St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-07-19
ARMY LIFE AT
EAGLE PASS, TEX.
]. W. Tinker Writes OF The Camp
Experiences Of The First Yer
mont.
WELLFED AND CLOTHED
Chaplain Thomas Gives a Vaudeville
Every Other Night-Oficers Battle
AT National Bank-Very
Little Sickness In Camp.
Eagle Pass. Texas. July 10.

Editor of The Caledonian:
am taking this way 90 get in
touch with the friends and relatives of
the members of Company d and the
1st Vermont regiment, and to give
them an actual idea of the ways and
conditions of the men and the camp
life here. The men are quartered in
the large Sibley tents with seven in
eight men in a tent, each company
having their own kitchen and mess
hall in which are tables and seats
for serving meals. The food is very
good. Fresh meat is issued in plenty
and it is of the very best quality.
They also have vegetables, soft bread,
buildings and sauces, jellies and jams.
With the exception of pastry it is
equally as good as they get at home
in most cases.
The regiment has no cots as yet, as
the ones at the state camp were in
so poor condition we did not take
them south. But there will be issued
in a few days not cot to every man.
The men have bed sacks which are
filled with straw and make a very
comfortable bed. The most unpleas-
ant part of sleeping on the ground is
the great amount of dust. It is al
most impossible to keep your cloth
ing clean.
All the men have been inoculated
for typhoid and there has been no
serious results from it so far. A few
lame arms and a few cases when a
man develops a slight fever which
lasts from three to twelve hours only.
Some of the companies have been
vaccinated for small pox, and all will
be as soon as the surgeons can go
through the companies. There have
no sore arms developed yet and
do not anticipate there will be many.
The regiment has ample room and
facilities for caring for all sick, hav-
ing a we'll equipped infirmary with
well trained attendants and staff of
four surgeons and doctors. We also
have a field hospital with upwards of
$50 beds to a ward, with a surgeon
and assistant surgeon and two doctors
to each ward, also two dental sur
geons.
AS to clothing, the men have good
clothing. Shoes were issued on the
train while en- route here, and they
were issued cotton breeches, flannel
shirts and undertaking since COM
ing here.
The men are compelled to take care
of themselves. They are required to
battle at least three times week.
Thirty showers have been put in for
that purpose and every company
has the equipment for the men to
wash their clothing.
We are conducting battalion ex-
changes where the men can get soft
drinks, ice cream, fancy crackers,
cigars, cigarettes and tobacco, and
toilet articles, also running a moving
picture show. The net earnings from
both are returned to the company's
mess fund for the purpose of buying
extra food or anything the men are
in need of. We do our drilling in the
early morning and evening, giving the
men a chance to keep inside during
the hot hours of the day. No one is
permitted outside of camp after
retreat, 800 P. NJ, and they are en-
tirely a happy bunch, each company
having a concert in their mess hall at
night, or all assembled by the chap |
lain, Thomas, who holds a vaudeville |
show every other night.
I think that covers about every |
thing that affects the men. We hear
very little talk about the Mexican |
situation here, only that just across
the river about one-half mile from |
our camp, the natives are in bad |
shape, nothing to eat or to wear, and |
a great amount of sickness caused |
by uncleanliness.
The embargo on rolling stock was
lifted here the 18th inst, which let
in a great amount of grain and
clothing.
Now as to who are here with the
LIST Vermont for neighbors, the 3rd |
and 30th u. S. Infantry, 3rd u. s.
Field Artillery, LIST and Bird Kansas
Infantry. 1st, 4th and 5th Maryland |
Infantry, Ambulance Co. No. 1. Field |
Hospital No. 1, from Maryland, Bat
terry A from Kansas, one company
Signal Corps U. S. A. with several
light attachments and one battalion /
engineers with pontoon sections.
The people of Eagle Pass are very |
friendly, doing everything possible to
make it pleasant for us. What Yer
monter would think of going to one |
of their National Banks for a bath |
That is what the officers are doing |
here, the Border National bank in
viting all officers to make use of their
shower bath at any or all times.
We have been made to believe that |
the Mexicans were a class who did [
not like work, but such is not the
case. Here everyone is running on
high all the time from the old and /
infirm to the youngsters seven or
eight years old.
Personally and in behalf of the
boys Of Company D, I wish to thank
the friends for the very useful ar
ticles which we received the 18th
inst. Many thanks. If I can be of
any service to the ones at home or
help you in any way, call on me, the
latch string is always out. 1 am
Very truly,
TOIINr w TINKER II