TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER APRIL 16, 1919 P. 4
Salvage Detachment,
Camp Bowie, Texas,
March 20, 1919,
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bailey,
Magnolia, Ark.
Dear Mother and Father:
I received your very welcome letter today and was glad to hear from you again. I am glad that you are all well and having a big time. I am all O. K. and feeling fine.
As I have never written you anything about the situation of the camp, I will try to give you a brief description so that you may have some idea of how the camp is located. We are right close to a little river called the Trinity, and just here it makes a big bend toward the east. Fort Worth is on the outside of the bend and on the opposite side of the river from camp. The camp is right in the bend on the west side. The camp extends along the river valley for about two or three miles, which necessarily makes it a pretty muddy place when it rains. This is not a very large camp. It holds about 60,000 men when it is full. It altogether a tent camp, as there are only a few barracks here.
Perhaps it would be interesting to you to know something about the general routine of duty of a soldier. First thing in the morning “reveville” which comes at 6 o’clock. When I first came to camp at 5:30. This is given by a peculiar tone on the bugle, meaning to get out of the “hay” and get ready to “fall out.” When we “fall out” we do not fall out of bed as you would imagine, but get out and line up by the company street. Mess call at 6:45 and then drill beginning at 7:30 or start work whichever it may be until 11 o’clock when we come in for dinner. Dinner at 12. Go out for drill again at 1 o’clock and drill until 4:30 or 5 o’clock, “retreat” 5:15, supper 5:30 and then every one is at liberty to visit his neighbor or sit in his tent until 9 o’clock. Then we have “taps” when every one is supposed to be in bed and his lights out. This is not enforced to a great extent since we do not drill any more.
All of the boys are anxious to get out now. Of course mother, it seems to you that there is no reason to hold us here, but you must remember that it is a big undertaking to turn something like four and one half million men back to civilian life, and too, some one must stay and take care of government property until there is a sufficient number of regulars and civilians available to take our place.
Camp life is not so bad after all. We have many things that interest and amuse us, so why not make use of them. We have the Y. M. C. A. and the Camp Library where we can get any kind of book that we desire. When we haven’t anything else to do we can get out in the company street and play ball or talk about “going home” if we choose.
I took a ride out to Lake Worth last Sunday and sure did enjoy the outing. It was about eight miles from here and believe me, I was some tired when I got back. This lake is said to be the second largest besides the Great Lakes in the United States. I am going out again sometime and take a boat ride. Better come down and go with me.
Secretary Baker and General March paid us a visit this week but I did not have the pleasure to see the distinguished gentlemen, I at least heard the noise.
Well, I must close, and hope that I may have a long newsy letter from home soon, so give my love to all.
Your boy in Khaki.
Pvt. Noah W. Bailey.
Q. M. C., Salvage Detachment,
Camp Bowie, Texas.
NOTES: Noah Webster Bailey was born at McNeil, Columbia County, Arkansas on December 14, 1896 and died in Arizona in November 1978. He registered for the draft and enlisted inthe military at Springfield, Missouri where he was attending college at Springfield B. C., but he listed his address as McNeil, Arkansas. He was described as being tall and of medium build with blue eyes and light brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.
Salvage Detachment,
Camp Bowie, Texas,
March 20, 1919,
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bailey,
Magnolia, Ark.
Dear Mother and Father:
I received your very welcome letter today and was glad to hear from you again. I am glad that you are all well and having a big time. I am all O. K. and feeling fine.
As I have never written you anything about the situation of the camp, I will try to give you a brief description so that you may have some idea of how the camp is located. We are right close to a little river called the Trinity, and just here it makes a big bend toward the east. Fort Worth is on the outside of the bend and on the opposite side of the river from camp. The camp is right in the bend on the west side. The camp extends along the river valley for about two or three miles, which necessarily makes it a pretty muddy place when it rains. This is not a very large camp. It holds about 60,000 men when it is full. It altogether a tent camp, as there are only a few barracks here.
Perhaps it would be interesting to you to know something about the general routine of duty of a soldier. First thing in the morning “reveville” which comes at 6 o’clock. When I first came to camp at 5:30. This is given by a peculiar tone on the bugle, meaning to get out of the “hay” and get ready to “fall out.” When we “fall out” we do not fall out of bed as you would imagine, but get out and line up by the company street. Mess call at 6:45 and then drill beginning at 7:30 or start work whichever it may be until 11 o’clock when we come in for dinner. Dinner at 12. Go out for drill again at 1 o’clock and drill until 4:30 or 5 o’clock, “retreat” 5:15, supper 5:30 and then every one is at liberty to visit his neighbor or sit in his tent until 9 o’clock. Then we have “taps” when every one is supposed to be in bed and his lights out. This is not enforced to a great extent since we do not drill any more.
All of the boys are anxious to get out now. Of course mother, it seems to you that there is no reason to hold us here, but you must remember that it is a big undertaking to turn something like four and one half million men back to civilian life, and too, some one must stay and take care of government property until there is a sufficient number of regulars and civilians available to take our place.
Camp life is not so bad after all. We have many things that interest and amuse us, so why not make use of them. We have the Y. M. C. A. and the Camp Library where we can get any kind of book that we desire. When we haven’t anything else to do we can get out in the company street and play ball or talk about “going home” if we choose.
I took a ride out to Lake Worth last Sunday and sure did enjoy the outing. It was about eight miles from here and believe me, I was some tired when I got back. This lake is said to be the second largest besides the Great Lakes in the United States. I am going out again sometime and take a boat ride. Better come down and go with me.
Secretary Baker and General March paid us a visit this week but I did not have the pleasure to see the distinguished gentlemen, I at least heard the noise.
Well, I must close, and hope that I may have a long newsy letter from home soon, so give my love to all.
Your boy in Khaki.
Pvt. Noah W. Bailey.
Q. M. C., Salvage Detachment,
Camp Bowie, Texas.
NOTES: Noah Webster Bailey was born at McNeil, Columbia County, Arkansas on December 14, 1896 and died in Arizona in November 1978. He registered for the draft and enlisted inthe military at Springfield, Missouri where he was attending college at Springfield B. C., but he listed his address as McNeil, Arkansas. He was described as being tall and of medium build with blue eyes and light brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.