Nana40
Gold Member
I've been reading a series of books compiled by Robin Sterling, from newspaper articles from the Southern Democrat 1894-1907. Every once in a while there is mention of interesting places that might be worth checking out. Here's one from Camp Walthall in Columbus Mississippi if anyone is interested. I have no idea what's there now, nor who owns the property, but maybe this could be something for some of you locals to check out. 
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August 11, 1898
From One Who's Been There.
After a stay of one week with the boys in blue at Camp Walthall, I will endeavor to give your readers a few items which might prove of interest to those who contemplate joining the army.
After passing the preliminary examination at Birmingham (which is far from being a rigid one) we were placed on board the train and were soon thundering on our way and after a few hours of enjoyable riding at the expense of "Uncle Sam," we reached our destination without any serious mishaps having occurred to mar the pleasure of the trip.
As we drew near the encampment there was presented before our eyes a magnificent scene such as the poet and day dreamer alone could give an adequate description of, and not being endowed with these essential elements of the modern writer, I will merely give the outline to the best of my ability and let the rest remain to the readers imagination.
The tented city (for such indeed it was) together with the patriotic citizens all arrayed in blue, presented a decidedly strange appearance to us farmer boys.
The reception given us by the boys in blue can better be imagined than I am able to describe. At any rate I remember very distinctly to have heard an ex-dude sing out (after the initiation yell had in some degree subsided) something like this: "I had a good home but I left it."
I must say the camp was not minus of its humorous aspects. Games of various kinds were in progress. Fun and good natured comradeship were apparent on every hand.
We had no sooner made our appearance among the boys than we were surrounded all eager to see what we looked like, and many and various were the questions put to us, such as: "I say fresh fish." "Whose boy are you?" and "Did she have tears in her eyes when you left?"
We expected all these consequently we accepted them in good grace. Roll-call found us in line for supper which, consisted of beef, peas, beans, rice, bacon, loaf bread and hard tack and a liberal amount of coffee to wash it down with.
Next morning we were requested to take a bath which request we proceeded at once to comply with. The bath being over, we were escorted to headquarters where we were to stand the second examination. Those who successfully passed the examination were mustered in as follows, Wilburn Doyle, and Oren Prickett of Brooksville, Sam Shelton and Finis Corvin of Liberty. The boys expressed themselves as being well satisfied.
If any place on earth is suitable for a drilling ground Camp Walthall is certainly that place. It has many advantages over the other camps, namely its healthy location, its shady groves, its abundance of pure chalybeate and Sulphur water together with its grand and picturesque scenery and its location on the Tombigbee river in the suburbs of one of the most beautiful towns in the United States. To sum it all up I do not think they could have chosen a more suitable place for the purpose of drilling recruits.
Homer C. Alldredge
Brooksville, Alabama
I have found this website that has Camp Walthall listed....scroll down..
http://www.rootsweb.com/~necivwar/SpanishAmericanWar/span_am_camps/pg14.htm
And here's a link to Google maps...I know this probably isn't the exact spot, but looks close.....
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...616,-88.438869&spn=0.009019,0.014462&t=k&z=16
Nana
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 11, 1898
From One Who's Been There.
After a stay of one week with the boys in blue at Camp Walthall, I will endeavor to give your readers a few items which might prove of interest to those who contemplate joining the army.
After passing the preliminary examination at Birmingham (which is far from being a rigid one) we were placed on board the train and were soon thundering on our way and after a few hours of enjoyable riding at the expense of "Uncle Sam," we reached our destination without any serious mishaps having occurred to mar the pleasure of the trip.
As we drew near the encampment there was presented before our eyes a magnificent scene such as the poet and day dreamer alone could give an adequate description of, and not being endowed with these essential elements of the modern writer, I will merely give the outline to the best of my ability and let the rest remain to the readers imagination.
The tented city (for such indeed it was) together with the patriotic citizens all arrayed in blue, presented a decidedly strange appearance to us farmer boys.
The reception given us by the boys in blue can better be imagined than I am able to describe. At any rate I remember very distinctly to have heard an ex-dude sing out (after the initiation yell had in some degree subsided) something like this: "I had a good home but I left it."
I must say the camp was not minus of its humorous aspects. Games of various kinds were in progress. Fun and good natured comradeship were apparent on every hand.
We had no sooner made our appearance among the boys than we were surrounded all eager to see what we looked like, and many and various were the questions put to us, such as: "I say fresh fish." "Whose boy are you?" and "Did she have tears in her eyes when you left?"
We expected all these consequently we accepted them in good grace. Roll-call found us in line for supper which, consisted of beef, peas, beans, rice, bacon, loaf bread and hard tack and a liberal amount of coffee to wash it down with.
Next morning we were requested to take a bath which request we proceeded at once to comply with. The bath being over, we were escorted to headquarters where we were to stand the second examination. Those who successfully passed the examination were mustered in as follows, Wilburn Doyle, and Oren Prickett of Brooksville, Sam Shelton and Finis Corvin of Liberty. The boys expressed themselves as being well satisfied.
If any place on earth is suitable for a drilling ground Camp Walthall is certainly that place. It has many advantages over the other camps, namely its healthy location, its shady groves, its abundance of pure chalybeate and Sulphur water together with its grand and picturesque scenery and its location on the Tombigbee river in the suburbs of one of the most beautiful towns in the United States. To sum it all up I do not think they could have chosen a more suitable place for the purpose of drilling recruits.
Homer C. Alldredge
Brooksville, Alabama
I have found this website that has Camp Walthall listed....scroll down..
http://www.rootsweb.com/~necivwar/SpanishAmericanWar/span_am_camps/pg14.htm
And here's a link to Google maps...I know this probably isn't the exact spot, but looks close.....
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...616,-88.438869&spn=0.009019,0.014462&t=k&z=16
Nana
