The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-15
WITH THE GUNNtRS
HOW CAPT. ETEERE'S BATTERY
q BOYS ARE FARINo
ALETTER FROM THE BARRACKS
The Herald's Special Correspondent
Records His Impressions of the
First Few Days as Soldier

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12.-(Specia
Correspondence to The Herald.) The First
California UU. S. volunteer artillery, COM
posed of Battery A, from San Francisco
Battery B, from San Francisco, Battery
c, from Sacramento, and Battery d, from
Los Angeles, is now in barracks at Fon-
tana's warehouse. formerly the California
wooden mills, Black point, and will proba-
bly, remain in its present quarters two OF
three weeks.
Major Rice of Fort Mason Is in command
and is actively experimenting all arrange
ments, having taken up his headquarters
in the barracks.
Libby prison." as the barracks Is affec-
tionatels called. is a four-story brick block
near the corner of Van Ness avenue and
Beach street. The first floor is used for
storage purposes, with the exception of two
rooms about IL by "a, which are used as
Major Rice's headquarters. On the second
floor are the officers quarters and Batteries
A and c. The third floor Is occupied by
Batteries B and d, while the fourth floor
is used as mess room.
Probably the most popular members of
the Los Angeles battery are ELLEN" the
Great Dane puppy presented to the Los
Angeles battery by Miss Yaw, and the ca
gle. which appears on the roll as "Remem-
Der the Maine"
Los Angeles may we'll be proud Of the
battery she has furnished, for it is the
unanimous opinion of all with whom have
talked that it far ahead of the other three,
both physically and mentally.
The boys are universally disguised with
San Francisco, and are still complaining
of the cold reception accorded them. There
are ten flags in windows in Los Angeles
to one here, and the percentage of San
Franciscans wearing small flags or en-
blems Is almost too small to count.
Considering the change of climate and
the lack of comforts, the battery Is in very
good health. Some fifteen or twenty re-
ported as on the sick list this morning. but
the majority were only suffering from
slight colds or sore threats.
We spend about six hours day drilling
now and the time between drill periods is
occupied in reading, writing letters and
playing cards, but just about the time one
gets settled down to doing anything it is
drill hour again, and everything else is
suspended.
The greatest "snap" Of the whole routine
in barracks is to be Orderly" as the duties
consist mainly in accompanying an officer
down town and carrying whatever pur-
chases he may make. Leave of absence is
hard to obtain except in this manner, so it
is not difficult to obtain willing orderlies.
Guard duty is also considered quite lux
ury, as the duties are not arduous, and
the guard has chance to talk to outsiders,
and so get news of the happenings Of the
day.
In the main, everyone Is satisfied. OF
course there are "kickers," but they seem
to be unable to agree on what to be dissat-
isfied with, so the kicking does not go for
much. The food is well cooked, and the
only articles they have given us more than
once so far are boiled potatoes, bread and
coffee. We do not have much variety at
meal, but there Is plenty of it.
The most unpleasant part of the whole
program is mess duty" consisting of
waiting on tables and washing and wipine
dishes, but as everyone Is compelled to take
his turn, there are no hard feelings, and
although the boys are ''joshed" considera-
bly, at the time, that is the end Of it,
A guard house has been established, but
do not believe it has been occupied as
yet. However, there are rumors that it
will not remain vacant any great length of
time, as there are several promising SUBJ
jects in the different batteries.
Cameron E. Thorn of Los Angeles has
Joined the battery since its arrival here.
Several of those who came up with the bat
terry were rejected on final examination,
consequently there have been a few
changes in it's personnel. There has also
been a change in officers. Major ]. W. r.
Diss of San Bernardino has been appoint
ed first lieutenant Messrs. McKeeby and
Mckenzie are retained as junior first and
Junior second lieutenants of the battery
age Cor at least lack of it) preventing their
appointment to anything more advanced.
The uniforms and accoutrements have not
yet arrived, so the battery does not pre-