Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-28
HOWARD HILL At
PLATTSBuRC HAS
ENJ0YAbLEST

from Waterville and there are very
few from the State Of Maine, but the
total from the other states is very
large He writes home very interest
ing letters Of the work there, describ-
ing it as being very hard but at the
same time intensely interesting. The
| work which is given them is practical
| ly the same as is given the regular
army men and they are being trained
| by officers detailed from the regular
army.
., Mr.. Hill left Waterville on July 3.
arriving at Plattsburg on the night of
July 4. He was assigned to Co. H of
the Fifth Regiment and ordered into
camp at once. He found his "bunkie"
to be a grandson of Major General
Pickett of the Confederate army and
declares that he is one of the finest
young men that he ever met. His tent
mates are all congenial to him and the
captain Of the company is one of the
finest there is in the whole regiment.
The drills that have been given
them have increased in length and de-
tail almost every day until now they
are doing work in extended line skirm
ishirg, trench warfare and nearly every
day a sham battle is enacted between
different battalions. Target practice is
also one of the matters Of daily routine
at the camp and Mr.. Hill has quail
fed as a marksman.
Long hikes are taken frequently and
as these are made in heavy marching
order they are no pleasure jaunts. The
strictest military discipline Is main
n III
all the appearance Of a regular mill
tary camp. Not a man Of Mr.. Hills
company has given up the work and
returned home, this being the excep-
ton, as in many of the companies sew
eral fellows have found it too hard fer
; them and have returned to their
| homes, this being perhaps the only
difference between this camp and the
regular military camp, that anyone can
leave if they do not care to remain
An incident which shows that the
leaving is not always what it might
be was written home by Mr. Hill One
Young fellow, son of wealthy man.
in fact practically all of those there
are sons of wealthy parents, went to
! the captain of his company and in
formed him that he was going home,
; the work being too hard for him, as
to continue. The captain started to
reason with him and asked him if he
did not feel like doing something for
his country. His reply was ITO HI
! with my country" The words had
hardly left his mouth before his
clothes. he had discarded his mill
| tary uniform and was dressed in citi-
zens' clothes, We're torn from him, a
rail was produced from somewhere
and he was placed astride of it and
given a ride outside the confines If
the camp, where he was dumped into
the bushes. His clothes and a large
number Of pals Of water followed
him. It was lesson that struck home
to the boys in camp there.
One Of the pleasant features Of the
stay there was the allowing of the
men to make trip to Montreal which
was done on a Sunday A whole trair
load of them made the trip and every.
one enjoyed a splendid time. They are
allowed to visit the city of Plattsbure
frequently if they wish but Mr.. Hill
writes that as a rule they are ready tc
hit the straw when night comes, anG
it is literally straw for they sleep ir
tents on beds of straw as did the reg.
ulars. Most everyone is in bed by
o'clock as they have to be out at 53t
in the morning.
Although .hey have to work hard the
best of care is given them and every
means is provided for their health
Shower baths are plentifully installed
and have proved Of great value to the
mon during the very hot weather
which has been experienced there Mr.
Hill writes that he has been sick but
one day since he left home and thai
was due to the taking Of the typhoid
fever preventative which all the mer
At the camp are obliged to take an6
which renders them immune from this
disease. The first day after taking Il
the person treated is usually very sicl
but rallies rapidly. He vas able to Dc
part of his work that day but was
finally forced ~ give up. this being the
only day SSet he has not been able t.
do his fun share. He writes that he is
in splendid physical condition.
Mr.. Hill writes of one experience
! which for moment he considered al
serious but one which he now looks
back upon with a great deal of pleas
ure as being of much interest Volun
teers had been called for to look after
the targets and he was among those
who were selected. He had just got ir
place at his target when someone free
and being very poor shot the bulle
hit the sand in front Of the target
glanced from that and went through
the target, the practically spent bull
let hitting him in the lips a glancins
blow and burying itself in the dirt {
few feet beyond him. He says that 1
felt as though he had been struck {
sharp blow in the face. Although thu
skin was broken there was no serious
harm done, although if he had happen
| ed to he facing the target at the tim,