The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-06
FOR TIE NEWSBOYS.
Letter from the Frontier, Written to the
Lads of the s'Newsb0ys Home"

Lads of the ''NewsbOyS' Home"
The following letter was written from one d
officer, to be read to the newsboys of Indianap.
oils:
Dear Boys-My last letter to you was writ
ten under old Pixies Peak, In Colorado. Above
on the peak and its Sides the snow was four or
five feet deep. Now am about one thousand
miles southwest of there, and it is as warm here
as In midsummer at Indianapolis. You remem
ber told you of Custer and now | am With
some of Clusters old men, though with anothet
regiment. You must know belong to the Sig
nal Corps of the army In war, we 60 out some
thing like scouts and watch the enemy's move.
ments and signal our reports in by flags, torches
and flashes of sunlight made with looking
glasses, just as you would blind some one in .
window by fash from little pocket-glass.
Most of you have heard of the Apache chief
Geronimo and his band of cruel savages. The
Sixth Cavalry and few other commands are
trying to catch kill these Apaches, and four oi
us Signal Corps men have been sent out here to
take charge of the lines of communication. 1
am In what is called Captain Tupper's district
Our camp is in among high hills or low mount.
aims, a trail that the Indians generally trave,
over when they come up here in New Mexico
1t is called Camp Henely, after a poor young
lieutenant who was drowned while bathing In q
river near here recently. We are about thirteen
would never know there was a camp here until
you came within gunshot of it, on one of the
ridges betweenSwhch we lie have detail OF
men whom have taught to signal with the
glasses, and we have our centrsl station on .
little mountain near camp. have sent three OF
the men to little station on the railroad called
Separ, and they signal up kilograms. ETC., az
they receive them.
About fifty miles away is Cooks Range, and
one company is camped there near pass which
4 Iox~xx oh IN Sc 10.
ton. and we send and receive orders every day.
On the other side of US is the Stems Peak range
where there Is another company and station.
We have another station to establish in day
two in the Hatcheta range. where there is COM
pany of the Thirteenth Infantry ("DoughboysA
we call them. because they have to walk Ev.
cry dav we work these stations, for practice or
TO serd official messages. There are about five
men on a station, and we car see
for many miles over the plains with our tele
scopes. If the Indians don't come up to us in the
night they never can get to us without our see.
ing them; and in the night they would
have hard work to get to us, as we are armed
with carbines and revolvers, and there are large
rocks which make first class breastworks. Az
present we stay in camp, but in day or two
shall take tents aud go on the hill to camp
There are four troops in this camp with about
fifty men in each troop so there are about 2Oa
men in all You have all seen infantry men,
and many of you cavalry, on fine horses.
with their bright sabers, carbines and re-
volvers, and the nice uniforms, with long
horse tail plumes in the helmets; but you won't
find any of that paradedress here. There ID
not single saber in camp; even the officers dont
wear swords, but revolver and beltful of cart
ridges The men all have carbines, and some OF
them revolvers; they wear cartridge-belt in
stead of the box. No helmets here but old gray
SLOUGH hats are worn Some of the men wear
uniform trousers and some overalls. They go in
their shirt-sleeves most of the time
We live in tents. The men have small tents
which hold two each, while the officers and nom
commissioned staff have tent to each
to put four men In For bed I havs
put board up edgewise about two feet from the
side of the tent. and filed in with hay; on this
spread my blankets. My pillow is my saddle
opposite side of the tent are my signal instru
ments. 1t is very pleasant house, but the
heavy wind and dust are troublesome sometimes
wake up in the morning and find my full
the pillow. you know. We don't live on the fat
of the land, or, at least the land here can't be
very fat if we do Our meals consist of bread,
straight, coffee the same. fat pork I've call
it Cincinnati chicken and once in a
hunting too and we have had one meal of an
telope meat slnce have been here. We each
carry tin plate, knife, fork. spoon and tin cup.
Most of us use our bowie-knives for eating. Gus
horses are sleek and fat, and are good ones but
they give out in week or ten days. We havs
few mustangs (bronchos) that do better. 1t ID
Just year to-day since this regiment started
out and all are very anxious to get back to Fort
Bayard, where their headquarters are. There
Is some hope OF ending the cam
paign now, as the Indians have left
the Mexican line and are coming this way.
If we can only get between them and Mexico 50
they cannot run back there, we may capture OF
kill them soon; but there will be more than one
of our boys ''go under" before we can got them.
as they are as cunning as foxes, and splendid
shots.
Now lads. take ny advice. If you want to
be soldiers think well over it, before you join
the army you get little pay and poor living
You are among o very wicked lot of men. Any
business is better than this, but IL you have ne
taste for anything else and do have a most de-
and nothing else. Now. there ara
whisky. plays poker faro, seven-up etc,
and dies total wreck Too many OF our boys
are such. They not good soldiers and not to
be depended on In a tight corner. Before y0r
join the army just be sure that you and tho
Maker. who looks after us all, are on the sauna
side. and then when you enlist stick to Him.
You will have hard time of it at f-st, but your
comrades will like and respect you your officerH
will pick you out as steady man and promots
YOU and if your share of lead finishes you, you
will not only die good soldier and brave man
but with a hope of something on the other side.
1t is worth trying for. and you are always sure
of success God bless You ALL Your friend.
r. WIS
Signal Corps, U. s.
CAMP HENELY N. NJ. May 1886.