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ALL IS WELL WITH COMPANY IAnd the Splendid Twelfth Regiment--Col. Bobleter Writes a GratifyingLetter Concerning Rations andOther Concerns of His Command,and Others Give Items of InterestNYto the Hosts of Friends of the Boysin Blue Among the Standard’sReaders.cesmern-ilol-theCamp Thomas, Juue 14—To the Standakd-Yuur copy ot the Globe ot Juue 8m wuii the •‘editorial blue pencil” uotes on marKin.at baud. Mauy ibauks fur the tulormalioa. i had 110 idea that there was so much starvation lu this camp,however it would be rank heresy to doubt sucii an authority as the Glooe, and I shall instruct the commissary ol the 12th to make requisition for chickens, oysters, tittle ueck clams, Westphalian hams, English breakfast bacuu aud any other things he can tiiluK of to tempt the appetites of their poor mess. Seriously 1 wish tosay that the men who are suffering have only themselves to biame. lhe government ration is issued in full In this regiment, auU I am satisfied lu every regiment on the grouud; to convince you that It is plenty I give it:\\i lbs. fresh beef, 7 days In 10.3 toatic;ire-is oz. fresh bread dally, or 1 lb. of hard.1 lb. potatoes daily or 11 1-5 oz. potatoes.4 4 5 oz. canned cabbage or beets, or 12 4-5 oz. potatoes and 3% oz onions per day.2 2-5 oz. sugar dally.1 3-5 oz. green coffee.12 oz. bacon, 3 days In 10.10-25 oz, salt dally.1-25 oz. black pepper, dally.2 3 5 oz. beaus, daily,1 3-5 oz. rice, dally.lofthever-[ooklverlavethecansnishmath emudmitecomer ailvericansi vir-meysubvenedaftertiagoid, ofstina£ and•us mit hisi theI routdark-twinu flingimenttheymentThe above is the field ration and troops who know or will take Hie pains to learn how to use It can save a large portion ot it as witness: This regiment has within the last seven days returned to the commissary 123-5 loaves of bread which it could uot consume (and it was good bread too ,tie saving ou bacon can nit be stated so accurately as me companies traue it off to tbe natives for fresh pork, vegetables, milk, butter, etc aud this bacon or sow belly” is esteemed a luxury by them (the natives). So mult;fh tor eatables, now lor water. Each regiment Is entitled to 31 teams—a number tnat there Is no possibility of using, eveu if water is hauled for every purpose. In this regiment three teams haul the water lor cooktug and drinking purposes aud supply the regiment fully The men go to the Chickamauga or the pipe line for bathing or washiug clothes.Id conclusion, let me say that there Is no need for any man to suffer for food or water and u neither Is wasted no man will suffer. Oue ot the captains in this regiment lu dealing with some ‘ kickers ’ simply issued the food iu the state In which it came from the commissary aud allowed the kickers to cook it themselves; the consequence was that the ‘‘kickers” were nearly starved aud had an abundance of material to eat. I asked him how his experiment worked; he told me that his kickers were now the best satisfied men In his company, were living at the compauy mess and taking ou flesh every day. I wish to give the press of the state” a pointer: Don’t go luto this thing so deep that it cannot get out with credit to itself, 1 uearly forgot the two instances of outrage in the march from St. Paul to camp Ramsey aud from Kossville to this camp. Regarding these I wish to say that iu the first instance each company was directed to provide itself with one day s cooked ratious before leavlug its home station. Some few of the companies neglected to do this aud iu consequence suffered. .Nearly all the companies had a big jamboree” at trie home station the night before leavlug and staid up ail night, so of course w ere not iu a condition to march, but you will admit that was no fault of auyoue iu authority. Let me cite the Winona companies: They were ordered to their armories the evening before. All visitors were excluded at lu p m. aud tbe men went to sleep; were awakeued at 4 a, m„ had breakfast and took the train at 7:30 a. in., arrived at St. Paul In good shape, and aside from sore feet caused by 111 Otimg sboes, suffered no Inconvenience from tbe marcb and arrived lu camp Ramsey In good condition. The march from Kossville was w orse but the only men who fell out were menw ho got thirsty and would drink a cauteeu lullof water every chance they got. Private Meyer of compauy E came In with three loads and hiscanteen full and was the liv®liest man In thecamp. When asked how he did it he told the raw recruit that ‘‘bullets beat water” 1. e.: chew a bullet and you will not d*ink water. The march w as severe but the I2tb regiment has not lost a man and has had but two serious cases of sickness; one, C'apt. Boyce, meningitis, aud the other a private, his own fault after beiug warned.C. II. Day Is now In your city on recruiting service aud will bear out any statements I have made. We object to being made the targets of the press and do not propose to be used as a whip to scourge any political party or persoa.Jos. Bob LET EK,Col. 12th Minu. Vol. inf.camp Is the best thing that ever happened, for Us cool, refreshing water is the only thing we get here that reminds us of home. Lieut. Day nod Mortr. Gillrup left yesterday amid rousing cheers from company and a hundred messagessent to f riends and loved ones at home.Camp Thomas, June 14—The first work in thefield today was regimental drill, from 7 to 9:30, under command of Cot, MeCoy. Iu passing iu review, Company I, of Albert Lea, under command of Lieut. Simonson, was the only company giveu the distinction of the colonel’s compliment. By persistent labor, the officers have succeeded iu bringing ilie tweilth Minnesota up to a degree of proficiency, wliicn was never dreamed of by the old state militia. There are nut few'traces of the citizen to be found in the men of the twelfth Minnesota, and each man seems to lake a personal pride iu the unit of which he is a member una makes every effort possible to surprise the other units of the samedassJune 16—The wildest excitement prevailedthroughout camp last evening when oue of the men ran iu from the creek with the startling news that company clerk Charley Suure of Co.C had just drowned while bathing in Chicamau-ga Creek. The news spread through the regiment like an electric blaze and hundreds ran to tiie scene of Die tragedy. The men did not wall for an Invitation to assist In ihe rescue but thing their clothes off with the greatest possible haste and while some of them were still dripping with perspiration, they sprang luto the cool water to search for their comrade urged on by the faiut hope that the spark of life might not yet be totally extinguished. Suure was uot a strong swimmer aud the creek at the point where he went in was uearly loo feet wide aud In attempting to swim across he saok when near the center of the stream When Suure’s companion, who could uot swim, saw him sink, he called to two meu ou the other side to save him but they either could uot swim or failed to understand uutti It was too late. It was about 7:30 when he sank the third time and the body was recovered shortly after 9 o’clock. The surgeous worked hard for a long time to restore respiration, but thetr efforts were ail In vain. There was a general feeling or the deepest sorrow throughout camp as the lifeless form was brought to the company street.We have had rainy weather nearly every day since Sunday when the drouth was broken by a heavy down pour. The thick dust that the boys have been obliged to contend w ith so long has all been washed away, aud the company streets are cleauer thau as if they had been swept with a broom. Some of the regiments on low grouud have been troubled considerably by mud aud water aud have only been enabled to stay In their quarters through the most thorough and systematic ditching of their tents. Our regiment, however, has experienced but little lu-couvenieuce owing to its posltiou ou a steep Incline which drains off rapidly.The people here are remarkably lacking In warmth of patriotic enthusiasm, so characteristic of the people of the north ami there is no use in attempting to disguise the fact. There stlliexists a bitter feeling of aversion for northern people aud especially those iu blue. Think of a grand spectacular as elaborate as the evolutionsof a division lu the rteld and as close to a citythe size of Chattanooga with no one to wltuess it. Sunday large numbers of the soldiers visited Lookout mountain and among those fromcompauy 1 wereCapt. and Mrs. Edwards, ('has. Greene, Clarence Lower, Helgesou and myself.I shall not endeavor to describe the wild romau-tlc beauty of the scene. Of course, to the tourist. w ho Is familiar w ith the graudeurof nature, it is the same old mountain, but to one whose life has been spent amid the vast expanse of level prairies it is an Inspiration that awakeus the latent emotions of the soul. From the Fotut hotel terminus of incline number oue, It Is claimed that seven states can be seen aud I have no reason to doubt the statement for I almost fancied that I w as looking at the kingdoms of tlie world. It was raining when we went up and we enjoyed the novel experience of being above the clouds for the first time during a ram storm.June 17—It commenced raining again this evening and it was just my luck to be detaued sergeant of the guard, but 1 have no reason to complain; for tke last time I was detailed I was at Lookout mountain; weut on duty In my place and the first time my turn came 1 was sick and Sergt, Yandegrlft was put on In my place; so these circumstances over w hich 1 had no control have kept me off guard duty until last evening. Unfortunately the guard house Is located on low ground and our tents not teiugditched the rain ran into It making the ffoor a perfect mud puddle. The furniture of the tent consisted of a box and couple of boards and out of tbis material I constructed a bed by placing the ends of the boards on the box letting the opposite ends rest on the ground. The senior sergeant and myself divided the night—be of course taking the last half to sleep. I wrapped up In my blanket all but my feet which were so muddy I could not take them to bed with me, so I let them hang out in the mud puddle ou the floor of the teut. I tried my best to sleep and I thought of everything pleasant the circumstances would permit, but still I could not free my mtnd from the sad recollection that my soldier experience would soon be over, in fact it suddenly dawned upou me that there remainedSucciThconn tion ihim istate redet hers the ] siontmay iA. BMiniMonenricmetstatespenslyamthe ing t WanandpeikhutFarj,of hlt;repu tion fron was to I wasagetheditcof t by s notorgiperitwebydonandcoucabwoithestaiTinto ldialtowfroformaputareyeammearedralTbe!bycriisishisfe*urBrpaonly one year, eleven months and nine days inwhitlauga)v thecb to satisly my yearnings for the enjoyments of a volunteer soldier’s life.W. F. OSTRANDER.ea, isit.majorre-at hete atalsolosttnkeei now.ng de- long-d him.emberel andsynodlas nohiredfces forsumgreat-S year, en outest ofy andi, ourof theoductstele ispeoplee greatts areChickamauga. June 12.— * * Sunday morning just before services, which are held and wellattended every Sunday in our regiment, only a few yards from Lieut, Day’s and my own tent. They open with solemn music by the baud, followed by a quartette of fine voices, of which Frank Elllckson, our former Albert Lealte, Is one, and then singing by the congregation, followed by interesting sermons by our able and fluent speaker, chaplain Clemens, who always touches the tender chords of a soldier’s heart and brings back fond recollections ol Home,Sweet Home” with his eloquence.Yesterday just betore 12 o’clock and while our boys were at the mess teut getting their ratious for dinner we were ordered to “fall In” aud In less than ten minutes our brigade was on the march to the parade grounds, where we were reviewed by Gen. Brooke, and our dinner wasfinished later. It was a hot and sultry march.The other day a few of us went dovvu toChlck-amauga creek, about a mile from our camp and bathed in the once blood-stained waters—the place of the opening of the first dav’s battle of Chickamauga. While reading the Chattauooga Times today, noticed that maps will be printed this week, showing every road and point of Interest In the park. The exact location of every regiment now in the park will be prluted In red, and by means of the quarter-mile sections Into which the map is divided, the exact distance from camp to camp can be told. I will send one of these maps to B. E. Ross at the city news stand, and in case any Albert Lealte wish to see where the 12th Minn, have pitched their tents on this historic park, can find It there.I learned by the newspapers that the ever-thoughtfui people at home shipped our company a box of eatables aud other necessities of camp life last Friday, which will be highly appreciated, also check of $too received lately was a welcome guest. It began to rain today at 12:45, has been raining steady ever since: now it is 4.30 and is yet pouring down. This is the first ram we have had since we came with the exception of a little shower about a week ago. It Is just what the boys have been wishing for. as the dust has been so thick while at drill and on the march that at times we could not see the full length of our company—just like one of our northern snow storms, only dirt as a substitute for snow.There is some talk of marching us to Atlanta or Savannah, but have no official order as to that. The boys are all feeling well and In good spirits with the exception of one or two, ahd are fast becoming acclimated. Climate suits us very well, although a little hot for some of us northerners, but being physically a strong lot of boys, will stand it all right. With best wishes to all the people at home, I rematD,S. utis Simonson.Interview with Lieut. C. II. Day, June 19:—Icannot, of course, give the Standard readers much uews from company I. as 1 have been away from there nearly a week attending to my duties of recruiting, but I might say something especially tor the benefit of the relatives and friends of the boys in company I, and It Is this; The occasional reports that are circulated charging that officers of the twelfth regiment are indifferent to the welfare aud comfort of their men or that they are despotic or unnecessarily severe In discipline, are utterly groundless. Col. Bobleter Is a veteran soldier aud understands thoroughly the needs of his troops. He is, in truth, one of the ablest commanders at camp Chickamauga. It ts a fact that he enforces discipline, aud hts men respect and commend him for doing it, hut he Is also considerate of the health, comfort and welfare of the men: the twelfth is as dear to him as the apple of his eye; he takes au Intense pride in its proficiency and standing and no officer in our army is more esteemed or popular. Lieut. Col. McCoy is a regular array officer of ’7 years ripe experience and is recognized as one of tbe most accomplished in the service. He, too, is a thorough disciplinarian, I am glad to say, and it Is due largely to him that the twelfth Minnesota Is not excelled in the army at camp Thomas. Personally he Is of the highest honor- be is chival rous aud a typical American and patriot, and will spare no effort, care or sacrifice to promote the standing of th** regimeut and the best inter est and welfare of the men consistent with the requirements of the serv ice. The majors and other line officers are likewise capable, considerate aud popular, and thus our friends who are naturally anxious as to the welfare of their boys may have confidence that w hatever comes.IDIevvowiStlcl)DCSObibathbetoinai4*1tlsiuialtlthey are In the keeping of the right men and ofofticiftieers who feel almost as much concern for their soldiers as though they were their own sous. Furthermore, while there are at times hardships, on the whole they are outweighed by the interest, variety, enjoyments and rarely valuable experiences that army life affords. It is an uurivalled school of discipline, travel, and experience in many ways that cannot otherwise be enjoyed and to most it will be a benefit aud rich in memory as long as they live.We who are at home on recruiting service are pushing our work, for we are anxious to get back to our companies. We fear the regiment may start for the seat of war w ithout us aud we couldn’t stand that, for w hen the twelfth. Minnesota goes after the Spaulards we want to be there. We hope to get through In the other towns so as to begin recruiting at Albert I^eato finish and start south soonCiJd:01tlPrlt;Anext week and after July 1.smallerThe College Closes Another Success-bonds.pplica-;cure aiterest,.ai theor thecessary ofIg.:onven-n withiracter-llowingto haveusman.is smileheaven,. •Owenn downitself ofrnmenty whichidy farst issuee clam-oney, as calledcoin inenth ofver will3 bondsnbacks,ots haveto dis-bey aremow it.Camp Thomas, June 10.—To the Standard-The weather has got to be a scorcher at camp Thomas. The mercury registers lot In theshade every day and the heavy dust of the parade grounds Is almost as hot as furnace ashes aud if it were not for the frlenuly breeze which generally blows during the afternoon the men would certainly succumb to intense heat. The surgeons have found considerable fault with the afternoon drill and It is expected that an order will soon be issued cbaugiug the time from 3:45 p, m., to an early hour in the morning. From now on the hour of guard mount will be at 7 p.m,. Instead of 9 p. m., as heretofore. The boys halied with unrestrained delight the letter read by Capt. Edwards from Mr. Gillrup which contained the §ioo check irom the citizens ot Albert l„ea and cheers of ‘‘what is the matter with Albert Lea” broke the silence of the dreamycamp.We have anew mascott—a little colored boy about teu years old. He was found last eveu-lng at oue of the wells near camp by Andrew Van gen and brought into camp. He came here with the First Illinois, but got lost In Chattanooga and in trying to find his way to camp he was arrested aud given ten days on the stone pile. He is a bright little fellow aud the boys took pity on him—fixed him out In one of their old uniforms aud Installed him in the mess tent. Our rations have improved very much during the past week, but stiff we do not receive ail we are entitled to or at least we do not receive It regular, but It Is such au Improvement on the former state of affairs that the boys have cheered up considerably. Mrs. Fldwards has secured a pleasant place to boarff one mile south of camp at the stately home of Col. Gordon. Her health is much improved from wtiat It was when she first arrived. She called at camp this evening aud took supper with the captain.Juue 11—We had inspection this morning but did not go out to company drill and we w ere all congratulatlug ourselves over eur good fortune and the lemonade we were going to have for dinner. In fact we were just ready to line up for mess aud had our meat pans and tin cups ready for the ration when w* were awakened from our pleasant dream by tie order to fall In for d vision review. We kuew that that call meant blouses and we commenced to perspire in anticipation of what was sure to follow. It seems that Gov. Hastings of Pennsylvania wanted to review the regiments of hts state bi t what unreasoning caprice should have lead him to have selected the noon hour of the day for this useless bit of military formality. We will undoubtedly never know. It has been so long since we have had any rain here that boulevards are covered deep with fine dust that becomes highly heated and as the marching columns move out to the parade ground it raises in great clouds that settle on our perspiring faces likehot ashes. Our new' tublar well just west of theful Year.The tenth annual commencementexercises of Albert Lea college occurred Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. Four young ladies completed the required course of study, and were presented with diplomas. A large crowd of friends were present during the nndi-tion of the program and were greatly pleased with the admirable exercise?. The graduates and the topics of their orations were: Camilla Gundlaeh,“The Arts Beautiful”; Laura Chris-topherson, “Hidden Millions”; Louise Davies, “American Humor”; Anna Stanley, “The Value of a High Ideal. Rev. Dr. Ilelwig’s address to the class on “Life’s Supreme Study” was a masterful effort, ani contained many excellent points, which will no doubt prove of great benefit to the members.The musical recital given Wednesday evening at the presbyterian church was well attended by the music lovers of the city. The program was a most excellent one, and showed much careful training on the part of those who participated. This department of the college has always received careful attention, and the musical advantages offered are equal to those of any school in the state. Mrs. Strong, who has had charge of this department, has been reengaged for next year, and the present high standard will still be maintained. Taken altogether, the past year has been a most successful one for the college, and the prospects for next year are exceedingly bright.rntvJavo0fcS.catiG2Jt(11(11iMy entire stock will be thrown upon the market at prices unheard of before. This stock of millinery is of the choicest character and whatever you buy will be of the best quality. Children’s headwear sold at half price. ]Sow and until the 4th of July is chance to get a bargain.Miss C. Narveson.1((1your1
Newspaper Details
Freeborn County Standard
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Wed, Jun 22, 1898
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WA, USA 11 Oct 2021
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