Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-09-02
A Letter From the 10th.

San francisco, Cala., aug. ~, 1880
Friend Vcrn: We have settled down to
the general routine of work again, since
the excitement. caused by the report that
we would go to Honolulu has dice
away. We could not see any need o
our going to Hawaii, but we were will
ing to take the trip II given the oppor
tunity All the troops that are here
now are ordered to remain until further
orders are received from Washington, d
c. l guess there are very few of the
boys that expect to go anywhere. except
home, if there is no trouble in agreeing
on the terms of peace.
Our boys are doing well, at drill. They
are proving again that American citi
Gems, readily become American soldiers
or course "ours' is the best-drilled reg
ment here.
There are three other full regiments
here and several parts of regiments
The 51st Iowa, LIST Tennessee, 7th Cali
fornia and Goth Kansas are all full regi
mcnts, while there are also parts of the
LIST New York, list Oregon and 18th u
S. regulars.
You can hear compliments passed on
all these regiments, but the Goth seems
to get the most.
There is no doubt but what we arc in
good fighting trim now. Our drills are
not so long as they were, and our boys
60 at them with vim that indicates
health and good spirits.
You would not begin to recognize it as
the same regiment that came here four
months ago. Those awkward fellows"
who then were not able to execute left
face now are able to go through regi-
mental drill with the accuracy and pre-
cision worthy of veterans. This rou-
tine is getting somewhat monotonous,
but if we should be called to take the
field, it would not be "rawrccruits" that
the enemy would have to face now
Yesterday, for diversion, Sergt, Tefft
and went across the bay on the gov
eminent commissary boat. 1t is about
eight miles across the bay. The first
the boat uuloaded supplies was at Fl.
Point, where battery Of U. S. regulars
are stationed. Then we went northeast
to Angel island, where battalion OF
the Washington regulars are stationed.
Then we came back in q southeastcrly
direction, to Alcetras, jr., where the the
military prison is located, and from
there to the wharts, pier No. 2, where
we got off. We went about fifteen miles,
st ops and all, in one hour and quarter.
You ought to see the ships in San
Francisco harbor. There are all kinds
from gunboat to an ordinary fishing
smack. We visited pier No. Z at which
the Scandal U. S. transport ship, was
moorcd. We watched them load sup
plies, and longed to load on board"
too, but it did no good. They would
not even let US go on board and look at
her, fearing, doubtless, that we might
"stow ourselves away" in order to get
to go to Honolulu. Then we went on
up the docks to look at the other vessels
We went on board of sailing vessel
called the King Davis, and watched them
unload coal which they had brought
over from New South Wales. | don't
know how many tons it could carry but
It was about $50 feet long, rs feet wide
and 80 feet deep. Then we went on
board an English vessel, steamer, which
was unloading cargo of salt peter,
from Brazil 1t was about the same
size as the King Davis and was named,
Condor. There were two other English
vessels at the wharts: The Alcidcs, with
a load of general merchandise from Ant
wcp, and the Imbehorn with merchant
disc from Hong Kong. Then we visited
the grain house, with its wheat, corn,
oats, etc, and came back to camp pref
ty we'll tired out with our afternoon
trip. All for the present.
Your friend,
JESSE HAMPSHIRE.