The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-08-26
TENNESSEE SOLDIER BOYS.
The Best Drilled and Most Popular
Regiment in California.
Their Camp Now is Pleasantly Located,
with Floors In their Tents-TheV
Don't Like the New York
Dudes.

Bv permission of the good woman
tn whom it was written, the HER
AID is permitted to publish the fol
lowing letter from soldier boy to
his mother: |
Preside RESERVATION, SAN FRAN
CISCO, CAL, Aug. l4-My Dear Mother,
1t is about ten O'Clock Sunday morn
ing, and beautiful day it is-just like
Nav in dear old Tennessee, A cool
breeze is blowing continually. | wish
your exceedingly warm eastern wealth
or you write about could be freshened
by our wind.
The big gap between my letters was
caused by our move t. the Presidio
| We are now encamped at the foot OF a
big hill over next tn the Bay, in a little
hollow, you might say.
Trees bound us on one side and hill
side on the other. The ground is hard
and covered with dry grass, hence we
are more pleasantly situated than we
were in the bed of sand. Then, too, the
| hills and trees protect us from the wind
that is often too chilling. Floors have
been put in all our camps, making us
much more comfortable.
We are all worn out and sleepy to-
day. Last night our regiment gave an
exhibition drill at the Mechanics pa
Wilton for the benefit of the Red Cross
Society. Major Bayless and the Cap
tains have been drilling us to death this
week making preparation for it. Yes
terdav Major Bayless carried us to the
hall for practice drill, in order that
" e might know just how to make the
mOveme ITS in small space. Several
thousand people witnessed the drill,
which Gen. Merriam and staff said was
the finest they ever saw. Every line
was as straight as die, and when the
order Halt was given every gun came
down as one.
Company F. gave company drill and
, every move was applauded. The drlil
was over about half past ten o 'lock,
and then we were marched into Dig
, hall where the Red Cross people gave
, us hot coffee, sanwiches, fruit, cream
and cake. The famous Fifty First Iowa
Band PLAYED while many joined IN a
dance "Dixie" was played several
times, and the boys gave the "Rebel
YELL" much to the delight of the people
The First Tennessee Is the most popu
r lar regiment with everybody except the
, New York. No soldiers here like the
!. New York boys, because they think
: themselves better than the rest of us
/ and say the Tennessee boys are young
% Confederate fools, tOughs, and such al
! that, and that they do not care to have
anything to do with the southern anC
. Western boys. They are careful, how
-. ever, not to say that when TENNESSEE
!, soldier Is around
- " hen YOU Tenne seeaHs want II
" make money get our company to give
~ drill when we get home, and You Wi
y have plenty Of it. The receipts las
n night amounted to $l,OOO.
,s Peace has spread her white wing
I over our land and soldier hearts of coul
~ aye are a little blue. Wednesday Ger
. King had his brigade, composed of OILS
Iowa, 10Th Kansas and LIST tennessee o
Presidio Hill in heavy marching orde
TO be reviewed by Gen. Merriam an
staff, and told us we would leave T.
T. Manila in two weeks: but last nigh
d, came orders to send no more troops
n Manila. | suppose now that we will
IN have the pleasure Of eating Thank
giving dinner at home. Make the go
o bier grow mighty big or it W. IL take tw
ne tor dinner that day, with hungry so
der hoy added TO your already long Ii
~ Of hearty boys.
A Iexpect can picture you pretty co
rectly right now. You are seated at T.
to table, which is full of good things lev
5 preserves; or, better yet-molasse'
tie All are laughing and talking as the
eat, and perhaps there are visitor
s. Burt is just ready for his third glass
lie sweet milk and smiles as he plans
his mind to take Miss L., out ridiI
err this afternoon in his new rubber ii
yO buggy. The kids (nO dsrespect mea
ss Young mem are extravagantly eatii
ed fried chicken, never thinking nc
re- Uncle Erie would enjoy even wiz
Never mind. I'll soon be there.
Ter send you some pictures; hope Tn
RS may give somebody some pleasure,
ills hope to find letter from home. Wi
nd love to all at "Hillton Home" and \
of friends in Culleoks, am your lovi
soldier boy. ERIE TAYLOR
err. p. S.-TSince the above was write
in. the lst Tennessee has been ordered
he HonOlula.-Edl