The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-08-10
SOLDIER LIFE
From the First Call to the Present Graph.
ically Pictured by Howard Whiteslde
now at Chicamauga

Camp Geo. HI. Thomas, Chicamauga
Park, Ga, July %, 1898.
To The ELY MINER AND FRIENDS:
Knowing that the hearts of the
American people are with the boys in
blue and that the eyes Of the world
are upon the American volunteer
army. and having the honor OF being
your only representative in the l4th
Mimi, in the the First army corps,
and probably in the approaching in
yasion of Porto Rico; consider it a
duty to write to the many friends
left behind Of the stirring events in
which, if reports be true, we are soon
to participate.
No doubt, you have read from time
to time, the letters from some Of the
boys in the Duluth papers, but be,
lieving that it would be more inter-
esting to read of the events as seen
through the eyes of one whom you
know, and of army life as it is by a
private in the ranks and file of the
army, / shall begin series of letters
which 1 hope will prove interesting
first asking your pardon If at times
the letters are dry or fail to appear,
for there are days when, though time
hangs heavily on our hands, it is al
most impossible to write, or for that
matter anything else but drill, drill,
nothing but drill. The best part OF
the day is taken up by drill and the
remainder is two hot for anything.
Until the time of the second call /
had the distinction Of being your
only representative in the volunteer
army. but how willing was to share
this distinction as well as my bunk
with some other Ely boy, one who
knew something of, and could dis
course on mines, lumberwoOds, the
beautiful lakes about Ely, and the
many friends left behind.
Ihad read that Major Bidwell while
recruiting in Duluth had wired to
Ely for recruits'and when the report
came that the recruits had arrived,
or as it was expressed in camp terms,
"Rookies are coming" ran forward
with the rest of the boys togive them
rousing welcome as an introduction
into their new life; but as the little
travel-worn and dusty band passed
through the long line while cheer sue
ceeded cheer and their faces bright
ened at the hearty greetings of old
friends, 1 looked in vain for an Ely
face.
Afterwards while our scanty rations
were being served. / recognized the
face of one-time Elyite, W. E..
Howes. who had worked for Wylie in
the barber shop. Seated upon a log
which had been rolled up for the
evening camp fire, we ate our dinner
taking turns in using my knife, fork,
spoon and cup, for at that time and
for some time afterwards, the equip
ments for the recruits had not ar
rived. In another detachment of
recruits for Company G, Ed. Cakes.
at one time clerk for A. j. Thomas,
was among the number.
In the 18th Minnesota, Ely has
done molly, long list of familiar
names appearing. Among others is
E. A. Cooke as a private. l do not
suppose he even tried to get the ap-
pointment of Chaplain, the biggest
snap in the regiment. He is the right
kind of preacher and was pleased to
see that he afterwards was made cor
pOral. The American soldiers opin-
ion Of a Spaniard is similar to his
opinion Of the Indian, "All good
Spaniards are dead" Rev. Cooke
will still havd a chance to carry on
his life's object by making the world
better by increasing the number of
good Spaniards in true soldier fashion.
At the present time there are no
events of interest to write about. The
seemingly endless monotony of camp
life as day succeeds day, with Its
drills and daily routine, is only broken
now and then as rumOr comes along
the line in regard to the early move
ment of our regiment, followed by a
cheer as it goes from company to
company, But, we live on hope--hope,
army bread, pork, beans, beef and
coffee principally hope-and until
such events occur perhaps it would
be interesting to hear the history of
the regiment up to the present time:
the volunteer army in general; the
social side of army life 1.-THE best ar
ticle on which. appears in McClures
magazine for June entitled, '"The