Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-06-18
LETTER NO. 5.
CAMP MERRITT, BAY DISTRACT,
SAN FRANCISCO. June IL, '9S.

tue ocean wave. nome on the rOIilng
Deep Unless otherwise ordered, on
your next issue day, We shall be sailing
onward and outward to the cou- .
the enemy where battle, death, victory
and glory await Us. III battles are
fought'.somebody's darling must sleep
on the field where we fight; somebody's
darling must fall in defense of his
country's honor. Behind the curtains
the names are hidden.
Since we have been at San Francisco
everybody and everything have been
kind to us but the ocean winds and fogs.
They have been relentlessly cruel.
Coming from the high, dry and clear
atmosphere of Idaho and settling down
for weeks in the Bay district where Old
Neptune sends out each day his column
of fogs, damp. chilling and even sick
ening it has been most trying TO our
troops and none the less so to all the
rugged healthy boys from the mountain
regions of the west. Everyone win be
glad to receive marching orders and
sail away to the Philippines.
Since the Idaho troops were placed
under sailing orders there has been
considerable numbering in some of the
camps. The burden of complaint is af-
ter this manner: 1--WE came here before
the Idaho troops, we have been ready TO
sail at any day. Col. Jones brought his
men ununiformed and unarmed, he has
had them splendidly equipped and
armed and has been given orders to sail
ahead of us, he must have worked while
our officers enjoyed ease In camp We
sail before number of regiments that
were here before us.
It is belief in some circles but not
authenticated with official seal that
the expedition sailing out this week
will be stopped at Honolulu until the
one following within the next ten days
shall Overtake US and then all go on to-
gether. Gen. Merritt will accompany
the third expedition. twill be most
enjoyable recreation TO go ashore at
Honolulu and enjoy "a stretching of
limbs" for five or six days.
Private Bert Adamson, of Cassia
county, was the first one of the regi-
ment TO lay down his life in his coun-
try's cause. He died in the marine hos
pital Saturday, June 18th of cerebro-
spinal fever, Every attention possible
was given the brave boy but Death
claimed him for his first victim. He
was buried in beautiful spot in the
Preside cemetery with military honors.
The floral offerings by the ladies of the
city we're superb. His mother was with
him at the time of his death and re-
turns home with a grateful heart for
the attention given her darling boy.
There is this comfort from the sadness
of the hour: 1t is better for him to
sleep on his native soil than be buried
at sea or on foreign shore.
Every regiment at camp Merritt will
probably be out at sea before the LIST oil
July. Gen. Merritt is anxious to sail
himself and have his entire command
with him. The second brigade to which
the first Idaho volunteers are attached
has been reorganized in part and is now
made up of the Minnesota, Kansas, Ida
no and Tennessee regiments. Gen.
King, the famous author of so many war
books and war serials as published in
the newspapers, is the brigadier. He
is reported to- be fine officer and an
elegant gentleman socially. He will
assume command early in the week.
The regiment is now fully equipped.
Everything needful here has been got
ten, and the acquisitions for two sum-
mer uniforms of duck and cresh goods,
garrison shoes, gingham shirts and he'll
NETS suitable for the Manila climate
has been honored, and these goods will
be put on the boat for distribution
when out at sea and near the islands.
1t has been hard work to get what was
needed for the men, but the command
ing officer kept his quartermaster at
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS officer ev-
cry day with instructions to camp
there until all acquisitions were filled.
These daily visits and messages OF COM
plants did the work OF getting the
needful things.
The state of Idaho has done well by
ns: the governor has responded patri-
otically and nobly to every demand, the
ladies have been kind beyond measure
and, in turn, it il the solemn vow of the
officers In command to bring their
troops up to the highest standard OBJ
tainable and win for them and for the
state name that will be spoken with
pride wherever and whenever the name
OF the First Idaho Volunteers is called.
The companies and battalions are drill
ing every day with that aim foremost
In their hearts. The boys keep, gen.
orally, well, but many are suffering
with sore arms from vaccination. Ev-
cry man In the command has been vac
.cinated from the colonel down to COM
pany cooks. The measles is dying out
for the want OF victims. n we fail to
sail as ordered will advise you by tel
egram, but every preparation is being
made for our departure, even to the
placing guards on the boat to protect
our supplies.
The Examiner OF to-day had splendid
pictures Of Col. Jones and Major Nc
Conville Of the Idaho troops in illustra-
tion OF the coming together OF the blue
and the gray under one common flag.
The two officers confronted each other
in the Seven Days battle around Rich
moDd, the one under Lee and the other
under McClelland, and to-day they are
associated most pleasantly In command
OF the same troops and both wearing
the blue. 10 this, our last letter before
sailing. we refrain from saying good
bye for many long days, because the
heart feels most when the lips move
Pot and our signs speak the loving good
Dyes