The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-09-14
A Latter en- the Lo,der
New Braunfels, Texas.
SEPT. 4 1916.
Dear Sir:

SIOs
Dear Sir:
Pardon the liberty I'm TAX
ing in writing to a stranger, but l
was requested to drop line or two,
so that the friends and folks, of the
boys down here, may get an idea of
some of the good times" they have.
All are in good health, and wishing
for the time to come, when they are
in Washburn once more. have re-
ceived a batch" of Washburn
papers at different times, and let me
say, they make enjoyable reading.
It's almost like being back there,
among friends again. I'll bet the
boys will be surprised with the i'm
provements that have taken place,
since called for border duty. If re-
ports are true, we will all be home
by the middle of October. We have
been away from our home camp"
as we call Camp Wilson for about ten
days. Are now at Landa's Park, or
the Paradise of Texas" as it is
sometimes called. We have SWIM
ming pools, a baseball park, and a
swell park to loaf around in.
I'll tell about our trip out here,
and then you can Judge, what we
have to put up with sometimes. 1t
isn't all play, as you will notice, SO
here goes; l and cook B. Butrick
from Ashland rolled at 2 a. m.
Breakfast at 1850, with a slight
drizzle to help wash the dishes with.
After breakfast we loaded what re-
NAMED of our rations, cooking
utensils, equipment etc. and after
policing" the grounds were ready
to start hiking.
Cooks were privileged to ride, SO
being in the kitchen, / climbed
abroad motor truck at 7:15. With
the truck train in the lead, then the
ration and combat wagons, followed
by the Infantry, The Wisconsin
brigade was started on its 35 mile
hike. About one half hour after
starting it began raining, and kept
up a steady drizzle, the best part OF
the forenoon. Kind of bad to hike
through the "gumbo" but we soon
struck macadamized road, and
hiking was improved considerably.
We arrived at Luxello, II miles
from Camp Wilson at 1880, when
we prepared to stop for the night.
In about 90 minutes after arrival OF
ration wagons, we had a fairly good
dinner, but of course it did not COM
pare with the meals we eat at home
Dinner over we pitched our pup
tents, and those who were not al
work, had a good rest.
We had little trouble to gel
water, but cook Butrick solved the
problem, by suggesting that it be
packed on mule. So Serg. Lind.
quist who was in charge of the water
detail, had a mule saddled and with
two milk cans, tied together, anc
thrown on the mule, was kept busy
hauling water.
The Machine Gun Co. boys stoot
the hike we'll, except Serg. A. Kors
more who took sick about 10 a
m. but he stuck gamely in the ranks
Being tired, we went to bed early
Got up the next morning at 8 a. m
Mess at 4:45. We then had to loat
our rations and equipment. also
police" the grounds. We started
in the same formation as Of yester.
day, auto trucks, combat and ration
wagons, then the Infantry. Left
Luxello at 7 80. Weather quite hot
The leading company pulled in
to Landa's Park at p. m. 1t sure
was some hike, for the road was
dusty and water scarce. The two
ambulances of the 1st Wis. were
loaded to capacity At 1:45 the 3rd
Wis. came in, and about 2:15 the
End Reg. were in camp.
Immediately on arrival everybody
fell to- and pitched tents. Just
about the time that we had things
fixed "shipshape" and were thinking
of taking pleasant nap, it started
raining, or rather it poured. In
about fifteen minutes, the entire
company were standing, watersoaked
under the mess tent, and that was
leaking like a sieve. Shelter
l., Ll.l,a+, rrrc hoverSackS