The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-06-16
LETTER FROM THE FRONT.


A Shenandoah Volunteer writes From the
Fails Church Camp.
The following letter has been received from
our townsman, Corporal Lewis A. Hopkins
Co. L, sth Regiment Pa. Vol, now at Camp
Algcr Falls Church, Virginia. It will prove
interesting reading to many
EDITOR EVENING HERALD We are all
well and enjoying camp life. The tempera.
turc down here is very warm but the boys
are standing it we'll Grant Troutman at
tends the Salvation Army meeting every
evening and William James is aspiring to be
preacher He is good one. William
Williams is still a big smoker. John Fogo
Steve Lindenmuth and John Katz seem to
get little home sick when soldiers wives
pay visit to the camp, Two members of
Co. L, Mahanoy City, were taken to the
guard house this morning for going away
from camp and remaining over night One
Of them was badly scared. He thought he
would be shot. Each got extra duty as a
penalty.
We'll, where is Shenandoah in this war?
1t looks as if they have shut the doors and
arc going to stay al home. 1t certainly looks
bad that out of population of about IS, 900
only four have come to the front. Where are
all the people who had so much to say about
this war; Have they left the town When
the officers went home the first time we
looked for some OF the shenandoah people. to
come with them but they didn't. Now that
officers are going home to get more men we
will expect to see some come with them from
Shenandoah; and if there are none we will
begin to think that there are no more soldiers
there.
What the newspapers say about us having
it SO hard here is true. Some days we haven I
enough to eat and sometimes the meat is
stale. But we all knew before we came that
we would have to put up with it as our
fathers did n 1861.
| have heard THAT there is volunteer
company in Shenandoah Why do they not
try and get into the service There is room
for two more companies in our regiment, as
we are to have twelve companies. l would
advise all who cannot put up with hard liv
ing not to come, as they would be like great
many more Of the new boys-kicking. But
it does not do any good here. / don't know
how soon we will leave to 60 further South.
The r. O. of r. A. of Girirdyile sent us Il
very handsome and useful present. We eX-
pect to have a good time tonight, when
some new men come in.
The new men from Schuylkill have just
arrived and they are all looking well, but a
few days will tell on them. 1t is very warm
down here. The new men think it is very
hot but we consider it comparatively cool to
what it has been. There are a great many
Of the men sick in our camp. There are
100 in the hospital. The Shenandoah
men are all well at present. None Of us
have been sick since we left home, which
was two months ago. William James has
just gone on guard and will remain there
until one o'clock tomorrow. Father O'Con-
nor sent us a box Of cigars and some eatables
only one of the Shenandoah boys came down
with the new lot and that was Fred. Gibson
Ohm Ba ker came down with the boys from
POttsvile. He now belongs to Company
ii Sth Regt. There must be something,
wrong with the boys at home, that are
so few coming to fight for Il good cause.
Grant Troutman is cutting dash to-day
with flowers on his coat. | don't know why
he is wearing them. There are no girls here,
except negroes, and l don't think he care S
for them. William James will start for home
some day this moath, ON furlough. Harry
Grimm is down here. He belongs to Co. II,
18th Reg't. | am now camping ON the same
ground upon which my father campcd when
he was in the service for the Union in 1861.
| mention this because | never expected to be
in war camp on the same field upon which
he served 81 years ago.