Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-20
ANOTHER LETTER +
FROM ID Maine BOY
IN LAREDO, TEXAS
Eugene Chapman Of D Co.
Writes His Parents About the
Country in Which He Has
Cast His Lot, and Also Some
of His Experiences in Camp
Life.

Mr.. and Mrs. Ora A. Chapman Of this
city have received the following letter
from their son Eugene. who is a mem
Der Of D Co, I'd Maine Infantry, now
stationed at Laredo, Texas:
Laredo, Texas, July 6, 1916
Dear father and mother
Here l am in Texas. Arrived in
Laredo Tuesday night at about 10
o'clock and staid in the cars until the
trucks arrived about 8 o'clock in the
morning.
changed cars and had Pullman cars
and also porters to wait on us (some
class.
1t is pretty warm here but not as bad
as | expected. Nice and cool at night.
We had just got our tents up when we
had a sand storm, not a very bad one
but enough to let us know what to ex-
pect. The sand or dust, just as you
may call it, Is about three inches thick
Had drill of three hours this morn
ing and have nothing else to do until
retreat, then after that is over (about
half an hour there is nothing to do un-
III InOtHlNS. lUelS dIS DStWSCil lu,VUV
and 10000 troops here taking in all. and
more coming, and 1000 and 5000 Mex
leans just across the river. We are
only about a mile from the border.
was down town last night, and be-
]eve me. this is some place-some Diff
ferent from Maine. Saloons are wide
open and every other door is beer, but
don't worry none for mine.
We had a great sendoff at Fort
Worth, Texas, and not only there but
all along the line. Everyone turned out
and babe US goodbye and godspeed. 1
saw the Red river, and believe me 1t
was rightly named. The water Is al
most red. The Mississippi was some
river but we crossed at narrow place.
About a mile from the river we all
went into the water for bath. The
water is very warm, but it is wet so we
got along quite we'll, better than
thought we would.
NV corporal saw service in the Span
ish War, in the cavalry. Had talk
with the captain. He seems to be a
good man. Our water is boiled before
we can have any. They look right af-
3.
any watermelons or anything like that
Some Of the companies got any and
everything that came along, but believe
me, we are far better off. We have
shower baths and they are grand. Al
ter a. hot day go take bath and 1t
makes fellow feel like new man.
We also have sprinklers and hose to
wet down around the tent. Everything
is kept clean. Every man does MS
share. We are divided into platoons,
two platoons to company. The first
one STAYS in camp tonight, and the sec
ond one-that Is the one I am in,-goes
ont. We dare not leave camp without
some one to look after things. or
course, we have a guard day and night.
did my washing this forenoon ana
had some fun doing it, although my
clothes look pretty white. 1t only
takes about an hour to dry them, so
YOU can imagine it is some warm.
man doesn't realize what country
the United States is until he crosses IT,
saw fields of wheat. cotton and corn
lust as far as the eye could reach. the
corn and wheat almost ripe. Once in
awhile there would be a field that was
green.
had read about the lower class or
people but could not believe 1t true
until l had a chance to see for myself.
| Roth men and women came around the
| cars and took all the bread and scraps
that thew could find, and not only that
for they ate them. 1t is hard luck but
it must be so for they know no way out
Of it. People do not realize when they
have a good thing until they see what
have seen in the few hours we have
been here. 1t will make fellow think
some.
| think have written enough for this
time so will close, hoping to hear from
you soon. Take good care of your
selves and some of you write often to
Your loving son,