The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-03-20
A Buchanan Soldier Boy.

FIR CASEY, WASH.
EDITOR NEws;-
As there are no doubt a great
many of your readers who do not
know what it takes to make a
soldier, and what constitutes his
life and the monotonous routine to
which he is subjected, will try
and give short sketch Of SOL
dier's life as ! have found it since
becoming one of"Uncle Sans boys
in blue"
My home is in Buchanan, KY,
and as | was very anxious to be-
come a soldier and go to the Phil
ippines, / left my home and went
TO Ashland, to the recruiting office.
! was told to prepare for examina-
tion as to my physical fitness to
become a soldier After jumping
and hopping around the room at
least six times, | was then tested
in regard to my sight and hearing.
After this was told by the Doctor
that | WAS in physical condition
and therefore good candidate for
the army. When my examination
was completed was again taken
before the officer and took the oath,
swearing to serve the United States
against all her enemies and to pro-
tect our flag for the period OF three
years.
This was February 2S, 1902, /
left at 3 p. M. the same day for
San Francisco, Cal, the great rem
devious OF recruits before being sent
to the tropics. arrived at Lex
ington at 7 p. m, and remained
there two days, when | was joined
! by ten more recruits. We then re-
sumed our journey TO San Fran
cisco, where we arrived March 9th
and went from there to the Pres!-
dio OF San Francisco, the great re-
cruit camp, which l afterwards
found was to be my home, II not
permanently, at least for awhile.
4 After arriving at the recruit
camp, / was taken in hand by an
honorary Corporal, That is SOL
dier who is allowed to wear the
Corporal chevron, but does not
draw anymore money than pri-
vate. was marched to a large
building, a Quartermaster's store
house, from which Is issued every
thing that a soldier needs. was
there given blanket, tin cup,
knife, fork, spoon and messklt,
The latter named very closely re-
sembles frying pan, with a cover
on it. was told | was to use them
at supper time and that | was
ready to begin my life as soldier.
We marched back to long row
Of white tents and ! was shown
into one for my home. Soon j
heard the bugle sounding call,
which one Of the men told me was
mess or supper call, and ] fell in
line with at least l00 other recruits
like myself with messkits in hand
proceeded to a rather dilapidated
building which had The high sound
Ing name OF mess hall, and was
there hand g out generou
amount of cheese and bread, called
"punk.n | was politely shown the
water faucet aud told to help my.
self, as there was plenty OF water
and it would not injure me in the
least; and that constituted my
first meal in the army. After sup
per | looked around and got ac
/ quainted with my new home
! which | assure you | wasn't tick
5 led to death by what | saw. Afte
, wandering around in camp until
/ was tired, | decided to go out anC
view the city, and had just started
when a sentry asked me where
was going. He said no, but for m
to go back, as | had no pass. Thi
way my first army lesson in "obe
dience.N
In a few minutes the bugl
!, sounded again and ] was told b
= another soldier that was "tattoo,
or lights out. Feeling rattle
weary lay down, but not to sleel
$ as | was pondering deeply as
/ whether | bad taken a wise step
l. becoming a soldier. After studyin
~ for some time, | heard the bug
81 sound "call to quarters" 1t mear
81 that all soldiers who are not o
u pass or who have permission to |
es out must be in quarters; and al
u O'clock, just fifteen minutes aft'
s. the previous call, The bugle soun'
le ed again and | was told it WI
10 taps" which means that all so
70 diers are supposed to be in be
VI and asleep, and that another da
u OF soldier life.is finished. In fe
OF minutes | fell asleep wonderir
g. what the next day would brir
SO forth.
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