The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1916-07-12


pers il is possible that we may
not go at all.
Following are the men who
were rejected on physical ex-
animation:
George l.. Taylor, j. NJ. Nc
Lemore, j, NJ, Potter, j. w
Gaut, G. c. Sword, W. f.. Or
render. +. f. Blakley, Jcssec
Chandler, rrig Clemmons, Neal
Collier, Fred Crccch, Ollie
Cameron, II. NJ. Edens, Clay
Elliott, Ernest Hughes, A. l.
Harris, Willard johnson. hen
ry Lane, S. b, Nickels, w. Il.
Nickcls, q. 4. Orrender, Elmer
Poorc, Albert +. Page. John a
Smith, Emmitt w Stewart,
I'andy Sands, G. l.. Scott, j Il.
Tucker, II G. Wallace, j. @.
Willis.
All of our men finally took
the new oath prescribed, thar
is, the oath prescribed by the
Hay Bill, with tho exception Of
nine. OF these nine. five were
disqualified on physical eXami-
nation, so that it left only foui
qualified men who did not take
the oath All OF the men are
still here aud on duty, includ
ing those who were disqualified
and also those who did not tax,
the oath My understanding is
that the disqualified men will
be sent homo as soon as, OF
shortly after, we go to the bor-
der. The men who qualified,
but who refused to take the
oath will, MS | understand, be
taken TO the border with MS and
will there be transferred To
other companies for merely
border duty | say such is my
understanding No definite
orders has been given on this
subject, however, and the plan
may be changed.
We have now been here nine
days and no set of men ever
had a more strenuous nine-duy
period We are cncampod at
the Fair Grounds, which is low
marshy land. The city had I'm
dertakcn to drain it aud the
work was well LAID out but it
was not completed when we ar
rived II had been raining
heavily and the ground was
bog from end 10 end 1t rain
ed several days after we arriv-
ed and the situation was very
had indeed from both stand
points ofcomfort and sanitation.
We have had several DAYS OF
fine dry weather and the ground
Is getting in fine shape and we
are becoming quite comfort
able In addition TO the extra
work caused us 10y reason Of the
unprcparcduess of the camp
site, we had an immense
amount OF work to do in the
way OF being mustered into the
National Guard, transferring
property, etc, from the State
to the Federal Government and
then transferring it back To the
Companies The work Of mnbi-
lizntiou, of itself, is strenuous,
but it did not entail anything
like as much work ~ did other
matters referred TO.
In addition to orr other
troubles, il is quite difficult to
understand the law applicable
70 situation and different
Officers, both State and FEEDER
at, have had different opinions
on u great many questions |
doubt il any nation ever under
took to mobilize under greater
legal difficulties
The health Of the men gcncr
ally, and certainly Of Company
II, has been very good indeed
We have had hut three men in
the Hospital, these being Ser
geant Smith, Privntes Alfriend
and Nickcls Alfriend and
Ninkels had moro or less fever
for two or three days aud the
Doctors feared typhoid fever,
but they both recovered after
about three days and are back
on duty Smith is having quite
a hard time with scintic rhcum-
atisiin He is still unfit for
duty and may possibly be dis
charged for physical disability
Yours very truly.
j Il. Bullitt.