TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER DEMOCRAT NOVEMBER 19, 1917 P. 1
Editor Courier-Democrat:
If this escapes the waste basket I will write again and make reports of the former Co. G., 2nd Ark. Inf., in which most of the Russellville boys were enlisted.
Co. G. is now in the 142nd Artillery, Battery C. Everybody is doing fine in the new quarters and seem to be liking everything fine. Some of the boys have the measles, but none dangerous, and we think they will all be better soon and ready for duty in camp.
Following is the schedule we follow: Revellie (to wake us up) 5:35 a. m.. Assembly (to call us together) 5:50, when we take our exercise before eating breakfast, which comes at 6:00 a. m. Stable call at 6:53 will call the boys to feed their horses and give them a good currying. The sick call comes at 6:38. At 7:00 we assemble to take exercise for one hour. This makes our muscles look like those spoken of in the old fourth reader about the village blacksmith.
We go out for drill at 8:00 and return at 11, get dinner at noon and go out to drill again from 1:00 to 5:00.
There are guards around the camp, and the call for guards is at 5:15. This is a very impressive procedure, as the new guards take the posts of the old ones who are being relieved of duty. The new guard makes a parade to the accompaniment of the 142nd F.A. band, which renders a very fine march. But this parade nor any other of the army is so impressive as the Retreat. That is the last tribute of respect we pay to the Stars and Stripes each day at 6:00 p.m.
The non-commissioned officers go to school at 7:35 every evening and study an hour until 8:35.
Our battery is formed like a city. Tents are stretched like houses on either side of a street, and to see the camp from a distance looks like a very small city with residences in the outskirts. Eight soldiers sleep in a tent, which is large and roomy, but still we do not have the room you have in your homes.
Our mess hall is located at the end of the Battery street, which we enter at the side to get our eats, or chuck, as we commonly term it in camp. Our hall is equipped with three stoves and soon will be equipped with vessels like those at home. The eats we get are simply fine and all the boys are getting heavier every day. Some of the boys have gained as much as 30 pounds already. What will they be when they come home? Nobody is working hard, and we have Wednesday evening , Saturday and Sunday off. That is two and a half days holiday.
This morning as we went over to take our morning exercise I was very much impressed with the greatness of our Uncle Sam. We took a short hike went over a small hill, and could see very clearly over a large area of Camp Beauregard, of which comprises 64,000 acres, I am told. We could see columns of soldiers taking their exercise that puts muscles like ropes across their frames. This training and hardening seems to say, "Down the Kaiser and Prussianism!"
This one camp is larger than one can hardly imagine, and to think that there are many such camps in the U.S., and to see the sources by which this army is backed up, would assure the success of our army in Europe or any other part of the world. The trains bring food and clothing and equipment to us, and to see the thousands of mules with bright and shining harness pulling army wagons, to say nothing of the many motor trucks--all you have to do is to shut your eyes and imagine an army as large as you may and see it equipped with the modern equipment of modern warefare. we know that the battle is not always to the strong, but to those who are in the right and fighting for a cause. We know that we are preparing to fight for a just cause. We are going to uphold humanity and freedom to the poor Belgians. We are going to do away with the Kaiser and Prussianism. America is going to do as she has done in the past go into war with just cause and comes out with a just plea; go into it to protect those who are not able to protect themselves and are starving because of the tyranny of the Kaiser.
We are under a grand government and a great President, and it is the duty of every American citizen to put his shoulder to the wheel and carry this war to a success, which we are bound to follow a well organized and supported government.
We wish to call attention to the fact that many of the boys are receiving boxes from home every day and that the mails will be very heavy the next few days. Therefore we advise that all boxes and parcels be packed well, in good, strong boxes so that they may not be crushed and that all parcels be properly addressed and have return address in corner. And be sure to mail your Christmas packages early. Following is the correct form of address--
Pvt. John Jones,
Battery C., 142nd F.A
Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, La.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Editor Courier-Democrat:
If this escapes the waste basket I will write again and make reports of the former Co. G., 2nd Ark. Inf., in which most of the Russellville boys were enlisted.
Co. G. is now in the 142nd Artillery, Battery C. Everybody is doing fine in the new quarters and seem to be liking everything fine. Some of the boys have the measles, but none dangerous, and we think they will all be better soon and ready for duty in camp.
Following is the schedule we follow: Revellie (to wake us up) 5:35 a. m.. Assembly (to call us together) 5:50, when we take our exercise before eating breakfast, which comes at 6:00 a. m. Stable call at 6:53 will call the boys to feed their horses and give them a good currying. The sick call comes at 6:38. At 7:00 we assemble to take exercise for one hour. This makes our muscles look like those spoken of in the old fourth reader about the village blacksmith.
We go out for drill at 8:00 and return at 11, get dinner at noon and go out to drill again from 1:00 to 5:00.
There are guards around the camp, and the call for guards is at 5:15. This is a very impressive procedure, as the new guards take the posts of the old ones who are being relieved of duty. The new guard makes a parade to the accompaniment of the 142nd F.A. band, which renders a very fine march. But this parade nor any other of the army is so impressive as the Retreat. That is the last tribute of respect we pay to the Stars and Stripes each day at 6:00 p.m.
The non-commissioned officers go to school at 7:35 every evening and study an hour until 8:35.
Our battery is formed like a city. Tents are stretched like houses on either side of a street, and to see the camp from a distance looks like a very small city with residences in the outskirts. Eight soldiers sleep in a tent, which is large and roomy, but still we do not have the room you have in your homes.
Our mess hall is located at the end of the Battery street, which we enter at the side to get our eats, or chuck, as we commonly term it in camp. Our hall is equipped with three stoves and soon will be equipped with vessels like those at home. The eats we get are simply fine and all the boys are getting heavier every day. Some of the boys have gained as much as 30 pounds already. What will they be when they come home? Nobody is working hard, and we have Wednesday evening , Saturday and Sunday off. That is two and a half days holiday.
This morning as we went over to take our morning exercise I was very much impressed with the greatness of our Uncle Sam. We took a short hike went over a small hill, and could see very clearly over a large area of Camp Beauregard, of which comprises 64,000 acres, I am told. We could see columns of soldiers taking their exercise that puts muscles like ropes across their frames. This training and hardening seems to say, "Down the Kaiser and Prussianism!"
This one camp is larger than one can hardly imagine, and to think that there are many such camps in the U.S., and to see the sources by which this army is backed up, would assure the success of our army in Europe or any other part of the world. The trains bring food and clothing and equipment to us, and to see the thousands of mules with bright and shining harness pulling army wagons, to say nothing of the many motor trucks--all you have to do is to shut your eyes and imagine an army as large as you may and see it equipped with the modern equipment of modern warefare. we know that the battle is not always to the strong, but to those who are in the right and fighting for a cause. We know that we are preparing to fight for a just cause. We are going to uphold humanity and freedom to the poor Belgians. We are going to do away with the Kaiser and Prussianism. America is going to do as she has done in the past go into war with just cause and comes out with a just plea; go into it to protect those who are not able to protect themselves and are starving because of the tyranny of the Kaiser.
We are under a grand government and a great President, and it is the duty of every American citizen to put his shoulder to the wheel and carry this war to a success, which we are bound to follow a well organized and supported government.
We wish to call attention to the fact that many of the boys are receiving boxes from home every day and that the mails will be very heavy the next few days. Therefore we advise that all boxes and parcels be packed well, in good, strong boxes so that they may not be crushed and that all parcels be properly addressed and have return address in corner. And be sure to mail your Christmas packages early. Following is the correct form of address--
Pvt. John Jones,
Battery C., 142nd F.A
Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, La.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD