St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-08-09
ALETTER FROM FRONT
Merton +. Ashton OF Co. ID. Mrltes
Concerning Camp Life With YER
mont Boys at Eagle Pass.

The following letter is from Mer-
ton E. Ashton of Co. d Of Eagle Pass
in answer 10 a letter sent him by
Martin G. Benedict, requesting an &C
count Of the camp life:
Eagle Pass, Texas, July 80, 1916.
Mr.. NJ G. Benedict:
Nv Dear Friend received your
most welcome letter few days ago.
You wish to have me tell you about
the life. Well 1 will try to give you
an example by beginning at the hrst
call in the morning. We are souho
asleep on our cots when we near the
strains of one of the bugles, which is
first call, at a quarter of six we
have to dress and get ready for rev.
ellie, then march sounds ten minutes
after first call. We know theh we
have lust five minutes to get into the
company street. Assembly SOUNDS
and we fall in. We then get inspec-
ton arms, then we fall out, put away
our rifles and belts and fall back
again for setting up exercises. The
bows call it the sheep trot; after that
we go back to our tents and wash up
for breakfast Then mess call
sounds. which the boys call supply,
SUNNY call We are supposed to falI
in a line for mess. For breakfast
they have corn flakes and milk, bread
and butter, potatoes, meat and COZ
fee and If once don't satisfy anyone
they go back for seconds and thirds.
There is no mistake, the food is ex-
cellent. After breakfast we wash up
our own dishes and go back to our
tents for the first call to drill. AT
first call for drill we fall in and are
taken out to drill for two or three
hours. Sometimes it is hike for SIX
or eight miles. Recall sounds and we
return to our camp and have to clean
our rifles and bayonets, then perhaps
there is other work to be done unul
mess at noon. We are most general
~ pretty hungry by noon. Dinner is
the big meal of the day. We nave
iced tea or lemonade, bread and but
ter. potatoes and meat, and also soup
then for a top-off, as the boys call It,
a big plate of good pudding. After
Won have been around for the second
time YOU are pretty we'll filled up.
After dinner we sleep or go down
town or can go anywhere we wish II
We get permission. OF course there
is work to do sometimes. The after
moons pass pretty fast. Mess call at
night blows at 5 o'clock. Supper
consists of coffee, bread and butter,
potatoes and meat and either apple
sauce. prunes or peaches. After sup
per we go out for short drill.
had rather drill in the evening
than in the morning, for it is much
cooler. After drill we can go down
town or any place, as long as we are
back at 1890 at night. We have 81
shower baths at this camp. We also
have wash boards and wash tubs to
wash our clothes in. We have to take
a bath at least three times a week and
our clothes must be clean. have al
present three entire changes of uni
form. consisting of two cotton and
one o. DIS, which are wooden, the
same that we wore away from home
They have now erected a large
building which is to be used for a
writing room and services by the
chaplain. We have certainly got one
of the best colonies and also the best
chaplain. They are always looking
for the health of their men in the
field and camp.
Well L have told about all L car
about the life here, only, as l have
said before, it is very hot from 12'
to 1875 degrees. Part of our compan!
is at Elm bridge, about seven mile
from here. Well as there is no
much more to say 1 viii close hoping
to hear from you soon.
I remain your friend,
MERTON E. ASHTON.