Co. G, 31 Mich. Vol.

Chickamauga Park, Camp Thomas, June 28. Editor Times: AL last the long-Iooked-for has come, and as the news flashed through camp that the Thirty-first would soon move for the front the exeitement was intense. Preparations ir. every department are being pushed, extra supplies are being issued and new recruits are being equipped. The drills are made more rigid, and in a word everything is being done to put the crack regiment' froiíl Michigan on a war footing. The men are in the very best health and are in splendid condition to withstand the hardships of a campaign. The "new" recruits have arrived for most of the companies and are rapidly Ijsing the "freshness" by constaatly attending scuad dril!. Ths offieers of Co. G express themselves as more (han pieased with the recruits for their company. They are a fine set of men and take readily to dril' and camp life. Once in a while you hear some queer breaks from the new men. One man was heard to ask the other day as he pointed to Major Hunt, "Is that feller a corporal or an orderly sergeant?" He knows better now. Another, not being used to wash his own dishes, took them down to the cook shanty and said, "Here, you wash my dishes." But the cook did not do it. Out on drill the new recruits often have a way of their own of making "fours left." "fours right" or "right or left flank." These original ideas regarding the manual often. almost cause the captain's head to turn. But on the whole ihe new recruits are doing exceptionally weil. In a recent issue of the Times it was stated that soon the marriage of Winfred Campbell would be announced. Since then varioua complication have arisen in Winfred's love affair. William Harris, an ideal ladies' man, has entered the field for the Southern heiress. It is rumored in camp that tonight at 7:30 Campbell and Harris will meet in deadly combat to decide who shall have the fair lady. The weapins used will be hard tack, thrnwn at a distance. of fifty feet. Don Freeman will act -is referee for Harris and "Fatty" Hurseman for Campbell. Ful] acount in next issue of the Times. The result is looked forward to with the keenest interest as both boys are in every sense worthy of the heiress. -Sergeant Webb and "Long" Tuttle came near being devoured JaSt.Monday by a hog. They were talsing a stroll through the flelds when they suddenly came upon a Kentucky razorback sow and two young ones. The old hog, thinking the boys iked roastcd pig too well for her happiness, made a charge on him on the double-quick. Webb near by gave the command "to the rear" and Tuttle made a forced march to the shelter of a huge shellbark hickory faster than he ever did or. drill. But the old hog was not content, so she advanced by rushes and Webb and Tuttle went up the tree, where they stayed until rescued by a detachment of the guard. Still the boys will wander from their own fireide. As the Thirty-first g-ces to the front, and probably to Porto Rico, the Times readers will be surplied with the news from the Thirty-first. HILLMAX. Chickamauga Park. Camp Thomas, June 25. - (Special) - When the canteen was admitted in camp many took occasion to critieize the venture on the grounds that the beer drank, would ruin the health of the regiment. Time and a fair trial has shown this belief to be wrong. Since the canteen has been in camp not a serious drunk has been seen, and the health of the regiment has been steadily on, tlie increase. Seldom is one of the soldier boys seen drir.king more than one glass at a time. Besides beer at the canteen ene can secure stamps, paper and envelopes, soap, towels and a thousand other useful articles constantly demanded for the health and comfort of a large body of men. Those who are out a'ter taps know the opportunity of witnessing many curious and amueing scènes. Last night the Times reporter, unable to sleep, strolled down the comp and this is what he saw. At the head of the street is a large o, ik tree. As he neared this tree he saw Dave Mo.'ford makign frantic efforts to go up the tree, and he was muttering to himself, "I am sure there is a erow up there; that telephone wire i.- orossed with the flectric street railway wire, etc." Just beyond the tree is the ient whcre "Conan" Doyle and Hudson bt'nk. As the Times man passed this tent he saw "Conan" searching in his knapsack for a spike-tail in which to gradúate and Hudson was taking a shave, declarir.g in very emphatic language tfíat he ws.s going to have a d gooa time at Granger's swell party. These little incidents show that even in the army the U. of M. swells go back in Imagination to the old haunts and disturb the quiet of the midnight hour by their actions. This morning the boya deny that they (lid the things gredited to them. "Chauncey M. Depi v" Horsman drills No. 2 in first set of fours. Horsman i. so named from the way he has his ; beard cut. "Dr. Parker" Feit is one of the witlijst men in camp. Next week tjie Times Will print a few of his rarest and most spicy jokes. Frank Gaffney and Mcl i at the canti n the They are obliging ve in ork. San Stewart is aetailed d visión hospita] as an ambulance driver. Captain McKeand has char.ged the order of the company cooks. Frank Shctterly is now head cook and Earl Austin first assitant. . He Gid this I i give each of the boy n chance. Co. O can boast of twj as gcod cooks as there are in the regiment. Capt. McKeand is offlcer cf the day and Lieut. Green has command of the cempany on battalion drill and Lieut. Warner on company drill. The officer.s of Co. G are determined to have one of the healthiest, best drilled and most efficiënt companies in the regiment and they devote their time and energie to that end. Seldom does a morning pass but Capt. McKeand may be seen at the cook's kitchen or inspecting the tent? and outflts of the men with a view to the general welfare of the company. Yesterday the regiment went through a stiff drill, but the men stood the test veil. The regiment is becoming more and more a unit at drill, and through the untiring energies of Col. Gardener and nis staff the regiment is becoming one of the hardest and best equippt'd regiments in the park. For a few days Sergeant Webb acted as sergeant major, and you know Joe did himself proud. Sergeant Campbell has the distributing of the company mail. Charlie is always on demand, but when mail comes in he is the most popular man in the regiment. HILLMAN. Chickamauga Park, Camp Thomas, .Tune 22. - (Special) - Whenever Governor Pingree comes to camp he cheers the boys. After regimental drill this afternoon the three battalions of the Thirtyflrst were marchec": up "oefore Col. Gardener's tent. Gov. Pingree was introduced and made one of his characttristic speeches. He complimented tha Thirty-flrst on its able and efficiënt commander and said: "When I appuir.ted Col. Gardener there was some dissatisfaction throughout ihe state, but it has all disappeared now." The governor complimented the men on their camp, general health and soldKrly bearing, and concluded by saying that he heard of the good reputaron of the "red necktie" regiment while he was in Kentucky. He advised the boys to be prompt and careful in all their duties as soldier?. He said: "The great State of Michigan is proud of 5 iu." He was heartily applauded. Following Gov. Pingree, Gen. Case spokü to the men for a few mom?nts and expressed his great pleasure in finding the TMrtiy-örst so well equioped and drilled. As General Case closed Col. Gardeiier spoke a word about the regime;ital review before the governor in the morning. He said in part: "I have boen in the regular army for 30 years and I consider the manner in wliich my regiment passed in review today "was something phenomenal." The colonel also said it was his intention to make the discipline of the camp reasunable, but each man from the lowe&t private to the highest officer would be required to do his share of work. When he closed he was cheered to án echo. It is said that Gov. Pingree goes to Washington to try to obtain for the Thirty-first the Blake rifle and to get the hospital trouble straightened out. Hospital men from the Thirty-first are Palmer, Richmond, McLaren, Freeland, Wilton and Stewart. The5r have been transferred to división hospital against their wishes with the excepticn. of a few cases. It is said there is no law to allow a man to 'be transferred from one branch of service to ar.other without his written consent. Beside these corp men, Capt. Colby has been detailed at the First reserve coprs hospital. The governor does not believe in this line of work and will try to have it changed. Each day an ambulance wagon makes the rounds of all the regimental hoípitals in the camp and takes to the división hospital any patiënt in the regimental hospital over 24 hours. The boys are geltir.g thjrovghly acolimated and the hospital iö almost empty.