Battalion water plants were constructed, where all the water supplied to the regiment for drinking purposes was boiled, filtered and iced.
The means for caring for the sick were excellent. In addition to a regimental hospital, used as a dispensary, but supplied with quarters sufficient to care for a number of men, there was a brigade hospital located in a dwelling house, and adjacent to this were erected a number of hospital tents with double boarded floors, and with sides also boarded, so that patients were as comfortable in the mild climate of Georgia as if they had been in the best managed institution of the kind in Boston. The Brigade Hospital was in charge of Major William Cogswell.
A building was erected for a post exchange, which was successfully operated by a council of officers consisting of Captains Alexander G. Perkins of Company A, William C. Dow of Company F, and Edward J. Horton of Company G. All necessaries that were needed by the men were offered for sale here at reasonable rates, and its restaurant became famous for egg sandwiches and oyster stews. All these paraphernalia of comfort and health were daily inspected by company commanders, battalion commanders, regimental commander, and the brigade commander.
Just before Thanksgiving, Colonel Arnold A. Rand of Boston, visited the camp and reported its condition to Governor Wolcott. He said:—
"I think you would be glad to know that the regiment is in most excellent condition; the officers cheery, trim, and a credit to the State. I did not see the regiment on parade, but which was very much better, I saw quite thoroughly the quarters, and examined everything as to the sanitary condition, from the sinks to the corral. I also saw the men at mess, and the quality of the rations. The whole regiment seemed in excellent condition, and is such a credit to the state that it is a very great pleasure to make such a report to you."
The men were allowed much liberty between drills, and passes were issued to visit the city during the day. Many side trips were made to Andersonville to visit the site of the celebrated prison where many Federal soldiers were confined during the Civil War. Order was preserved in Americus by a provost guard, under command of Lieutenant George H. Dow of Company A. This guard arrested all soldiers found in the city without proper passes, and returned them to the guard houses of their respective regiments for trial for absence without leave.
The camp at Americus was at first named in honor of Major Forse. The name was subsequently changed to Camp Gilman, as another camp had earlier received the name of Camp Forse.
During the first few days at Americus, the Eighth was greeted with many showers. The weather, however, was so mild that the men did not wear overcoats except as a protection against the rain. During the entire stay of the Eighth, wildflowers and roses were in full bloom.
On one side of the camp an extensive cotton field waved acres of bolls, breaking into white flowering balls, which at a distance looked like a sea of white roses. It is said that the low prices of cotton did not warrant picking this field, and it was left intact and beautified the approach to camp.
At no great distance were fields of sugar cane fit for harvesting, where the men were often welcomed and treated to a supply of chewing cane for the company. A solitary peanut farm was discovered by some of the soldiers in their peregrinations, and its product brought to camp.