The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-08-19
From Camp Merritt.
The following letter was recei'

hN ioAAS ASNSS w W. WV - -
too late for publication last week:
EDITOR GAzETTE-"Yet a few
more days and the all-beholding
sun shall see no more in all his
course" is applicable to Camp
Merritt. There are not many of
us left. The camp has taken on a
lonesome look, and when we who
i still guard these ssnd lots march
aboard the Arizona and Scandia,
Camp Merritt will be numbered
among the things that have been
and are now no more.
"Men," exclaimed a captain in
the civil War, 1--WE are about to
engage in a desperate battle. l
want every man in this company
to strike for home and native
land" A tall Irishman broke
from the ranks and started rear
ward. "HaltT' yelled the officer.
"What are you doing?" "Bejabcrs
! and Pm striking Tor hcme" was
tuS OcitiC leJoliluCl.
SiEce we have had word that we
will sail in short time for Manila
there seems to be a few boys in
the Oregon camp who would like
to :'strike for hoEae."- And it does
seem a long distance from friends
aid aid kindred to those far-away
islands where Dewey won fame
and honor.
Several Qregonians may be left
behind on actoaat Of aiokness, and
these doubtless will be discharged
from service. Charles Horner and
Horace Scott are now in the hos
pital, but. the former is expected
to return to camp tomorrow. 1t
is extremely doubtful if Horace
will be able to so with US. Camp
life has not agreed with him. .
Pat Kelsay was offered cor
poralship and wisely refused it.
Of all places and stations in army
life, save me from being made a
corporal. ssIt IS a step III the lad
der" but the step that is always
trod upon. The corporal is the
buffer between the private and
the officer. Privates have no rev
erence for him. Those higher in
rank impose upon him. No, thank
YOU. Pat would not be corporal.
Editor Irvine and wife paid US
very agreeable and delightful visit
ibis week. Mr.. and Mrs. Simon
L. Kline some days ago cheered
the Oregonians with an abundance
of fruit, tobacco, stockings and
handkerchiefs-all very much
needed and highly appreciated.
The boys will always kindly re
member them.
Several Corvallis ladies have
endeared themselves to individual
and group of Corvallis recruits by
surprising us with delicious cake !
sent by express, and with dish
towels and other camping convent,
ences. Our eratefulness is deep
and lasting.
There are 311 Oregon recruits,
and probably 800 will sail Oh the
transport. 1t is not probable that
all will return, nor can we know
who it will be that will not see
Oregon again. We may see trials
and hardships, wounds, sickness.
death; but each man thinks it will
be some other. And the deepest
Trials are not ours. The ''folks at
homeo suffer. the cruelest pain.
We have our excitements, our
,omradeship, our love of adven.
ure. We hardly have time to
think of getting homesick. We
10 not fear for ourselves. But
hose at home are lonesome and
.earful. They sacrifice the most
or their country.
Some are afraid we may not go, !
alser all, since peace is assured.
out being, happily, recruits, it Is
almost certain that We will be sent
o join our regiment, and such is
he present and doubtless will be !
he continued determination of
he authorities.
Fl. L. HoLGATE. I
Camp Merritt, Aug. s, 1898. j