Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-10-12

were all on the anxious seat until
assigned. Teddy Burke knew me
before, so we met in good shape;
and he introduced me to Wrenn
Larned. Companions by necessity,
we soon became acquainted, and
finally found that Bob Wrenn
was to come into my car,and Teddy
Burke and Larned went into ID
Troop car.
Our first stop was Mobile, where
a great crowd greeted us; and most
everybody got off the train and
bought about everything in sight.
We telegraphed a combination mes,
sage, Teddy and I, to Orange, and
I sent one to father. Saw Garrison
there for first time, and hardly rec
ognized him with his shaven head.
This was late in the afternoon, and
after leaving, we soon began to tx
for bed. Some of the men, Guy
Murphy and Hollister, were on
guard, so Bob Wren and I sat up
until eleven, with our feet hanging
out of the door. Singing and talk
ing helped along the time, and we
felt "out of sight" to have at last
become even connected with the
regiment. Soon we turned in, and
I found a bunk on the top of a lot
of saddles, close to the top OF the
car, which place, comfortable
enough at first, became more and
more rocky and bunny as the night
advanced and the novelty wore off.
We stopped at Pensacola that
night, but could see nothing of the
city. Our next long stop was at
Tallahassee, where they watered
their horses; we stopped from noon
until about FIVE o'clock. Our troop
cooked dinner under tree, and
two of men caught chicken, and
later, a man named Stewart caught
a rooster. They picked them, and
all saw of the result was some
chicken broth tor the hospital pa
tients In our car. Troop A caught
a small pig and another troop had a
goose. Holt and ! purchased some
very good milk, and that, with the
army rations of hard tack, toma-
toes and potato apiece, made a
very good meal. We had our first
good wash in the brook near the
track, aud it did certainly feel
good. The coons were thick and
we made them sing and dance for
us at the station. We later ralded
bottling shop and had some fine
ginger ale with Colonel Wood and
another officer. The mayor of the
town was very anxious to have the
regiment stop off there for camp
and offered many inducements; but
after the horses were watered and
fed, and all was ready we pushed
on.
PLANS FOR ENLISTING.
We decided this day latter the
arrival at Tampa) to enlist as fol
lows: Teddy and l in Troop D
and Bob Wrenn and Bill Larned in
Troop A. Friends had a good deal
to do with the decision. We looked
on D for the horses, too, as they
had several extra. D has splendid
officers. Teddy and I wanted to
be "bunkers," and we knew that
by enlisting at the same time, we
would be likely to be so. We re-
turned to camp to find things more
or less arranged; some tents up
and the picket line out and the
horses attached. We had a supper
not quite so luxurious as our din
ner, but we managed to make a
meal out of it. That night 1 slept
out in the open between Cs horses
and our lire of fence, on some Dor
rowed blankets. Wright helped
me out. Teddy had cold and
headache, so returned to town.
The next pages tell of the enlist
ment and the few first days and
nights in camp.
On our return to camp after the
last trip to town, I found that or
dersIhad just been issued to break
up camp, preparatory to marching
any minute. 1 did nothing but
wait in expectation all the after
noon Packing occupied all our
next day, and Dade hustled around
to get Teddy and me equipped, but
reported at four o'clock very little
show; but I got everything together
possible and was about equipped.
There were to be only seventy
men from Our troop, and this cut
out Teddy and me, for we were
not equipped and others had 10
stay with us to keep horses in read