The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-07-15
At AMERICAN LAKE.
Company "E" N. G. l., Arrives
At Camp NiSqually.
HAVE A SHAM BATTLE.
Company "E" Boys Takes Part
In Maneouyers.


Following is a letter from THE
TRIBUNE representative, describing
the trip TO the cncampment.
We left Rathdrum little after s
p. M, July 7th aud reached Spokane
shortly after. where the Colfax Co,
Joined US. My duties as lst Sergeant
employed my time very fully through
out the long trip across Washington,
posting guards on the different cars
and 10 the baggage car, 1t was very
warm up to four o'clock in the after
noon when u driving rain storm into
which we ran cooled the atmosphere.
From preference spent almost the
entire day in the baggage car where
the doors being left open permitted u
generous breeze to counteract the cf-
feet of the sun. 1t was very dirty
but 1 enjoyed most of the landscape.
The first feature Of the country to
arrest our attention was where the
soil was SO fertile that luxurant crops
OF wheat were growing all over the
slopes aud SUBMITS OF hills hundreds
VI feet high. This was in the Big
Bend country. / had no map to keep
track Of the different towns we pass
cd through; they included Cheney,
Yakima, Prosser, pasco, etc. A long
stretch OF the road lay through mile
after mile Of the most desOlute sage
brush waste l ever saw. 1t was con-
tnual unbroken desert Of hills and
dales covered with nothing hut sage
brush, and without 4 town or farm or
sign of life. The Yakima Valley is
tire country, alfalfa, grass, trees,
etc, being quite u contrast to the
desert preceding. Reaching the Cas-
cades we began TO lass through
timbered country.
Owing to the train bcirg late We
did not reach Tacoma until about l2
O'Clock at night. 1t was rather a
restless night, In order to accommo.
date the company the seats were ar
ranged for beds IN such mannerthat
several Of the boys had no place to
sleep. When we we're stopped at
American lake the cars were scatter.
cd along the track and left until
morning, when the whole regiment
had arrived. We were hustled or
early and had our breakfast Of hard
tack, coffee, bans, tomatoes and
meat, along side of the car.
After breakfast Co. "E" WIS the
first Of the Idaho regiment TO march
Into camp, about ]! miles from the
railroad. The roads led through a
dense forest Of FIR, but were SO dusty
that we were black looking lot Of
soldiers when We arrived about u
o'clock. The FIRST thing then was to
take our pt 81 ions On the ground,
stack arms aud post guards over our
equipments and baggage. We then
washed up aud took dinner which
consisted of the same food as we had
for breakfast. except that the tomat.
ocs bad given out. We have had
none since. In the afternoon the
balance Of the regiment marched on
to the field, making tue appearance
Us the Tacoma dailics did MT forget
TO note. In the evening the conical
camp tents were hauled in aud dis
trlbutcd, occupying our time in set
ting them up until very late. We
then had supper.
We were aroused at O'clock on
special orders aud rushed into line for
action with such rapidity that some
OF the boys did not get any breakfast
and in our blue shirts, with canteens
and cartridge belts, (and guns OF
coursr). and at we were on forced |
march Of eight miles due east to |
American lake. Lieut.. Smith with |
the end platoon Of ''Co. "a was de-
tailed for rear guard. A sham battle
took place between the Idaho's and |
The regulars With artillery on 10th
sides. The Idaho's Won. We then
marched back to tie camp on Ameri-
can lake about So miles from our own
lamp, Here We rested and had a
good dinner, large number OF the
boys gning In swimming. About 4
O'Clock In the afternoon we took up
The return march, arriving amid loud
cheers from The Oregon regiment.