The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-07-01
A SOLDIER BOY
Writes an Interesting Descriptive
Letter From California.
Company F., Stanlpeded by Horse
Californians Feed the Boys on
Oranges, and the Best
the Land Affords

lull W RbltIdl luIfIbSl II SINNu VI
the Herald readers for their en-
joyment. The writer is the son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Clabe Taylor of Gull
leoka, one of the brightest, best and
most deserving boys in the lSt Ten
nessee Regiment. He joined the
army at Nashville, where he was at
tending school, and is a member of
Co. Ed
Co. f., First Tennessee Regiment,
Camp Merritt, San Francisco,
Cal June Is, 1898.
My DEAR MAMA I'VE have just had
breakfast, and in the few leisure mo-
ments | now have, | will fulfill my
promise to describe our trip from Nash
vile to the extreme southwest.
Our Company, F., as remainder of
First Battalion ran as second section,
and we had the horse and freight cars
besides our six sleepers.
1t was quite dark when we got away
from Nashville, so we did not get to see
much of the country until we awoke in
Illinois next morning. We were cheer
ed by large crowds until we passed
Guthrie, Ky. In Illinois we found i'm
mense crowds waiting for us at every
station. That state is beautiful and
level, but the land seems not good. We
reached East st. Louis Saturday morn
ing and there saw the Mississippi and
several large boats We caught up
with the first section here; had coffee,
and enjoyed the hearty cheering all
the way through the city. Miss ruri
| found rough and swampy i'm parts,
but the western parts beautiful. The
car loads of water lilies presented a
pretty picture.
Coming into Nebraska we beheld the
most pleasing scenery and country
ever saW-so level and green. The
thousands of cattle grazing on the
ranches, pictured prosperity. On these
fine ranches we saw the homes of many
rich men. One noticeable feature Of
the Nebraska scenery was the great
numbe of wind mills. AT one time |
could count forty in sight.
At every stop we were greeted with
cheers, cannon, music, etc, and the peo-
pie were cordial and kind. In the
western part Of this state l saw, for the
first time, mud houses and dug.outs.
At Red Cloud we waited for the other
two sections TO catch up and pass us,
and here Capt. Gilem took us out for
a drill Near by was horse tethered
with about one hundred feet of loose
rope. We were marching down toward
him in company front" when he be-
came frighted and started on the circle
around us. 1t was amusing to see the
boys trying to jump the rope. The
Capt. and company all fled in confu-
sion. Co. f. was completely routed.
In the western part of Nebraska we
passed through beautiful valley ten
or fifteen miles wide. On each side the
ground rose up almost straight several
hundred feet; then on top it was level.
Tuesday morning we awoke in Colo
RADIO, almost to Denver. We were mott
fled before we left Nebraska that we
would be Toasted in Denver, So we were
up, bright and early. We were lined
up on the platform and marched to the
depot where the Red Cross women had
basket after basket of food, oranges
etc: We got an abundance.
From Denver we saw Pikes's Peak,
SeUenty miles away, its top covered
with snow. judged it was about two
miles, ana it didn't look bit farther
After leaving Denver we were in the
mountains, some of them hanging righl
over the road. We passed through tun
nels and went around mOuntains-ther
into the Grand Canon. The large
stream and beyond that the rugged
mountains rose straight for hundreds OF
feet. Between the stream aud the
mountain was lust room enough for The
road. and the train seemed to hug the
mountain side in its winding course.
In Nevada we saw deserts covered
with alkali, and mountains in the dis
lance. Here we saw plenty of Indians
| Then came mountainous Utah, will
her many mines hut nothing in cultiva
on.
rpL,,-J,,,, ~, Or,;nc ,ra ron into Cali
| fornia. The Sierra Nevada mountain
we climbed to the top, passing through
about forty miles of snow sheds. Some
| times we looked above us at the snow
and again we looked beneath us To flint
it, We ran on top of the mountain al
day, sometimes at the very edge, ant
we looked down into the ravines lyini
| thousands of feet below. Here we saw
an abandoned gold mine, the mountain
side literally washed" away by tn
gold seekers.
The Red Cross Society has treated u
to many things. They gave us all
night-cap to sleep in. Saturday the
gave all of our companies about siXt,
pounds of nice fish for Sunday morning
They have also given to those needing
them, blankets, shoes, undersuits, ett
Saturday afternoon we all went out +
the bath-house, one of the largest in tn
L. S. There are about dozen pools o
water; hot, spring, and ocean water
The bottom is smooth rock and tn
depth of the water is marked on tn
wall-from 2l5 to 10 feet. | have see
the Golden Gate where they have som
big guns.
| enjoyed the ride on the boat fror
Oakland to San Francisco, across tn
bay. / have eaten so many orange
since we came over here that | feel a
if shall never want another. Peopl
bought boxes of them just to thrU'
them among us to see us scramble tt
them, and sent us many boxes to-
! They cost 80 cents and 70 cents boz
We have toasted on cherries too, bt
they are not good like our Tennessee
cherries, and do not taste at all liR
them.
The nights are very cold with heav
fog from the ocean. The ladies' Wea
their cloaks, and the guards have
wear overcoats.
We stopped at a mountain sprin
The water was clear and cold; almo
beat the old spout spring at HillsdaI
: 1t made me want some of your trle
chicken and hot biscuit.
The boys have been asking the nan
of the book am writing (meaning tn
letter. so I will close.
Give my love to all the Culleoka PEI
pie. | am from home, vet you are a
near and dear to me i'm thought. lo'
l Tennessee, her rocks, hills, woods
everything.
Excuse pencil and penmanship.
am writing on my knee, as ] sit fiat
the ground.
| hope papa is well. He will he fou
- i g.. i. Cd "a