The
boys are enjoying the Trip and all are Happy
-- Scenes and Incidents in Soldier Life.
ENROUTE TO CHICKAMAUGA
Park, Tenn. May 17, 1898
Editor Democrat - Followed by the cheers and
well wishes of a multitude of the people of
Ohio's capital the Second Regiment O.V.I.
departed on a Big Four train for the national
rendezvous at Chickamauga Park, Tenn at 2:00
o'clock Monday afternoon.
Early Monday morning, the order came to
prepare for departure. Instantly the camp was
astir and at the sound of the last bugle
notes at 10:30 every tent in the regiment was
fell simultaneously. The whole regiment was
then ready to march at an instants notice.
The line of march was taken up on Broad
Street and with an escort of one battalion
and the band from the Fifth Regiment, the
soldiers started on their journey to the
south. The street was lined the whole
distance with cheering humanity. One old
resident told me that it was repetition of
the scenes of 37 years ago, and that it was
one of the grandest demonstration in the
history of Columbus.
Crowds of people gathered along the line
to see the soldiers go through. The boys are
besieged by pretty girls who beg for buttons
and cross guns as souvenirs. As these things
must be paid for if found many of the boys
who could not resist the smile of the
southern girls and will be considerable shy
in their salary.
At Loudon, Ohio, two of the boys had their
hats snatched from their heads while the
train was in motion. To keep a balance on the
credit side in their account with the world
in general, the boys quietly waited at the
next depot and as the train started they
"froze" onto a couple of fine
pieces of headgear in their immediate
vicinity, and everybody settled down in their
seats for another nap.
At Cincinnati, several tubs of hot coffee
was taken on board, and the boys ate a supper
of canned beef and canned bake beans. At this
place our cars were switched onto the track
of the L. & N. and at 12:30 our journey
was continued.
At this writing the train is passing
through some beautiful Kentucky country. Dan
Colbert is in his element. He is familiar
with this region, and is making the boys
acquainted with the principle points of
interest. At Elizabeth town, he met an uncle,
a Mr. Hoskins, whom he had not seen in 20
years.
We will arrive at Chattanooga some time
tonight. from that place we will march to
Chickamauga Park, a distance of 15 miles. I
can not say how long we will shall stay
there, but it is believed the time will be
very short.
Everybody is enjoying this trip immensely,
I believe that we are seeing the end of our
good times, and must now prepare for the
bitter that is invariably found with the
sweet.
NOTES.
The new recruits received their uniforms
Saturday. The rest of the equipment will be
received at Chickamauga.
Mark Twain's theory: "Be good and
you will be lonesome," had a number
of believers in camp Sunday. One fellow who
made a large fracture in the rules Sunday and
who had the pleasure of cleaning the
company's street, for the same greatly
resembled yours truly.
Guards are posted at both ends of each car
and We are not allowed to leave the car for
any purpose. First Sergeant Simon has charge
of Co. H. Capt. Fasig and Lieuts. Beam and
Smith are riding with the officers in a
private car.
A goodly number of Bowling Green people
came down Sunday and spent a pleasant day in
camp.
After a vain attempt to get a place in the
regiment, Arthur Corey left for his home in
Bowling Green Sunday.
Sam E. Vall of the Sentinel, came down
from Bowling Green to see the boys off. Curt
Delgarn and C. R. Brewere were at the depot
and said goodbye.
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