On December 9th, General Wilson, the Corps Commander, and General Ludlow, the Division Commander, visited Americus to inspect the brigade. Owing to a severe storm, the review of the troops was omitted; but the camp was thoroughly inspected by the Generals.
At the hospital of the Eighth, General Wilson said to the officer in charge:—"Surgeon, this is a model hospital, because it has no patients." The health of the regiment had steadily improved since the end of the first month at Lexington, and on the morning of this inspection there were just 1000 men present for duty with the colors. On December 27th, for the first time in seven months, there was not a single soldier of the Eighth in either the Regimental, Brigade, or Division Hospital.
On December 12th the mess-house of Company L burned. A kettle of fat boiled into the fire, and the flames quickly caught the roof of the kitchen and spread, exploding a can of kerosene. The building was soon wrapped in a sheet of flames. The regiment turned out and saved the adjoining buildings, but the mess house, with all the company supplies, was a total loss. The men of L were assigned to other companies for rations, until a new dining hall and kitchen were constructed.
About this time, Company L met with another loss, in the death of its mascot. The company had appropriated a young razor-back at Chickamauga, which, becoming attached to the company, followed it from camp to camp. He lived in the company street and was as familiar with the men as a well-trained dog. By Thanksgiving, the pig had grown to such proportions that he was ordered by higher authority, turned over to a butcher and served to the company as rations.
Company F had a lady goat as a mascot. She went through the service with the company, and was finally mustered out in Haverhill, where her descendents are numerous. The goat would follow the drum corps anywhere as long as it was marching away from camp, but immediately the direction was taken towards camp, the goat became obdurate and had to be pulled home.
Just before Thanksgiving, the Colonel received the following telegram from Captain Augustus P. Gardner:—
"Should be glad to pay cost of best Thanksgiving dinner for your regiment. If you approve, wire answer."
The proper answer was promptly wired, and the regimental commissary was sent into market to purchase turkeys and all that goes to make up a best Thanksgiving dinner. A similar dinner was furnished to the regiment at Christmas time by Hon. George von L. Meyer. These feasts were much appreciated by the men and were enjoyed amidst much merry making.
About this time several changes occurred among the commissioned officers, Captain Frank B. Denning and Lieutenant Linville H. Wardwell of Company C leaving the service by resignation. Second Lieutenants F. A. DeSousa of Company E and David F. Jewell of Company F were promoted to first lieutenants. The former was assigned to Company I and the latter to Company K.
At the same time First Sergeant Loran J. Harvey of Company I, and Sergeant Alexander Robertson of Company E were commissioned as second lieutenants, after a competitive examination. The former was attached to Company E and the latter to Company F.