Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-10-13
Letter From Camp Meade.
CAMp MEApE. Octoher fO. 18g

CAMP MEADE October 10, 1893
Mr Carpenter We are now enjoying
real army life, and can sympathiss with
the old soldiers of the former war There
is great d ference between this camp
among The hills, aud Sea Girt, along the
sea. Up here we have to drill up hill and
down dale which is rather tough alter SO
long snj9urn on the level parade grounds
OF our former camp.
We received orders at three o'clock on
Saturday afternoon to strike tents, but
hardly thought it official, as there had y IN
SO many conflicting reports, but pr 1ed
to do SO. The bugle sounded alb 80
and in about one minute there ,gas not a
single tent standing. tits one of the fine-t
scenes in army life to see the men busy
tieing up their ten where minute before
there had been over four hundred and fifty
tents standing. We packed all our things
which consisted of an extra suit of cloth
ing, heavy oVercoat, three large blankets.
haversack with food and eating outfit, and
canteen, and of course rifle, SO you see we
had nearly load, and the fellows were
not over anxious to carry them.
We were kept waiting until half past
eleven before we started, the reason of
delay being that the Pullman car had not
arrived for The officers After it arrived we
started amid a great demonstration from
he Manasquan people who had come to
see us off. We had to make frequent stops
for regular trains, and arr we'd at Trenton
about two O'clock where Corporal Barber
left us for home, having been granted an
honorable discharge.
About seven o'clock some HARD tack was
"A ~ ,aI NJ
NJ eade about eight o'clock where Major
Lohmann purchased barrel of coffee
which was greatly appreciated by the
fellows
They had picked out site about two
miles from the station for us to occupy on
top of large hill, and we were compelled
to shoulder our heavy packs and march
there. | never struck anything quite so
hard before, as some of the hills seemed
almost perpendicular to us overloaded, as
we were, and it was sight worth remem
beripg to see some of the fellows who had
never been used to hard work toiling ND
the hills.
After arriving at our destination we pro-
ceeded at once to erect our tents, aud were
the first Company to have them up. We
had very little leisure time during the day
as there was great deal to do, and il was
dark before we got chance to rest After
supper we spread our blankets on the
ground and slept soundly all night; indeed
the Captain opened our tent to see whether
we were alive or not. We were soon up
and dressed and had short exercise drill
before go,d breakfast of beef steak and
coffee which was soon disposed of, you may
be sure.
We have had no drill to day. but have
been working the greater part of it. This
afternoon we decided to build cot, 50 we
went into the woods and cut four crotched
sticks, we then felled couple small trees,
we cut them much larger than most of
them, as it must hold not only Oscar and
|, but Thompson and Downsy" said we
must get it pretty large if we wanted it to
last more than FIVE or ten minutes with so
much weight on it, We then laid on
cross pieces to hold the corn stalks and
grass on which we put our blankets. and
thus have bed that rivals feathers.
We expect to stay here until the twenty
sixth, when we will go to Philadelphia, and
from thence to South Carolina.
As it is about bed time, must turn and
test the sleeping qualities of our new bed.
So hoping you are all well, l remain yours
WILLIAM ELDRIDGE.
Co. Ii, Fourth n J. r. V.