The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-19
THE MOBILE CAMP.
nut LITTLE HAPPENS TO VARY
MONOTONY OF CAMP LIFE.
ever, by Their Hope of Getting
to the Front soon.

Especial Correspondence of The Post)
unitnd States Camp, Near Mobile. Ala.
June Like the waters of smoothly
flowing river the life of the Texas voun-
teers goes on. But little happens to vary
the dull monotonous routine OF drills,
guard and fatigue duty and roll calls
which play so prominent part at a mill
tary camp such as this, and but for the
fact that the men are kept busily employed
all day long they would. as one dainty Of
dcer expressed it. die of ennui" AS 1t Is,
however they get up at 5 o'clock in the
morning. eat breakfast at $50, clean up
their quarters. 20 out ut $50 and drill 10
$3.50 and then put in the rest of the fore
noon In performing some of the muliitudin-
Gus duties around camp. Between the
hours OF IL and IL the line officers are in
structed In the drill manual and at noon
every one eats dinner. Then there is
.. M. the non commissioned officers of
each company have impaired TO them some
" the knowledge and information gathered
py their supcrIors at the morning school.
After a rest of an hour the soldiers again
get into harness and drill until 8 O'Clock.
between which time and guard noun
only half hour interyenes. During this
period the sergeants, corporals and pri-
Yates who are TO protect the camp for the
succeeding twenty four hours gtst them
selves In shape and. after the ceremony
OF mounting the guard, during which the
band and trumpeters play ard every one
else In camp gathers around to listen and
to watch the pomp and show which Is So
conspicuous, the old guard is relieved and
goes to its quarters. Then supper Is eaten
ana Few minutes after 1t Is finished The
bugle sounds retreat" The men fail In.
the roll ia called absentees are reported
TO the battalion adjutants who In turn re-
ports to the officer OF the day. That nil
important functionary apprises the regl-
mental commander OF the names and rank
OF those who failed to answer to their
names and the latter designates their pun
ishment.
After the roll call inspection OF arms and
quarters 10 made and non commissioned or
dcers are drilled In the manual Of arms
for an hour or so. About 7:3o the First
regiment band begins its concert and an
hour later tattoo comes from the braxen
lips OF the bugles and the men fall In for
smother roll call. Absentees are reported
along the same lines as outlined above
and then comes taps, after which every
man below the first sergeant must retire
to quarters and all lights must be extln-
su'sned. Some time during the night. the
exact hour being designated by the offics :
OF the day. the first sergeant makes 4
check roll call--that Is goes into every
tent and, without arousing the occupants.
ascertain who is present or accounted for
and who Is not No matter what time OF
night this work Is done commissioned
officer from each company must be awake
- receive the report Of the FIRST sergeant.
This goes on day after day, with only
n occasional interruption. 1t Will not be
hard for tbs casual observer to come "a
- conclusion that there is not much
danger Of any Of the soldiers being con-
eNned ~ ennui.
{ ~ ttmusA II ~ monotony, the vol
tave something 10 look forward
n Inlpg - AshA chsnse from
y i u . - = ~ ssaa Of war