TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ASHLEY COUNTY EAGLE JULY 25. 1918 P. 4
Douglas, Arizona, July 14.
Editor Ashley County Eagle:
It was May the 4th when I left your pleasant little town, and arrived in New Orleans the 6th.--We were carried out to Camp Nicholls about 12:30 that day and ate our first meal with Uncle Sam. That afternoon we were examined and measured for uniforms. On the 13th we were called out of our Barraacks and told to get ready to leave for Arizona. That evening we were lined up and marched to the nearest street car line. Arriving at the Station there was a special Pullman train waiting for us. There were five hundred of us who waived good bye to the Athens of the South. We were from Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. We on the train three days, and believe me, it was a very tiresome trip. Our meals were served on the train. At Fort Worth, Dallas and El Paso, Texas, we were met at the train by the Red Cross ladies, who gave us candy, tobacco, fruits, post cards, and all kinds of literature, which we appreciated with special delight.
After leaving El Paso we began to see nothing but sand, cactus and cayotes. We stopped at Columbus, New Mexico, about thirty minutes. That is where the U.S. had trouble with Villa, the noted bandit. On our arrival in Douglas we were met by out Troop Commanders and carried out to Camp. The next day we were attacked by one of Arizona's wonderful sand storms.
There are four regiments of Cavalry stationed here, the 1st, 17th, 32nd and 38th. There are about six thousand soldiers here. The Camp is named for a Private who was killed in a Mexican raid last year. Arizona is a very healthful country, being four or five thousand feet above sea level. We have very cool nights, having to sleep under two heavy woolen blankets. The days are very warm but do not affect us like southern heat. Our Camp is surrounded by sun kissed mountains. We are stationed about one mile from the Mexican border; we were on the border last Sunday. They have a wire fence separating Mexico from the U.S. There are mounted guards riding the line day and night. We are equipped with everything but our horses. The officers told us they expected fifteen hundred Bronchos in a few weeks, and then we think we will be ready to go "over the top."
Douglas is a nice little city having about fifteen thousand inhabitants. Our Camp is located one mile from the city. We have a Y.M.C.A. in Camp and also one in Douglas, which we think very much of, as a place of recreation from hard drill.
It only rains here two months in the year, that is July and August. So you can see Arizona is "Bone dry."
With best wishes, from
Marshall J. Isbell,
Troop I. 32nd Cavalry.
NOTES: This letter was written by Marshall Jackson Isbell. He was born in Arkansas on July 12, 1891 and died in Houston, Texas on September 1, 1922. He is buried in the Lakewood Cemetery in Crossett, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Douglas, Arizona, July 14.
Editor Ashley County Eagle:
It was May the 4th when I left your pleasant little town, and arrived in New Orleans the 6th.--We were carried out to Camp Nicholls about 12:30 that day and ate our first meal with Uncle Sam. That afternoon we were examined and measured for uniforms. On the 13th we were called out of our Barraacks and told to get ready to leave for Arizona. That evening we were lined up and marched to the nearest street car line. Arriving at the Station there was a special Pullman train waiting for us. There were five hundred of us who waived good bye to the Athens of the South. We were from Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. We on the train three days, and believe me, it was a very tiresome trip. Our meals were served on the train. At Fort Worth, Dallas and El Paso, Texas, we were met at the train by the Red Cross ladies, who gave us candy, tobacco, fruits, post cards, and all kinds of literature, which we appreciated with special delight.
After leaving El Paso we began to see nothing but sand, cactus and cayotes. We stopped at Columbus, New Mexico, about thirty minutes. That is where the U.S. had trouble with Villa, the noted bandit. On our arrival in Douglas we were met by out Troop Commanders and carried out to Camp. The next day we were attacked by one of Arizona's wonderful sand storms.
There are four regiments of Cavalry stationed here, the 1st, 17th, 32nd and 38th. There are about six thousand soldiers here. The Camp is named for a Private who was killed in a Mexican raid last year. Arizona is a very healthful country, being four or five thousand feet above sea level. We have very cool nights, having to sleep under two heavy woolen blankets. The days are very warm but do not affect us like southern heat. Our Camp is surrounded by sun kissed mountains. We are stationed about one mile from the Mexican border; we were on the border last Sunday. They have a wire fence separating Mexico from the U.S. There are mounted guards riding the line day and night. We are equipped with everything but our horses. The officers told us they expected fifteen hundred Bronchos in a few weeks, and then we think we will be ready to go "over the top."
Douglas is a nice little city having about fifteen thousand inhabitants. Our Camp is located one mile from the city. We have a Y.M.C.A. in Camp and also one in Douglas, which we think very much of, as a place of recreation from hard drill.
It only rains here two months in the year, that is July and August. So you can see Arizona is "Bone dry."
With best wishes, from
Marshall J. Isbell,
Troop I. 32nd Cavalry.
NOTES: This letter was written by Marshall Jackson Isbell. He was born in Arkansas on July 12, 1891 and died in Houston, Texas on September 1, 1922. He is buried in the Lakewood Cemetery in Crossett, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD