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SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 4/25/1898 - 8/12/1898 TIPTON COUNTY, TN ___________________________________ A LETTER FROM OUR SOLDIER BOYS All are Well, in Good Spirits, but Not Overfed -- They are Anxious to Become Real Soldiers Camp Alger, Va., June 10, 1898
Editors Leader - In order that our friends in Tipton county may know of our situation since we left them, we wish to state through your columns that our treatment by the officials of the State of Tennessee has not been altogether what the volunteers of a State like Tennessee deserve. We left Covington with a hearty farewell and landed in Memphis to spend the first night, sleeping on the floor with no blankets, being ordered by our captain to leave everything at home, being assured that we would be supplied with clothing and everything needed in a short time. This continued for one week, when we were taken to Cherokee Park, near Nashville. After a few days we were taken to the Centennial grounds, where we remained until brought to our present camp. During this whole time we have not been supplied with more than half rations and received no clothes of any description until about one week ago, when we got (some of us) uniforms, shoes, underclothes, leggins and hats. As we brought no clothes or money with us, we have not been able to clothe or feed ourselves. We enjoyed this at first, but as things did not improve, many of us feel that our services are not appreciated. We wish to say that there were several of the boys who failed to pass the physical examination, and to them we send our good wishes and hope they will be considered by those at home as true and brave as any of us who were physically able to stand the required test. Our former captain has been promoted and now has the honor of commanding the third battalion. Capt. J. E. Walker is at present our captain. Our duties in camp consist of standing guard on the picket lines, drilling from five to six hours per day, cleaning our quarters and serving out "extra duty." Each delivery of the mail is awaited anxiously, and many a heart is made happy each day by a letter from parents or sweethearts. There was great rejoicing in camp yesterday when the boys of the sixty-fifth Pennsylvania brought us about 150 loaves of bread. These boys found out that we were a little short on bread, and, being well supplied themselves, did a manly thing and now there is not a man in the second Tennessee who would not fight for them. R. B. Baptist, private secretary of Hon. E. W. Carmack, has made himself a favorite in Company I by keeping us in smoking tobacco and stationery since we have been here. We wish also to say in conclusion that none of us wish to leave the cause, but are growing more anxious to go to the front.
Jack H. Hunt Arthur McRee J. D. Ewers
(The Covington Leader, June 17, 1898)
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