Co. A, 31 Mich. Vol.

Park, Georgia. Camp George H. Thomas, Chickamauga Wednesday, May 25, 1898. The latest enterprise on the part of the members of Company A is the building of a hexagonal summer house. Ontaccount of the small size, height, and crowded condition of the tents- there are six or more men in each - except the flrst tent of the row, oeeupied by the first sergeant and company clerk and the quartermaster's tent - writing is carried on with great inconvenience, so Burt Krauss, our drilled artificer, hit upon the novel plan for building a reading and writing room. The colonel readily acceded to the idea, and encouraged the boys in the work. Cedar poles will be used in its construction, and the roof will be covered with bamboo poles, and thatched with wild rice straw. The center pole will be 18 feet high, and the roof will project three feet beyond the walls of the house. Around the center pole will be arranged a table, three feet wide, and at the proper height for writing. On the inner side between each pole of the hexagon will be arranged rustic seats, so that 18 men can comfortably sit around the table. The latter will be supplied with pens, ink, writing paper, and such newspapers, magazines and books as the members of the company possess, or are sent to tis from home by our gcod friend.s. The greater part of our "Circulating Library," initiated at Island Lake, unfortunately had to be left behind op. account of the great necessity of economizing space. Now we need more books and periodicals, and it is to be noped that the long distance from home will not deter our generous friends from sending us a supply. It certainly would be a great misfortune if the boys, a great majority of whom are students, should be compelled to spend the long summer montns without the opportunity of enjoylng the intellectually broadening influence of good books and magazines. Now, kind friends, do not all respond at once; at tñe same time do not wait to find out what your neighbor is groing to do before remembering us. I am sure the editor of The Times will undertake the responsibility of receiving the reading material, and sending it to the company by freight. Twenty-three is an unlucky post number for the pickets. A few days ago one of the men accidentally shot his gun off in the air about 10 o'cloek at nig-ht, and 24 hours later a corporal did the same thing at exactly the same place. It is somewhat unusual to hear a gun go off at night, and the camps were thoroughly aroused on account of it. At headquarters they have rigged up one of the old 3-inch brass cannon, and flre it regularly at sunrise and sunset. The report is eheersd lustily by the boys, who are anxious to hsar the roar of cannon in bombardir. ■ 1 1 , ..- tle. Chaplain White is going to hold a song service every Thursday evening after this, when everybody will get a chance to sing. Col. Gardener has also suggested to the various company commander.s that between retreit and taps they alloiv their men to build camp fires, congrégate arour.d . and teil stories and sing natl and patriotio songs. He thi,s ione of the best ds kjv the bos's cheerful, and bri. countenances of those w to be dovv Col. Gardener has reneived his commission and has bee: i in command of the Second Dtvi.-ion of the First Corps, Department of the Gulf, with rank ;;■; Acting BrigadierGeneral. He will still continue to act as guiding hand in all matter.-: pertalning to the Thirty-flrst regiment. Major Harrech. of the Second battalion, last night received the horse and traps, which the good people of Detroit presented to him. In accepting the present, he told the boys that he would look after their welfare to the best of his ability, and informed them that they would soon be sunnlied with fresh bread and meat. There are only a few lazy men in the regiment. These invariably prove to be men who have served a number of years in the National Guard before enlisting. For a long time it was almost impossible to get the student boys in Company A up in the morning, but Col. Gardener was equal to the emergency, and now the band marches up and down, and the drummers have instructions to make as much noise as possible. When it begins to sound like a Chinese tom-tom, the boys are perfectly willing to get up. On the whole, with the benefit of the oolonel's wide experience as a regular army offieer, the intelligent men, in the regiment, and our full uniforms, we present a good appearance, comparatively speakir.g, and would almoat pass muster as regulara. On Monday two heavy showers feil. the first we have had since we arrived in camp. In consequence it s: much cooler, and the boya can drill without great fatigue. The men are all öoing their duty with a will, and guard is beginning to be considerad an honor, instead of a loathsome obligation. A most lively interest in shown in the arrival of mails. A regular mail wagon i. ncrw run between the regiment and Lytle twice a day, in charge of Mr. J. B. Hlllman, well known to yitur readers as the enterprising Company G correspondent to The Times. [Jnlike the method of distributing mail in vogue in Camp Tanner, where the ilain mounts a stump and hurls it at the boys, our system is well org&nized. When the mail comes in, the first sergeant's bugle cali is sounded, and the sergeants report at the chapUsin's tent. It is then distribu ted to the respective companies by the sergeant or clerk. The rationa do not go a-begging. Bacon and hard tack are still doled out in large quantities, but as soon as our ten days' field rations are used up, we shall receive fresh bread and meat. A large bakery is not in process of construction, and will be in working order by Thursday. Col. Gardener also says that a hord of cattle is on the way, and that by Friday sirloin and roasts will be on the menus. The order to have all water boiled was enforced this morning, and hereafter it is expected there will be less summer sickness. Another scheme is to furnish cold coffee to the men. Our cooks are now prepared to furnish this drink in abundant quantity. Nearly every company has its mascot. Of course Company A would not be behind, so when Corporal Bethke went down to Chattanooga the other day he brought bacü with hiin a brindle pup, wiJich he has christened Chiekarnduga C'Ohick.") Burt Krauss has found a joung screech owl, which looks very wise, and sits winking and blinking at the passers-by all day long, on its perch in tile summer house. The latter, by the way, is nearing eompletion. The roof is nearly finished and the interior presents a cool and inviting appearance. Pine and hemloek boughs ha'e been used for thatching instead of wild rice. However, a covering of the latter material may be added later, in order to make the roof water-proof. Captain Holloway, of the Adrián company, sent a detail of. men to the country yesterday to secure some mutton. Failing in this, they brought home a beef, which was eagerly devoured by themselves and their friends last ■ nig-ht. Company A received a portion, and, in eonsequence, the hard tack spell has become broken. We are beginning to feel in better humor already, and a few more square meals will materially decrease -the chances of the Spaniards, when we get at them. This morning the wagoner and three men from each company m the regiment started out for Chickamauga station at 4 o'clock. They returned about noon, bringing a ten days' supply of beef, flour and other provisions. Col. Gardener has been highly complimented on the orderly eonduct of nis boys. They are knuwn ajl'over Chattanooga and the Park by their red neck ties, and are respected for their gentlemanly bearing and reiined talk. The "Canteen" is bringing in from $125 to $150 per day. The army canteens, which hold naarly three pints, are filled for flve cents. Tobacco, sardines, cigars, etc, are sold at wholesale rates to the boy?. The "Canteen" is in charge of a lieutenant. Company A, Thirty-first Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Chickamauga Park, Georgia. Tuesday, May 24, 1898. One of the beautiful features of last Sunday's routine, was the sacred open air services held by Chaplain White. I will give a somewhat detailed outline of the day's program, to Inform any of your readers whp may be interested, just hovv military services are carried ! on in the field. In the morning, after the band had played two ,or three appropriate selections, the chaplain gave a general unsectarian talk to the boys, proliflc with good advice, reminding them of the seriousness of their position, advising them to be men, to make the best of their soldier experience, and, above all, to preserve their honor and health. His fatherly advice and kindly air has completely won the hearts of the boys, and they dearly love him. Music by the regimental band is one of the interesting features of these meetings. It is a somewhat rare occurrence to hear a band playing sacred music, but there is no doubt that t possesses many attractions for open air meetings. A song service was held in the evening, on which occasion, as on every other where anything that is noble and worthy is to be ■done, Company A led the regiment. In fact, we were the only company of the twelve who could respond on the spur of the moment with a well trained and efficiënt quartet. In the afternoon the chaplain learned, through a mutual friend, that Private Willis Johnson of our company was a singer of more than ordinary talent. Immediately the chaplain presented his compliments to Mr. Johnson, and requested Mm to organize a quartet for the evening. No sooner said than done. Mr. Johnson selectecl Fred Bury and Matthew Fischer to sing ba.se, Irving Edwards for soprano, he himself singing tenor. They acquitted themselves nobly, notwithstanding it was their flrst experience together in the open air, and won the praises not only of the chaplain, but the colonel also, and the hearty appreciation of the whole crowd. Company I, becoming: jealous, said "they did not want Company A to carry off all the honors," so one of their members sang a solo, which, to teil the truth, he rendered excellently. After reading the löOth Psalm, the chaplain invited the entire congregation to sing "America" to the band's accompaniment. Then all united in the "Liord's Prayer." The chaplain' eaid a few words about Comrade Henry McGinnis of Company I, Detroit, who was then very seriously ill of pneumonía in the hospital near by. The meeting closed with singing softly "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and the benediction. Mr. Johnson has been detailed by the chaplain to organice a chorus of at least fifty voices for next Sunday, and it is safe to presume Hjere are many more than that nutnber of good sinters in the regiment. Captain Granger was ofBcer of the !.ty Sunday, and surprised everyone by the polished appearance of his new uniform. The captain makes a spler.did figure as a soldier on all occasions, and it was a relief to see him coolly attending to his duties, while everyboJy else, Col. Gardener, perhaps, excepted. was making life miserable for himself in the sh&de trying to fan down the temperature. It is easier to keep cool by absorbed in one's work, than by laboring and ffming in aa attempt to overeóme the inevitable. One very noticeable thing about the Southern people is their laek of ambition and Northern push tnd energy. This fact can be no 'bettsr illrstrated Chattanooga, a city of some 30.000 hamtants, publishes two daily papers, either one of whlch might be put to sharae by the Washtenaw Evening Times. Their weekly editions are printed on a single sheet, while the Sunday editions are mostly made up of clippings and advertisements. The New York Journal seems to be setting the pace in camp, with the World a close follower. But the Journals reach here 24 hours late, and flve cents are eharged for these by the newsboys, while if purchased of the regular agents they may be obtained for two. This is but one example of many where the "soldier boys" are imposed upon. The "Newsies" know a good thing when they see it, ana are certainly making the best of their opportunity. Michigan papers, up to a. day or two ago, have been unknown in camp. Fakirs and camp suttlers of all descriptions are permitted on the grounds, peddling pies, cakes, icecream, soft drinks, tobáceo, etc. Lemon and orangeade seems to be the favorite bevsrages, but, strange to say, when these fruits are purchased, they are found to be of the scrawniest variety. One would naturally suppose that near at hand the best could be obtained but such does not seem to be th? case. (Continued on Fourth Page.) CO, A, 31 MIGK, VOL. (Continued f rom first page). A good many of these fakirs are negroes, and the pies they sell are simply abominable. They look like leather pouches, and, indeed, the resemblance in -y be carried a step farther. Georgia strawberries are abundant, and cost f rom 5 to 10 cents per quart. The fakirs seem to size a man up, and charge accordingly. Lieut. Belser has taken charge of the sanitary condition of Company A's camp, and in future our friends may feel sure thqt it will be in the best possible condition. The lieutenant has not forgotten his medicine chest, and if any of our men are taken seriously UI, they will have the best personal treatment at his hands. He says he will not allow ony of our boys to be neglected, and the doctor is as good as his word. At this writing evety Company A man is well,1 and all seem to be becoming acclimated. It is understood that in future all the water used for drinking purposes will be sterilized F. A. WAGNEE.