Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-02
Mexicans Harmless
Writes An Augusta
Lad From Texas
Enjoyable Trip from Laredo to
San Ygnacio - Systemathed
Hikes Make Travelling Easier
Sand Storms and Thunder
Storms

Thursday, July - 1915.
NV dear Father and Mother:-
Here I am in San Ygnacio,
Texas.
We received orders wednesday az
ternoon to be- ready to leave tho next
morning. There was some hustlins 10
get things ready. but at last all was IN
shape to break camp.
!, After retreat We were given 1OO
rounds Of ammunition each. 10 IN our
roundabout, or belt, go in q bantulier,
that goes over the right shoulder.
After mess, we broke camp. At 10
p. NJ. all was down. so down on the
sround for a nap. No blankets under
M. 1ust the good old earth, for cover
lets. tho stars. At 2.30 A. M. Thursday
We were up and ready for mess. At
last things were loaded, then the fun
began. At 4.3o A. M. the battalion was
IN the move. We had good marching
for that day. Marched about II miles
to q ranch. there Co. c left US to go
two miles to tho right on a ranch. Az
ter they were gone. we pitched our dog
tents and prepared to take things easy.
hit tho Old Hay Maker said mo"
We layed around all day and old
nothins but sweat, only ia in the cap
tain'e tent, about 100 or 135 In the sum-
nm not sure. but 1t felt more like l75 or
200.
About four o'clock little breeze
sprang up, after that we got along
nuite we'll Were on guard Thursday
night. At five o'clock Friday morning
ne nut our roofs on the truck, some
Of the men were sick or played sick.
50 we started with nine men and two
ofacers. Tho first mile was pretty
good. then we came to sand. The
country began to get rough. first sand
and then hard clay like earth, put ono
in mind Of some Of the washouts they
have In Maine, only worse. Sage brush
and sky were all one could see. once IN
a while a green spot where the grass
started to grow but changed its mind.
We would march for an hour. then
rest ten minutes. that's the way we
went. After we travelled for about two
hours. two trucks overlook us. Some
If the boys got aboard. Out Of D Co.
there we're the two lieutenants, two
SoTXo80IS, LWO COi POA oAo oAA0 ~AAN
priyates. myself included.
We marched until 1855, then we left
ca. on another ranch. Along our
march we saw mud houses and what /
would call cliff jewellers. as there were
many cliffs Of clay. 1t was dandy
place for them to dig houses in the
side, some were as high as 50 feet.
When. we left Co. B we halted about
half a mile, fell out and waited FOR
trucks. Our water was about gone. no
place to get any and as we had gone
about IA miles thought that far enough.
At 1890 trucks came along, then lie
was easier.
Between Ave and six miles we came
to another ranch Of 10000 acres. stopped
there and watered up, were there for
half an hour, then we got on the ROAD
again. some road too, sand worse than
ever. We would all but meet the front
end come back as the road wound IN
and out among the sage brush and
cactus. Saw quite number Of prairie
chickens.
First the truck would go down on one
side then on the other. then head first.
We would 60 down in canyon. across
a cfeek, up a steep bank, on to level
place, then down again. Got about 10
miles Of that. The driver was some
boy. He would take the sharp turns at
twenty miles an hour. first we would
be on our feet, then on our heads, then
away we would go on our sides, piled
I'm in the bottom Of the truck. All ono
could see was dust. cactus and sage
brush lust as far as the eye could
reach. We struck one place l will not
forget right away. going along on level
ground all at once around sharp bend
down into a canyon, small one. almost
straight for about 10 feet into the
creek Of water about IS inches deep,
across then up again. We got into
camp. Just before II o'clock noon, our
tents were up and ready for US.
Here the border is about quarter OF
a mile away, still on the desert. At
twelve minutes to three a sand storm
came to make us visit. lasted for %
minutes. Then to make things little
moro home like thunder shower. 1t
IL now 6.45 p. NJ, and still laundering.
and talk about rain! 1t is a good
thing for us the ground is soft. or we
would be like drowned rats In no time.
This is not bad place. about $50
people besides troop Of cavalry and
two Co.'S Of infantry. D. and A.
The orders are that we are here for
% days then back to Laredo, that is
where our headquarters are. so send
all mail to Laredo until find out. We
have q truck to bring our mail every
other day 50 will get it all right
Think will Ike this place pretty we'll
Am feeling fine and there is nothing to
worry about. There are a few Mex
leans across tho border. but they are
harmless. Everything IS fortified;
trenches all around the camp. Will
write later as 1t is time for mess.
Saturday forenoon.
Il rained all night and is nice and
cool today, haven't had time to look
around yet, there IL 50 much to do for
q day or so, and will close with love
to you and all hoping this will and you
IN well. Write often to your
Loving son,
Eugene.
Iorodn ToYaQ