camps of concentration. About 13,000 have been assigned to Tampa in order that they may become seasoned to the climate and improved by association with the regulars. They will be ready to go with the regulars ns the vanguard when the word comes. The t hies camp will be at Chickamauga, to which about 58,000 troops have been assigned. The camp near Washington will have about 20,000, und the reserves, numbering about 24,000, arerilkely to be sent to a camp to be established on Long Island at a point convenient for transportation either by lund or water. About 12,000 have been assigned to San Francisco for the expedition to the Philippines, but there Is a proposition under consideration to increase that number. Probably 1,500 regulars will go with the volunteers to Manila. 4 About 4,000 volunteers have been assigned to New Orleans, 1,000 to Mobile and 1,000 to Key West, but the forces at those points will be largely increased when the order “On to Cuba” is given. Movements of State volunteers to the points of concentration continue to go forward rapidly. Regiments from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio have left their camps for Chickamauga. Also 200 of Illinois’ naval reserves have gone south for service on the warships of Admiral Sampson’s fleet. Minnesota sends one regiment to the Philippines and two to Chickamauga, while a regiment from Nebraska and one from Kansas have started for the Pacific coast for embarkation to the scene of Admiral Dewey’s victory.

ILLINOIS.

Springfield correspondence: The volunteers lately bivouacked at Camp Tanuer will soon be distributed at the several points designated by the War

Department. The exodus commenced when the Third regiment, Col. Bennitt, and the Fifth, Col. Culver, left the camp eu route to Chickamungu. It is believed that it is the intention to move all the regiments now there to that point. There they can be brigaded with regiments of regulars and have the advantage of the experience of the regulars l>efore being taken to the front for actual service. The Third regiment left by way of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, nud the Fifth by way of the Illinois Central. The Third took the tents of the eavalr'y, and Col. Young’s men moved into the building vacated by Col. Bennitt. The Seventh surrendered its tents to the Fifth regiment and Gol. Kavanagh’s men are now Quartered in the sheep and swine sheds. Col. Kavanagh, however, still makes his headquarters in the field, as does Lieut. Col. Morinrity and Father Kelly. Orders for the First regiment to move to Cbickarnauga we sc received later and the fcommand was obeyed with due dispatch. Col. Henry L. Turner is in command of the regiment. WISCONSIN. Milwaukee correspondence: The Second Wisconsin volunteers, Col. Born in command, has left Milwaukee for Chickamuuga. The "badger” soldiers traveled on a special train of three seceach section having about fifteen coaches. Col. Born has 1,025 men under him, who will do honor to their State on the battle field. The regiment marched out of camp amid cheers of the men of the First and the few spectators who were drawn into camp through curiosity. This leaves the First the only regiment in fCHTBp, and it is expected that orders to move will come within a few days. The Third regiment of volunteers had preced* ed the Second by a few hours. A notable; feature of the departure of the Second from camp was a military mass, celebrated by Father Gerend, president of St. John’s institute. The mass took place at one of the exposition buildings, which was

filled with Catholic members of the First and Second regiments. The young soldiers appeiwed in military array, and the singing was by the of the Milwaukee choirs. In a rousing sermon Father Gerend urged the young soldiers to be true to their country. They then .took communion and were blessed for the .journey, from which many might not return. After the Second left matters caimed'down and Col. Sehadel had an opportunity to get his .command in shape without any trouble, from crowds of curiosity seekers. INDIANA. ‘ - i 'V' Indianapolis correspondence: < Amid the cheers of thousands of enthusiastic citizens, the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh regiment of Indiana volunteers and Twenty-seventh battery pf g*tillery ffbin Indianapolis, and the Twen-ty-eighth from .Fort Wayne, left Indianapolis for Chickamauga.. The troop left

over the J., M. & I. Railway, going South by way of Louisville. The regiment, formerly the Third of the National Guard, marched down Meridian street on their way from Camp Mount to the Union station. The streets were lined with people for six miles, who cheered lustily as the Indiana soldiers, in marching costume, loaded down with blankets and equipment, marched along with a step which showed that the two weeks in Camp Mount had not been wasted. At the station they were met by a crowd, and it was impossible for the officers to preserve order in the ranks. Good-bys were said, and the men were Joaded into the four long trains. Lieut. Col. May did not leave with his regiment, but will remain and attend the removal of the other troops. The One Hundred and Fifty-eighth left

the next day over the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton, via Cincinnati, and the One Hundred and Sixtieth over the Big Four. The One Hundred and Fifty-ninth remains at Camp Mount until further orders. OHIO. Columbus correspondence: The Fourth regiment of Ohio volunteers, formerly the Fourteenth Ohio National Guard, headquarters at Columbus, left Camp Bushnell at Columbus for

Chickamauga. The start was heralded by many bells and whistles and the discharge of the cannon in the capitol grounds. Thousands of people thronged the strffets. The departure was made the patriotic display. Among' t» organizations preceding the regiment to,, the station were Wells and MdCgy posts, G. A'Cft, the Fourteenth regfeient Veterami’, the Catholic moftcfttriers i n uniform, the Epwottn Guards and a squad of police. The Columbus battalion Fourteenth regiment and Neddemeyers’ band were la

the procession. The regiment hat nearly 1,000 men, under command of Col. Alonzo B. Coh, and has seen much local service, including several mining riots, tb* defense of the court house at Washington Court House, where a mob attempted to lynch Jasper Dolby, and the famous Cincinnati riots, where fifty-two men were killed. lOWA. Des Moines correspondence: After related delays the Second regiment of the lowa National Guard has been nAistqred into the United States service as the Fiftieth lowa infantry. Every company in the regiment is full, but the hand is short ten members, who asked for and secured discharges. Much indignation is felt that members of the band should have retired from the service at this time. Much regret is felt by the State authorities that lowa was late in getting its first regiment ready, but the War Department is blamed for the delay. Surgeon George J. Newgardner was sixty miles from a railroad when the order was sent him to take charge of the physical examination of the lowa troops and he did not arrive here until late. All the 'officers have been determined upon and the examinations of the privates 6tf the

other three regiments can be completed in a very few days. The delay in mustering in has been utilized by the State authorities in more fully equipping the men. All are rnjpvided with overcoats and woolen and rubber blankets so that they are in no danger of suffering hardship from exposure to the weather.

MICHIGAN. Island Lake correspondence: The Thirty-first regiment, Michigan volunteers, has left Camp Eaton for Chattanooga, Col. Gardener in command. The regiment consists of forty-seven officers and 980 men, and departed from camp in a train composed of three first-class Wagner toadies for the officers, thirty-seven tourist sleepers for the men, one horse car and five freight cars. They will travel over the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western to West Detroit, thence over the Michigan Central and C.. H. & D. to Cincinnati, thence over the Queen and Crescent to Chattanooga. Early Sunday morning the necessary cars arrived as Camp Eaton and the task of loading then commenced. Supplies of all kinds were issued to the officers and the men left camp with everything except rifles and ammunition. More than half of the rifles used by the State are unfit for service; so Col. Gardener decided to take his men to camp without rifles, and secure new ones from the Government. Thousands of men and women visited the camp during the day and bade " farewell to their husbands, sons, brothers ami sweethearts. The Thirty-second infantry is awaiting orders to move, but it will be a week or more before the other two regiments are ready, ns the supply of clothing and equipments has run out.

NEBRASKA. Lincoln correspondence: The First battalion of the First regiment dropped its tents in response to the signal from a bugle at 8 o’clock the other morning, and the loading of the baggage on the Burlington and Missouri train that was to take it to San Francisco began. The Union Pacific was ready to receive the Second battalion, but as Col. Bratt and the headquarters officers were to go with this battalion it was held until the Third could be started. Shortly after 1) o’clock the four companies composing the First Iwttalion marched down to the train at the fair grounds. Each man carried his blanket in a roll slung over his left shoulder; his knapsack, canteen, tin plate and cup, besides the musket. As the battalion lined up alongside the train a large crowd came down to bill the “boys” goodby. There were many tearful relatives and friends in the throng. The Second regiment band marched down and played the “Semper Fidel is” march. The "trumpeters <4 the Second regiment joined in the chorus. Afterward the band played “America,” “Red. White and Blue,” and .“The Star-Spangled Banner,” and then the last good-bys were spoken. At the station downtown a crowd of. several thousand people gathered to get. a last glimpse of the departing soldiefs. The train \tas composed of one Pullman, nine tourist sleepers, one baggage and one box car. From the side door of the baggage car floated the flags of the United State* and Cuba. The crowd at the station waved hats, flags and handkerchiefs until the

train was out of sight.' The other trains carrying the rest of the regiment got away amid similar scenes. The Burlington, Elkhorn and Missouri Pacific railroads will transport the Second Nebraska regiment to Chickamauga from Omaha. The rate will be about sl9 a man. This will make the cost of transporting this regiment to the South about $20,000, while the cost of transporting the First regiment to the Pacific coast is approximated at $40,000. The cost of transporting the regulars from this department was about SBO,OOO.

COMPANY COOKS AT WORK.

COMPANY DRILL.

OHIO NATIONAL GUARD CAMP AT COMLUMBUS.