The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-07-29
LIFE AT CAMP MERRITT.
Capt. WhitthOrne of Company B., is
Called the "Gallant Captain"
Lieut.. Fowler Is Hard at WOrk-Moth-
ers, Wives, Sisters, Sweethearts,
Write Often and Affection
ately to Your Boys.

CAMP MERRITT, SAN FRANCISCO, Call,
July l6, lS9S.-TO the Herald: My time
and talent are limited, hut will try to
comply with the editors request for a
few items of life at our camp. Sister
"Barhara" needn't fear that | am
branching out into the literary world
with thought of Outstripping her, nor
umns. She seems to have given up
writing, and | am only writing in her
space.
Our little city of white tents, pitched
on the coast of the Pacific, is a place of
interest, but IL is difficult to know Just
what items to select. Tents of men
from the South and North lie close to-
gether. But now they are as one body,
with one God, one flag, one chief, one
purpose, marching side by side under
the flag that knows no defeat.
We grow impatient to 90 into active
service, where Tennessee soldiers will
do honor to her country and state. The
bullet'rid flag we have, relic of
valorous deeds done more than quar-
ter of a century ago, brings tears to the
eyes of the old veterans, for it tells
many sad stories, and with no less cOur-
age will the sons of these veterans de-
fend their beautiful new banner with
its stars and stripes.
Our sightseeing is limited, yet we
have seen some interesting things.
The CentenniaI's "Chinese Village"
gave us miniature idea of the "Chi-
natown" here. The "licensed" guiue
explained all we saw as we passed
through. We went into their city be-
meath the ground, with their streets but
about two feet wide, the houses outlin-
ing the street. We saw the men smoke
their opium pipes and fall into that
idiOtic degrading sleep. The houses
and streets were so filled with the
opium smoke that we were glad to get
into the fresh air again, and thanked
our stars we were not Chinese.
Our drills employ most of our time
and are regular-the mOnotony of the
"lying down." and "kneeling" being
frequently broken by the soldier find
ing himself on cactus or a snake, both
of which are found in abundance on the
hills. Then comes a Comanchee yell
We miss our pet and mascot, rags"
the beautiful little dog we brought from
Tennessee. Nothing could keep him
from going out with the company to
drill, and he always marched at the
head of the line.
The cold, damp climate serves the
Tennessee boys badly. The Colonel of
the New York regiment that arrived a
few days ago and were encamped near
us, telegraphed to Washington that he
would move his soldiers back to n. Y.
if they were not given better place to
camp. They were at once moved to the
PresidiO. Our Colonel should do as
much in our behalf, for our men are
contracting colds that are proving seri-
Gus. Several officers have put stoves in
their tents.
Our mess tent has arrived, and we
cooks take time about sleeping there
1t is an improvement on our own tents
For while there were l2men in our ter
-9Xl2 # Guns, blankets, clothing, can.
teens, KNAPP and haversacks, ETC., had tC
go in too. When man wished to turn
over at night, he would yell out "Squad
wake up."-"Squad Ready!-"Squad
right Tor left turn !" and all would turn
over at once. There was no such thing
as sleeping on ones back. There i,
more prose than poetry in such life
as this.
Our mess tent relieves us of much in
convenience from the sand, which we
couldn't even keep out OF our food. Ye'
that's all right, we guess, for they say :
true soldier must have grit. We are
mighty true, for sand has entered the
POiOo VI wa Shlii w NO AZ
and it serves as part thickeDing for OuI
soup. We are on cook duty now. You
should see the ladies laugh as they pas;
and see us cooking and washing
dishes, or doing our laundry work. A
wash board is terrible thing! They
ask for our recipes, but they never
bring us any dishes prepared after oul
directions. l would be washing dishes
right this minute, had I not bribed {
fellow with piece of tobacco to do i
for me. Tobacco and money will brins
you the most excellent aid in getting
aid. We still have about carload o
Nashville crackers we have to draw on
though thew are getting very stale.
We were given our rubber pouches
yesterday. They can be used as coats
blankets can be rolled in them to keeI
| them dry on the march, and four O.
them make very nice tent. They be
long to us, and can carry them home
with us.
The Government gives us gun, belt
baynnet and scabard, canteen, knaI
and haversacks, one blanket, one sui
of blue, and one suit of brown duck, ont
! hat, one pair of leggins, one pair sus
penders, two suits of underwear, one
cap, one pair of white duck trousers
one pair of white gloves, three pairs o.
socks, two blue and two white shirts
two collars, shoes, knife, fork, spoon
tin cup and tin plate. The "white'
garments and cap are used only or
"dress parade" Each man is held re
spOnsible for what he has, and IL any
thing is lost the price of it is taken on
of his wages on pay day.
The boys look handsome in thei
new uniforms. The Off ,ers have tn
brown uniforms too, but theirs hav
more trimming" on them than ours
consequently they present better ap
pearance.
The guard-house is the main place o
punishment. and IL is neUer empty
Every morning the prisoners are carriet
before the court-martial for trial.
Yesterday two of Company F's boy
were walking down the street and
lady asked them where they were from
One said "From the South" The Other
thinking he would receive more favo
said 81 am from the North" Where
upon the lady handed the "Southerner
fOrty-two twO-cent stamps. Tn
"Northern boy" says hereafter he Wi
be sure t. say 81 am from Tennessee,
"The Tennessee boys get all the favors,
wall the other soldiers.
The Maurv Countians are by n
means lacking in loyalty and patrio
ism. They are sturdy, manly fellows
Capt. Whitthorne and Lieut.. Fowle
have been very kind to this Maur
County boy, and we appreciate it. w
take not the credit To ourselves, bu