Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-10-12
A Letter From The Border.
Camp Ord, Eagle Pass, Texas,
September %. 1916.

SNRtNhioNi 80 iSiO'
Editor Shepherdstown Register-Dear
Sir-lt seems very long time ago since
that Sunday night, June 18th, when !
rushed across the river to call Hagerstown
over the phone and learn the particulars
OF the Presidents call for troops, and
many h ave been the times since then that
have intended to drop line 10 my many
Shepherdstown friends through the col
umns of the Register. But my time has
been so taken up with drills, inspections,
marches, etc., by day, and the voluminous
"red tape" OF army paper work by night,
that one gets little time 10 write TO ones
friends or even to the home folks.
Events moved quickly after the call
came, and all affairs OF civil life had to be
dropped where they were. 1t was big
undertaking to close up my home and
rush off at moments notice, and one
that trust may not be necessary TO do
again after am so fortunate as to return
once more TO the occupations OF civil llfe
After the "smoke of the battle" OF re-
cruiting had cleared away had the honor
of having taken into the service OF the
United States the largest company in The
National Guard OF Maryland-l26 men
and three officers. had hoped the pa
triotic spirit OF Shepherdstown would at
least net me one or two recruits from
there, but was disappointed however,
Shenandoah Junction and Harper's Ferry
did help to swell the ranks OF Company
B. First MARYLAND. lreckon all my fight
ing friends went forward with the troops
of their own State and that as in the days
oflS62 ShepherdStown is wellrepresented
on the border.
After our IL days stay at the State mo-
Utilization camp at Laurel. where we tried
to get our recruits equipped and in shape
for their trip, we embarked June 3Oth on
our long journey to Eagle Pass. While
the trip was tiresome and we did not ar
rive here until July 9th, we had many
pleasant experiences and were treated
most royalty at all towns where we STOP
ped en- route, the wonderful reception &C
corded us at Memphis being particularly
deserving OF mention.
On our arrival here this was most
barren and dried-up looking country, and
one could hardly believe that anything
green could ever appear in so desolate a
land, but the rains which seemed to be-
gin with our arrival have in course OF
time made things quite green and differ
emf looking. 1t is queer country, and
everything seems equipped with horns,
thorns or singers. Rattlesnakes, taran-
tulas, scorpions, centipedeS, horned toads
and insects OF all kinds abound, while all
plants, like the cactus. mesquite, ETC., are
ready to make you remember any con-
tact you may have with them. Our lie
here, the work, the drills, marches, out
post duty, ETC., has naturally grown tire
some, but il has been most useful and the
most wonderful training that the soldiers
OF this country have ever had; and there
is no doubt that for the first time the Ma
tional Guard is a thoroughly efficient
force and no one will recognize the troops
that will some day return to Laurel to be
mustered out as the same troops which
marched out OF that town June 3Oth.
To relieve the monotony OF existence,
we were favored some weeks ago with a
fine quality OF West Indian hurricane,
which lasted SO hours and succeeded in
destroying lot OF tents, blowing down
a number OF the large new mess halls,
which had just been erected, and doing
quite great deal OF damage. We were
kept busy for some days clearing up the
debris and recovering from the effects OF
the storm. My own personal monotony
OF camp life has been further relieved by
being confined to the camp hospital for
the past week with fever, and this &C
counts for my being able to aiflict you
with this narrative OF events; but as am
feeling much better today, and hope to be