The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-08-24
For The Efficiency They
| Have Attained
Camp Life Agreeable To The
MI. Vernon Soldiers
Camp Robinson, Sparta, Wis.
August 81

Editor Daily Banner
In compliance with your request,
will endeavor to write you brief mar
rative of Battery BIS camp experience.
We arrived safely at Camp Robin
son Wednesday at 7:15 a. m. The
camp is located on the main line of
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
railroad, about five miles east of
Sparta, and being right at the side of
the railroad they have a camp station
and unloading platforms. We were
met by detachment of kit wagons
from the 3rd regular artillery, and
after loading our outfits we proceeded
to our allotted space in the camping
field.
Battery C Of Columbus was divided
between A and B, making 10S men in
each battery, and the erection of the
camp was begun. In the meantime,
the commissary got busy and 12
o. clock found the camp erected and a
hot dinner Of baked salmon, stewed
corn, boiled potatoes, prunes, bread,
butter and coffee.
After dinner a well-earned rest OF
an hour was taken and then the regu.
lar routine of federal artillery service
was begun.
AS quartermaster in charge of the
mess, l was ordered to report to the
commissary at 2 p. m, and was given
the choice of drawing regular rations,
which means rations issued to SOL
diers in regular active service, or of
making up my own list and paying
the difference in cash, and at the in
struction of the officers it was decided
to make the issue according to the
regular issue, which amounts to a
fraction less than 30c per day for each
enlisted man. The food is plain, but
owing to it's rigid inspection is of an
extra fine quality and of a sufficient
quantity To issue more would be to
waste it.
There is regiment of field artillery
from the regulars here and their duty
is to ride with and instruct the guards
men in the proper way to execute COM
mands. The horses are all well train
ed and under the command of Capt.
Paul l.. Jensen, who was formally in
the regular service. Our battery was
highly complimented for it's efficiency.
The regulars, contrary to our expec-
tations, are very congenial, and are
not only doing their best to give us all
the help they can, but are also doing
their best to make our camp life
pleasant
The battery goes out on the range
for small calibre practice today and
Monday the long range firing begins.
Either Tuesday or Wednesday the
entire battalion goes on a 20-mile
hike. Each man is issued rations in
raw state for two meals. He takes
his half tent, blankets and forage for
his horse.
The battalion will leave camp at
1870 p. m. and return the next morn
ing at 1O:30. Each man prepares his
own mess while out.
The reservation contains $4,000
acres and is composed of sand soil,
oak and pine covered hills, with a
long, wide valley through the middle.
There are no people or houses what
ever on the reservation. 1t no doubt
will be a great experience for us.
Tomorrow being Sunday, there will
be no duty excepting church call,
1890 to II, and Battery A, regulars,
will play Battery A, Ohio, baseball at
2 p. M, and Battery B, Ohio, will play
Battery B, regulars football at $3.50 p.
m.
The regimental band plays each
evening from to 8 and will play Sun.
day from to 5, and from to 9. 1t
is an excellent band of 30 pieces and
we enjoy it very much
Private Hoy Tucksburg is in the
hospital with a green limb" fracture
of the right leg, sustained in friend
ly wrestling bout at the straw pile
He is doing WELL Others are well and
having the time of their lives.
Private Gessling spent half day
visiting every battery on the lot, look
! ing for 20 feet of skirmish line. One
officer told him he didn't think there
was any north of the border
The boys are growing varied croI
of whiskers in both acreage and col
ors, but to date Tom Van Voorhis has
them all beat.
Yours truly,
JULIUS HEADINGTON.