Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-07
Letters from
Maine Boys On
the Border
Laredo, Texas, July 30. 1916.

My Dear Brother:
Will drop you just a line this morning
as I have nothing else to do. Have just
finished my breakfast Of oatmeal. milk
and sugar. milk toast, bread. butter and
coffee. Don't know why one should kick
on that. We are supposed to be in line
for assemble" at $50 A. NJ. fully clothed
time yet when every one Of US was W
to those requirements. There is always
two or three come running into line after
the command to fall in." This morning
I didn't have my puttees on but had all
Of the rest of my clothes on me but not
necessarily buttoned up.
Yesterday morning about o'clock we
had a heavy thunder shower and 1t
poured until about o'clock. We are al
ways tickled to death to have it rain here
and don't mind if it continues for a week
Last evening we marched up and down
in front Of the officers quarters playing
the stein song" That is our camp song
now as the officers have adopted it.
Every night after our concert we march
the same way. The other night just be-
fore we started to march, Colonel Cum
mings, who is a real funny old officer
came out and played the bass drum while
another acted as drum major They both
did a good job and caused much amuse.
ment to onlookers. Fred McAlary
of Watervlle, who secured a promotion
to lieutenant shortly after arriving here
handed in his resignation recently and II
was accepted He started for dear old
Maine last night The band was booked
for concert at Jarvis Plaza so decided to
go down town early to the station and
give McAlary a good send-off. He was
well known among the members Of the
band and we'll liked. We piled into one
REQ" and went down. He was very
much pleased with the send-off and re-
sponded to the situation in pleasing
manner. Some Of the boys sent messages
to folks at home through him.
After the train had departed for the
East carrying Mr.. McAlary homeward
we went to the Jarvis Plaza and gave a
concert In the band stand. We played
from 8 to and had 10 minutes intermis-
sion and then played until 10 o'clock. The
in the Plaza. The concert was well re-
ceived as indicated by the large amount
Of applause. We played IA selections, nm.
ishing the concert with the National
HYMN Outside of the 'Star Spangled
Banner Dixie" song very popular In
the South, was given the greatest ap-
plause. I never knew before that this
song was so popular but soon found that
1t was by the amount Of applause. We
got away with the concert in fine shape
and are going to give one every Saturday
night now.
After the concert. Holden and went in
and had a feed and returned to camp.
We were halted twice but finally got
into camp without further trouble
The other morning, Holden and
thought we would take our morn
ing exercise on horseback. We picked
out a couple of horses and started
out Well hadn't gone more than 1ot
feeling pretty lively. He started to buck
first on his forward feet then up on his
rears and then he would bolt little anil
sit down I hung to him as long as
could and gave a good exhibition they
told me. He finally Gained down and we
took quite a long ride. We got back to
camp safely but just as I was telling a
little easier my horse began to buck
again. stuck as long as possible but
was finally thrown off but landed all
right. The boys all said that the exhibi-
ton was we'll worth the price.
We are all planning to return to Maine
by September anyway. We expect to
go by the Southern Pacific, Atlantic sea.
board and Pennsylvania in hrst-class
shape and hope to make a short stop in
all important cities. All the boys are well
and happy. Got three letters from home
this morning. Best regards to all. re-
main as ever.
Your brother
HERBERT BLAKNEY,
Solo Cornetist I'd Me. Reg. Band.