PLEASURES OF THE CAMP.
For July 4th an elaborate program had been prepared, but owing to a considerable downpour of rain it was postponed to the next day. The celebration probably surpassed anything of its kind Jacksonville ever saw, and its features are not likely to be seen again. These were: 9 a.m., music and the reading of the Declaration of Independence, with speeches; 12 m., salute of 48 guns; 4.30 p.m., parade of all the troops in camp, numbering 12,000; but most interesting was the train of 189 pack mules connected with the regiment of Rough Riders commanded by Colonel Torrey. It was in genuine Rocky Mountain style, and created considerable interest. The Second Mississippi regiment of infantry turned out only half equipped, and the transition periods from a citizen to a trained soldier were seen to advantage. Our regiment paraded in good shape, with L Company in its honorable position at the left of the regiment. Owing to another downpour of rain the line of march was shortened, and after being reviewed we marched back to camp, drenched to the skin. The men all had changes of underclothing and no bad effects resulted, but the street next morning resembled the rear of a tenement in New York on wash day.
Sunday evening, July 8th, a detachment from each company of our regiment was assembled to attend service in the First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, and about 300 men, headed by the First Wisconsin band, left camp at 7 p.m. After the capture of the city by the Federal troops during the Civil War, this church was used by them as a hospital and the building has not been altered in any particular since then. The band led in the singing. It probably would have been pleasant out of doors, but in a boxlike structure of truly southern style, with the bass drum, snare drums and cymbals banging out "Nearer, My God, to Thee," it became a very trying experience indeed.
The flowers of Florida seemed to be rather a myth, very few being seen, but those of us who had friends at home who loved flowers were able to find some choice specimens. The handsomest wild flower I saw was the Hibiscus. It grew about five feet high in dense swampy thickets, usually at the edge of creeks. Its blossoms measured fully ten inches in diameter. Its great wide throat was crimson. Yellow sepals and four pink petals blotched with black completed this beautiful flower. They grow in profusion, and against a background of green leaves make a very showy appearance.
During our journey south I noticed large clumps of yellow Jack-in-the-Pulpits which were twice the size of our Jersey plants. The season of flowers in Florida is the months of February, March and April. Then the roses are in bloom. Marshal Neils grow in almost every garden in Jacksonville, some climbing to the tops of the houses, and upon the roof, late blossoms of tea roses were still to be seen. The Passion flower is very common, the climate favoring this aptly named blue and white legendary flower of the Crucifixion. Seeds of other flowers blown from gardens take root in the streets and empty lots, and among them the starry-eyed phlox lifts up its pleasant little face. Camellias also were very common, lading the air near them with rich perfume. Cannas reached perfection without any cultivation, short plants but immense flaming blossoms; others were yellow, blotched with red. The collecting of these flowers was a positive pleasure, even in the hot sun.
July 9th our regiment was swelled to its full complement by the addition of 330 recruits from Sea Girt, and a finer lot of young men did not come to camp for any regiment. More than this, the State had done for the Nation what no other had, equipped every man ready to go to the front. Time and again recruits would come from Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Virginia and North Carolina dressed just as they appeared at home. As our boys marched through Jacksonville escorted by detachments from each company, they received considerable applause. They carried aloft the banner "New Jersey Recruits! This is the material that New Jersey sends." We were all proud of our State. At the camp their reception was cooled by a downpour of rain.
Monday morning, July 11th, it commenced to rain and it rained in torrents the rest of the day and all night. It flooded the tents, so that boards and even boxes had to be brought into service to stand on. The recruits, being quartered on lower ground, were practically drowned out, so that they either had to stand in the rain or seek shelter in tents already crowded to their limits. There was hardly a dry foot in camp Tuesday night.