The evening times., 1898-09-07
EXPEIENCEs IN CAMP.
Another District Boy Writes OF Woes
and Trenches.


The following is an abstract of a letter
received by Mr.. +. c. He'll, of No. 23l3
II Street northwest, from Mr.. l.. Hell
muth, of Company l.. First Regiment,
District of Columbia Volunteers, now at
Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point, n. Y.
1t reads as follows:
Dear Friend Frank: ] will answer
your letter, which I received yes
terday / was glad to hear from
you. Yes, l have been with the
District boys since they started, but am
sorry / ever came out with them. The
boys are all right but the officers are
very hard on us, and have treated us like
dogs since we left dear old Washington.
When we left Washington we went 10
Chickamauga, Ga, and there we struck
it very hard; the eating was nothing but
hardtack and salt pork and "A few beans,
but we put up with it; man cannot
last long on this sort Of meal After being
in Chickamauga about a week we left
for Tampa, Fla, where the food was Il
little better, but we did not always get
what belonged to us as the sergeant
would draw the rationS and then would
take some and sell or trade ii for some
thing for himself We left Tampa on
the I'd of July, and left Port Tampa on
the Sd on board the transport Catania,
When We arrived on the 10th in Cuba
we We're landed and taken TO the place
where the Rough Riders had their hard
fight, and camped for IT, night.
ION our voyage to Cuba We were fed
on roast beef and canned beans, which
is put up by Chicago firms. The last of
the boys left the landing about II o'clock
p. m, and reached camp at a. m, and
were called 10 order at 3, which was only
one hours rest for US, and We were or
dered to start for the firing line. We
reached there at II a. m. but very lit
tie lighting was in progress. All day
could hear our guns as they fired al
the enemy, and could hear their bullets
whistle over our heads. That night we
Were put to work the front OF our
line TO dig trenches nearest the enemys
line. The men could not see one an
other in the darkness, and IL rained
increasingly. The only time we could
see one another was when 1t lightened
and then we would be daZed, 50 that
II was much harder for us 10 distinguish
any one. As we were digging We were
fired upon by some of our own men, be-
cause they had not been notified by their
commanders that We would be there. As
the shots still came. some of the Off
GERS gave orders to lay down, and 9TH
ers TO the rear, and we didn't know
what to do, so we fell back Of the
trenches.
After all had been settled We were or
dered to proceed again at the diggings,
and remained there for two hours with no
more success than we mad before, because
the more we dug the more was washed in
and the trenches were all full of water,
and there We were in mud and water and
no to care for US. We had no shelter.
as we had left our blankets and tents a.
the camp where we Were the first night,
so we had TO stand about in our muddy
and wet clothes.
The next day four companies started
back To our first camp, and each man had
10 lug back about loo pounds. We had TO
take back everything, even for those who
were left at the fighting line.
The grub for the first few days was
scarce, and it was only two hardtacks
meal for TWO or three meals, and then
there was nothing for two days and when
We did get food it was a very small piece
OF fat back and TWO hardtacks for over
a week. Al last an order was given 10
move back from the line to San Juan hill,
but everything had been settled there.
We received better food, but il was not
fit TO eat in that climate. Sometimes we
had oatmeal and we could see shippers in
ii, and the hardtacks were musty. but
we soon got some good bread. On Au-
gust 70 We left our camp to embark for
America and left port the next day on the
transport Hudson. All the way back we
were fed on roast beef and musty hard
tack. and a good many of US couldn't
! tackle this for it would not remain on
our stomschs. so half the time we had to
starve. On our way back on the transport
a great many Of us were sick, but no
medicine was given us, excepting Quinine
Il am glad we are al Camp Wikoff, but
If they don't get us away from here soon
we viii ali be sick and a good many Will
not see home. We have nothing but the
ground 10 sleep on, and 1t won't take long
for us to kick the bucket if we don't get
away from here soon"