St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-08-23
A FORT BLISS LETTER
Private Case of 1st Mass. Cavalry
Writes Aunt and Cousins i'm st.
Johnsbury-Scene of Storm.

--kJINAAC VI CtOAA
Mrs. Hattie woodward and son,
Ralph, have received the following in
teresting letter from c. w. Case, a
private in the First Mass. Cavalry.
stationed at Fort Bliss. Texas, where
a large amount of damage was done
by the recent storm, although the let
ter was written previous to the COM
ing of the storm:
Dear Aunt and Cousins;
Your very welcome letter received
this noon and L guess it made the
creamed beef we had for dinner taste
better, for I enjoyed the meal i'm
mensely. I got a package of cigar
cites from Charles at the same time,
so that helped. 1 want just expect
ing letter from you, but nevertheless
/ was glad to receive it and also to
answer. No doubt you were some
surprised to hear of my being in this
country" but you ought to be glad
that Ralph didn't take it in his head
to enlist and come here, too. While
most of us admit that we are having
a good enough time and that we are
content to see the thing through, we
all believe that we made a mistake
in being in such a hurry to enlist. OF
course we expected to go over the
border to at least hold points take14.
by the regulars, but all the border we
get a look at, is from the safety of
the U. S. A. side.
A great many of the boys are dis
contented and the reason is not one
of distance from home, hard work,
food or any cause that can be laid to
anything material. The reason is that
because as far as we are concerned,
our stay here is indefinite. If we were
to be told today that we were going
home tomorrow, next month or in a
year there would be very little
grum bling. Then we could have some.
thing to look forward to and we
would make it a point to have as good
a time as possible as long as we stay.
But there are only rumors to go by
and it is almost enough to make US
crazy to hear so many.
About every fellow that goes to
town or to the fort or even to an
other troop comes back with a diff
ferent story. They bring all kinds of
stories about clothing when we are
going home, when we get paid, and
about everything else that is of any
interest to US here.
Our camp routine is fairly we'll set
lieu HOW anu we kIlOW JUST ABOUT
what we have to do from day to day.
We drill three hours in the morning
and one in the afternoon. Then our
grooming, feeding and stable work oc-
cupies about three hours a day more.
We have a few minutes in the middle
of the day to ourselves, but it is so
hot then that we are busy trying to
keep cool 1t certainly is hot here,
but so far everyone has withstood the
heat very we'll. We are getting so
now we have a little extra energy to
attempt to play ball when the chance
affords itself. We are going to form
a team in our squadron and I expect
to play on it.
One of the main events of the day
is when our mail comes in about noon.
We all expect at least a letter and
there are many disappointed ones af-
ter the mail has been issued. All
manner of things are sent to us, cakes,
doughnuts, cookies, ETC., to eat, all
kinds of tobacco, candy and choco-
lates, papers and magazines. articles
of clothing and all sorts of things to
make it easier for us. We certainly
are well thought of by the folks bach
in Gods Country" even if the ma
tives don't care very much about us.
1 enjoy the riding very much, al
though it certainly is something new
for me. The first day was nearly
shaken to pieces and was on the sick
report" the next day, but am glad to
say am over such things now.
My terminates are all fine fellows
and delicacies from home are COM
mon property in our tent. We are
called the Animal Section from our
nicknames. We have "Tarantula
Gus" Centipede Art" PIariat Joe,"
"Rattlesnake Ed" ''Horntoad Fed"
"AlkaH Jim,'' and "Cowbird Bill"
which is my title. It sounds like the
characters in an old Dime Novel;
Our food is good enough consider
ing where we are. 1t is plentiful
enough and well cooked, the only
thing is the lack of variety. 1 won't
dare to look plate of beans or a
dish of salmon and peas in the face
when I get back. We had ice cream
for dinner today and cocoa to drink,
which was quite treat.
1 hope you can believe, from this
letter, that 1 am having a great time
and that as soon as the pay days begin
coming regular won't care how long
we stay here amongst the spies and
cactus. The snakes and other desert
reptiles haven't bothered us yet, and
for that we are thankful.
Must close as it is nearly stable time.
Love to you and all and best wishes
to old friends, and may receive an
other letter from you soon again.
Affectionately yours,
WILL.
P. S. Mr.. Durfee who was with the
magazine crew in st. Johnsbury with
me, is also in my troop. We are still
pals. He sends regards to ALL
n III