Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-05-05
OUR BOYS IN CAMP.
Co. Il, 18th Regiment, Camp
Hastings.

CHAUTAUQUA p O., LEBANON Co, PA.
APRIL %, 1898
Sixty-eight sad hearts were carried
away from Butler when the train which
bore Co. f and the rest of the Fifteeth
Regiment pulled out at 8 p. m. of the
9th inst.-Sixty- eight would be multi
piled thousands of times to number all
the heavy hearts and tearstained faces
in Pennsylvania that evening.
After the train was under way the
boys of Co. E gradually revived their
spirits by patriotic songs. There was
very little sleep in our car that night,
the time was put in singing, shouting
and playing cards There were no mis-
haps, except that Clarence Graham lost
shoe. He don't know how he did it
and no one seems able to tell him.
"Swipes' now goes with one shoe off
and one shoe on. There were no drunks
in Co. Il, and before we left the cars a
train employee said you. are the de
centest crowd of soldiers I ever struck,
your car is the cleanest.
The citizens Of towns between Butler
and Blairsville cheered us and shot off
fire works as we passed.
We arrived in Harrisburg about ten
o'clock Thursday morning. The Four
teenth Of Pittsburp had just come IN al
so. The ovation we received was tre-
mendious, dense crowds, cheering
bands, etc. Gov. Hastings marched
down past our cars, greeting us. A
chimes somewhere in the city struck
up different National airs. Church bells
playing tunes was something new to
most Of the Butler boys. Those chimes
cant ring too Tuch
We arrived at Camp Hastings, Mount
Gretna, on branch road ten miles
south of Lebanon at noon. 1t was
sleetine at the time and the ground was
white with snow We didn't calculate
on camping in the snow on first day out
to free tropical Cuba.
Mount Gretna-the Chautauqua of
Pennsylvania-is situated in the virgin
forest among the Blue Ridge hills. 1t
is completely outftted mountain re-
sort There are three small lakes Qike-
ly artificial ones; large springs of pure
water, great rollycoaster, pavilion
people, dance halls, and two score, large
comfortable summer cottages. We
were marched into the pavilion, lunch
ed, and then ordered out TO the delight
full occupation of laying out a camp and
pitching tents in the rain and mud.
The rain was wonderfully cold and wet.
And that mud 1t was red az iron ore,
and more stickey than the stickiest
glue, and incessant tramping made it
shoe deep.
However there are some brighter
features Of Camp Hastings We are
devoutly thankful for the shelter Of the
pavilion and halls. And the inclement
weather procured for us the privilege
Of sleeping the first night in empty cot
tages. Some regiments had TO sleep on
the ground. The woods here are full Of
all manner of spring flowers, aaemone,
violets arbutus, etc, and juneberry
trees in full bloom. Taking all together,
if camping at Mount Gretna will free
Cuba, we viii consent to stay here till
next winter.
Another thing worth noting is that
although we were turned out in the
rain and mud, inseparable partners N
making the sheIterless, uncomfortable
and downhcarted, not man among us
was heard to complain or whiGnper but
everyone was as cheerful and pleasant
as possible We are Americans and we
can rough il if we must
FRIDAY, April 20:-Co Els boys all
had a good nights rest in the cottages.
1t did not rain, but the. day has been
cold and cloudy. We had coffee and
the remainder Of our Butler lun ches for
breakfast, bread and coffee for supper.
We can drink the latter by the quart
here. We completed our company camp