St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-08-16
PRAISES UNCLE SAM.
Letter From Otis B. Cutting Speaks
Highly of Federal Treatment
Description of Camp Life.

OeScfApIlOn OF camp 1A11e.
The following letter was received by
Erwin Cutting from his brother, Otis,
now stationed at Eagle Pass with
Company D:
Aug. 4, 1916.
Dear Brother Erwin:
Well just got your card but I was
beginning to think you didn't care to
hear from me- Did you get the card
sent you some time ago? Well, 1 will
try and give you a description of
things here on the border just as they
are, neither adding to nor taking from.
To begin with we have got one dandy
camp and l like the officers that /
have seen so far. Col. Reeves is one
fine man. His heart is with the regi-
ment and, believe me, he is doing his
best to make us fellows contented,
comfortable and happy. 1 am writ
ing this in a Y. NJ. c. A. building they
have erected here on the camp
grounds for our use. The graphic
phone is playing and have hard work
to put my mind to this letter. Here
we find free writing materials, mag
azines, papers, telephone, electric
lights, an organ, if anyone wants to
play or sing, card tables and checker
boards. We also have a moving pic
ture theatre here in camp and a good
band and shower baths when we have
come in from long, dusty hike OF
drill. Who says Uncle Sam does not
care for his fighting men? Here is
another thing would like to mention,
just to show you that things have
changed regarding the militia. Moth
ing as far as l can see has happened
as you described it to me when you
went to muster. I have seen a fellow
go to the hospital with a man on each
side of him to hold him up get his
medicine and sent back to quarters to
grunt it out. OF course if he is on the
serious list he is sent to some other
hospital or to San Antonio. / will eX-
plain it all when 1 see you again. We
have had one death in the regiment
so far. The cook in Company f of
Mortified. He was turning some
kerosene on a fire from a five-gallon
can when it exploded burning him so
badly that he died four or five days
afterward OF course the regiment
turned out to pay our last respects.
One man in the Maryland troops got
shot one night trying to run the
guards He didn't stop when COM
manded to halt. Probably thought he
was at muster. When the Springfield
80" said halt, he halted and from the
last reports 1 judge he is still hating.
Some MeXicans have been caught try
ing to get through the lines, but they
are wise. They halt when told to by
the sentry. A regular sentry caught
a Mexican the other night coming
through the lines. He said, me go
back, me go back" Sentry said, 1.-THE
hell you will" and threw down on
him. But that is as far as it went.
Mr.. Mex was marched into camp and
searched and a belt of cartridges and
a AS" was found on him, so you see
just how it is. The sentry on outpost
can take no chances. Halt and be
recognized or if you can travel faster
than 1900 feet per second, it is well to
take a chance and beat it.
Now about the weather. While it
gets pretty awful hot, the air is so dry
that it don't affect US like Vermont hot
air. No humidity. One sweats like
the very devil, but you feel fine. I
have never sweat so much in my life
as have since came here. We have
some sandstorms that are certainly
hellions. I have seen tents go soaring
when one of these storms was at its
height. Will tell you more about
them later. Now the first battalion,
Companies A. B, and D, have been
split up. The old men in each com
pany are doing guard duty, while the
rockies (meaning mystelf) are here
getting rifle practice. We drill with
the regulars twice each week. Be-
lieve me, we get some drilling and we
are learning something all the time.
The regulars here are a good bunch
to drill with. They have lots of pa
thence with us guys Of the militia.
They are showing US the fighting game
and we are learning fast. One of the
boys of Company d killed a RATHER the
other day that measured four feet.
He skinned it and is going to bring it
home (the skin I mean, ha, ha).
Since our company has been split
have been drilling with Company HI
of Montpelier but last night we form
ed a company of the members of
Companies A, B, c and D that were
left behind, joined the second battal-
ion and drill with them. Major Think
er is in command of this battalion.
1 like him first class.
one can QnQ InOSL every h1AO VI
wild animal in this part of Texas,
snakes, scorpions, lizards, tarantulas,
wild cats, wild hogs and lot of other
animals too numerous to mention.
We have had some cots issued us
so we don't have to sleep on the
ground any more. We are getting our
new equipment fast. Expect some
new squad tents in a few days, the
pyramid tents. Gee, but they are
dandies, miles ahead of the conical
tents. We have got our khaki suits,
two pairs of shoes, underwear, stock
ings, etc. We were all vaccinated
a while ago. 1 was pretty sick for
few days but felt fit as fiddle when
began to get over it. My arm is still
sore a little and the only time it
bothers me is when 1 adjust the sling
of my rifle. Well, my company goes
on guard tonight and while L could
write for an hour longer, guess 1
will quit. OF course you knew that
the good people of st. Johnsbury sent
box to Company d loaded with
candy rattaS toilet articles