The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-25
Graphic Story of a Sam
pie Of the Work.
MARCHING AND SHAM FIGHT
The Boys are Earning Every Cent
That Uncle Sam Pays EN-.
BUT FEELING FIT FOR BUSINESS.

Mr.. Hollis NJ. Coombs Is In receipt Of q
letter from u. F. Martin. of the First
Rhode Island Regiment, that gives a
graphic idea of the kind OF WORK that 10
out out for our boys to prepare them for
actual fighting. 1t 10 rs follows:
Camp Alger,
Monday, June Goth, 1893.
Dear Strive returned yesterday from
. three days IrActice march. ! will en-
deavor to tell you something OF II. Or
ders were issued Thursday for the reRi-
ment to move at $50 Friday morning,
1rst call was at 4 O'Clock, rsveiiis 4:l5.
breakfast 4:30. l was up nearly all night
getting the three days ratiOns ready to
Garry. TIE mon carried one days rations
cooked In their havsrsaokA the balances
was packed In boxes and carried In the
wagon; rntiuns on the wagon were nm
cooked, the men doing their own cook
ing. We took M the line of march at
about ak o'clock through ths woods. The
country with an advance guard and
fianksrs out. We left the regular road
and went through fields and over fences
n finally reached Dunn Loring about
three and q half miles. where we halted
for fftson minutes and started again.
Ao0 ohOn Or&oW A0n0 0oosy
The dust rolled MP In clouds. filing
ones lungs with dirt until n could
hardly breathe. OF COURSE, IL was In
heavy marching order. hat means half
. shelter tent with Que pvls and pegs .
rubber and q woollsn blanket blouse,
Q rifle. quite = load too But to continue
my tale of woe. hfser leaving Dunn Lor-
ing we passed soma very fine scenery.
Among the other sights were some old
log cabins, quite an interesting sight for
us. One incident OF the march was quite
amusing. We bad halted about noon cy
. country store. The boys made for 10
and when We left, fifteen minutes after
hating, there was nothing eatabls In the
store. The boys completely bought ous
the places.
After this stop it was q steady march
for over an hour when wo reauhed our
tween tho hills with . creek runnius
along the edge on n side and wood on
the other.
And then there was Q scene like en-
Sentiment. We came upon q barren strip
Of land, in fifteen miuutes 10 wes covered
with tents all ersctsd IN order BY com
nsr, that il those who were not too
tired to eat. We ali took . good bath
In the creek which was about ten feet
across aud probably six inches desp wish
q pebbly bottom. There were . number
Of farms about the place where plenty Of
guess they hed no trou BILE In disposing
Of them. We bought from q man at
one time thirty dosen eggs and twenty
three gallons Of milk. IL was q beauti-
ful scene from the top Of the hill to look
down on the camp. 1t was quite q job
TO climb the hill. though, a. " was very
steep. II was fortunate We hAd no
heavy rain or the camp would havs boon
flooded. There was = small village onnp
called Colvin's Greek. There wss q large
grist mill there. 1t had one Of the old
fashioned uhei IL . novelty to me. The
man who kept the svore told me be had
never seen 80 much Srade at one time
/ took dinner and supper ut a farm
house saturday. The man and his wife
hsd raised . family of tweuty three
children. The man had died recently
ut 10 NO wondsrl within . few months
bslievs: y " 1ne country down
and very fertile. II il about twelve miles
There Was : sham battle Saturday be-
tween the Second battalion. posted on
the brow of = mill, n the First and
Ihird making the attack, but II was
impossible to dislodgs them 50 the sec-
We left Camp Weary" that is what
we named II, ~ 2 o'clook, Sunday morn
Ing ~ started for camp by another
rosd. The fEst few miles were very CON-
Portable, but then the sun same out and
the dust began TO riss. Than our troubles
began again. We arrived In Damp about
two p. m. foot sore and weary, n l
guess . good many disgusted with q sol
dier's life. but aftef . good hath and q
little rest, everyone IVES FEELING better.
Gov. Dyer n wife were here IN the
afternoon and the eovernor inspected the
camp.
The nrst battalion no out on post duty
for twenty -four hours this Afternoon I
tell you they are making the boys q .
tie. I guess they all earn their e1b. go.
The 10 . lovely cool day about the coolest
We have had since o0miug hers. 1 must
close now or I shall tire you - we'll as
myself. Regards TO all. I am respect-
fully yours, q. II. MARTIN.