The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-08-18
COMPANY H ON Hike
DOING GUARD DUTY ALONG RIO
CRAEDE RIVER-CAR HEAR MUSIC
FROH PiEDRAS HECRAS ACROSS he
RIVER SENDS SOUVENIRS TO HIS
HOE FOLKS.

Letter from Corporal Reginald Z.
StOneF, Company i. First MARYLAND
Infantry, on the Hexiean Border,
and b. Permission Ne Publish Exs
tracts From The Same.
Eagle Pass, Texas, August 13, 1915.
My Dear Wife and Home Folks:
Your letters received yesterday. and
glad TO note that You are all well.
How | would love to be with you On
those trips In the auto, and taking IN
Glyndon Camp, the Forest and Streazs
Club, and other evente. which I KNOW
YOU are enjoying.
] do not feel any fatigue from our
hike yesterday. although II was rather
strenuous. We did not have a man
to fall By the way-side in our baIaI-
ion, but I understand that quite :
few did In the 4th and 9Th Regiments.
We marched with our full equipment,
which weights about II lbs, and it
certainly got little heavy before We
reached Camp, as It vas very hot.
Company Il. was In the advance guard
going out, and we therefore covered
little more ground than the rest.
Next Saturday the entire brigade
will hike again for the day taking our
dog tents. and lunch along, and in
each case we go a little farther. and
will also do some drilling. Each day
brings more vigorous work. We are
getting down to real military tactics
to be more thoroughly hardened.
We are having q little cooler wealth
er. and the nights are especially 50.
towards morning we nse cover 10 good
advantage
The other day we we're on out post
duty. which was located at the Inter-
national Railroad bridge and after
arriving here, myself. Two other cor
porals and seven men we're sent down
the river about seven hundred yards
TO guard the left flank. similar de-
tachment vas sent up the river. while
the rest of the company remained at
the bridge To guard Il. and act as .
reserve. Il was our duty on the fanks
TO patrol up and down the river TO see
that no one crossed. and at the same
time We we're also guarding the pump
ing Station. which was IN that vicini-
~.
i Each corporal had charge Of NO
Isentinels. therefore He had what ne
call three reliefs at each post I had
charge Of the third relief. and was IN
guard from II midnight. until 2 o'clock
a m. These were certainly dreaTy
hours to be walking along the river
bank. The sentinels would go up IS
far As The bridge. and back 10 where
We had pitched our little dog tents.
On every other trip The corporal
would accompany the one sentinel.
leaving the other 70 guard at the post.
The moon shone syhI. and II certain
! ly waa beautift lght until the
moon sent down. IL became 50
dark that we would OIL get of the
path. and find ourselves n. Jungle Of
wet weeds ~ high n onr ads We
did not anticipate any trouble from the
Mexican side. nevertheless, we carried
loaded guns. with fixed bayonets 70
use In case we were attacked by some
prow1inE beast or reptile that lnhabit
these thiekets.
Before my relief vent on duty. I
took the opportunity tc walk some
distance down the river bank, and oh
served what | thought to be q most
beautiful sight The moon was shin
ing brightly on the swift current Of
the Rio Grande, and II several points
we could see down for about . mile.
and the myrid OF sparkling gems bob
bing about as II were. on the water
was indeed = sight beautiful TO behold,
and one | will never forget.
Occasionally we could hear strains
OF music coming over from Piedras Ne
gras. on the Mexican side. their inatru-
ments being mandolIns. guitars md
han1os. md this kept NJ until the wee
hours Of the morning.
/ AT =. m, we returned TO camp for
breakfast. being relieved by another
detachment. after which our squad
did not have much to DO the balance
OF the DAY ] will say III closing this
event. thai In time Of War. the
out post Il very important factor.
| received letter the other day from
cousin Wilbur Stoner. and he informed
me that he a recruiting officer in the
navy. and IL located At San Diego. Cal
ifornia- I shall answer IL soon.
We have our mess hall about COZ
pleted, which when finished will be
60xl20 feet. and viii add much to our
comfort. We shall not be compelled
to eat our meals out In the hot sun.
am enclosing two silk handker-
chiefs. one for yourself. Edna, and the
other for Fay, also : collection of
Mexican. souvenir cards, and the
watch fob kindly give 10 Father Peel
ing.
VIII write more later. and hope IHaI
you all continue TO enjoy good health
as this leaves me. With much love.
am, as ever.
REG. :.