Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-07-21
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EAGLE PASS, Texas, July 10.

OOl. y. ". ESlcy.
Dear Sir:-Yours of the 9th and en-
closed check for $50 received. | will
say that this check came at Just the
right time. There are many things
u, that we have to purchase at once to
make the camp comfortable and SAM
uIu tary. The sanitary conditions are the
hardest to handle the ground being a
regular hardpan of clay and very dry.
''c 1T is difficult proposition to construct
sinks and latrines, especially for a
lcDS stay i'll permanent quarters.
In behalf of Company | and myself
EsI wart to thank you and all our
friends for all they are doing for us.
acquisitions have been sent to the
war department for complete new
equipment. This includes two suits of
underwear, sweater, cotton olive drab
uniforms, new tents, new style army
packs, blankets and all new utensils,
| have deposited both checks in the
Border National bank as company
fund. We held a meeting and elected
G. A. Pellet treasurer of the fund
Henry e. Robbins, Godfrey Crosby and
myself as auditors and Lieut. Miner,
=. ,Sergt. Marion and Private Dunlevy as
committee to look after men in need
of any assistance. | am seeing per-
sonally that every man has equal com
forts and that none is shown any par
TALLY.
The night of our arrival here the
third battalion was ordered for out
post duty along the Rio Grande The
river is about mile from our camp
Every man armed with n rifle carried
270 rounds of ball ammunition. Those
armed with the pistol carried so
rounds. We carry this always when
on outpost or guard duty.
On our outpost tour there were Mex
leans on the opposite shore of the river
and armed Our men did not show
any uneasiness or seem to realize
what might happen. At $40 a. IN. a
Mexican patrol of II men came across
an open field directly towards us as fan
III AS thc river. After a short halt they
returned to the weeds. They don t
seem to be overorganized or uni
formed.
1t is rumored among the regular Of
Ulcers that all companies are to be sep
arated into halves and sent to differ
ent parts of the country to recruit
each half to the minimum strength
They are to take this means to organ
lie 10 new regiments of regulars All
reserve officers, West Point graduates,
militia officers and those given certif-
iDfl Gates for commission at the training
camps are to be given chance to
take examinations for commissions in
inc regular army. All OlHccfS OF inc
regular army will be promoted first
~ fto fill vacancies and the new officers
given the lower grades.
The machine guns of the 9th Mas
sachusetts regiment are being shipped
to the LIST Vermont and a machine gun
company is to be organized at once.
Col Reeves is certainly fine man to
un command this regiment. He is getting
results fast and when we return home
sc.f Vermont will have a fighting unit to
be proud of and | bar none of the fed
,eral militia. All of the men arc
y around with their manuals studying
hard and then putting the results in
to practice.
The heat was terrible at first, but
we are getting acclimated fast and
don t mind it much now. Sometimes
it is 125 degrees. We don t drill at all
for a few days except in the early
morning and late at night. We spend
most of the time fixing up around
camp and resting.
We have 90 shower baths and they
are in use all the time. The Estey
~ organ is one of the most beneficial
gifts we have received. The
boys use it every night and Chaplain
Thomas uses it for all his services.
Will you ask The Rcformer to say
tbat no one need worry about u.s. The
N-sanitation is of the best now and al
the men are in the best of health and
gaining flesh. We never had better
rations in camp since | have belonged
to the militia.
SGive our regards to all
Respectfully,
LIEUT.. w. R. SPAULDING.