Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-01
DESCRIBES LIFE
AT CAMP HANCOCK
Corporal Writes That Y. M.
c. A. Is Doing Great Work;
Band Awakens Them

j. Frank Palmer. of the Harris
burg National Bank. is the recipient
of a letter from George A. Roberts,
OF this city, now corporal in the
Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry Band,
stationed at Camp Hancock.
Corporal Roberts tells of the life at
the camp and speaks very highly of
the work that the Y. NJ. c. A. is do
ing. He is much pleased with the
treatment that he has received at
camp. He believes that after the
Eighth Regiment is disorganized it
will remobiliZe at Camp Meade to go
to France. His letter is as follows:
Army and Navy, Y. M. c. A.,
With the Colors,"
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1917.
Mr.. Palmer.
Dear Friend:-
L thought L would include you in
my correspondence this evening. AS
you may suppose, 1 am writing this
letter at the local Y. NJ. c. A. build
ing in camp. This organization de-
serves much credit for the work they
do here for the soldiers. In the first
place they furnish us with stationery
and writing material free. Nearly
every evening the boys who are mu-
sically inclined bring their instru-
ments and gather around the piano
and play.
There is also a photograph with
records. Plenty of reading is fur
nished the boys, which includes
newspapers from home" magazines
and good books, and which may be
taken to a soldiers tent to be read,
and same to be returned. Last Sun
Gay afternoon the Y. NJ. c. A. had
the "Orpheus Four" a quartet from
Los Angeles, Cal, here to sing, and
they entertained the boys. Every
Sunday they have concert of some
kind. The Y. M. c. AS work among
the men certainly is great and thor
oughly appreciated by all the
Yankee Boys"
Band Awakens Camp
Our day commences at 5.15, at
which we (the band) arise shortly
before the rest of the camp, and line
up with all the buglers in the rear.
(Twenty-four buglers)., We then
march up and down the whole regi-
mental street playing to awaken the
camp, after which reveille is sounded
by the buglers and the whole camp
arises at 5.45. Then we fall in" for
rollcall, after which comes mess
(breakfast.) Band rehearsal at 9 to
IL. Mess at IL. 15. Band rehearsal at
to 3. Drill, $40 until 4.45. Mess G
o'clock. Guard mount is generally
held at 5.45 with retreat played I'M
mediately afterward.
After retreat" the boys" have the
time between that and taps" to go
where they please, provided they are
in bed with lights OUT when taps"
are sounded, which is at 1890 p. m,
and IL any man tries to get into the
tent after that time without leave of
absence by the noncommissoned Of
ficers, he is nearly always stopped by
sentry, and taken to the guard
house (the cooler) for over night,
and is reprimanded and punished in
the morning. Rules are very strict
here, not at all like on the island at
Harrisburg.
Heavy Sand
We have sand six to eight inches
in depth on which to march and drill
and in dry weather it arises in great
dust clouds and nearly chokes the
men. The climate is great and the
boys all like it. The nights are very
cool and sometimes cold, with days
very hot. We get little rain. Our
company was fortunate in obtaining
three good cooks and l have moth
ing to complain of the food. We also
have a fine man in charge of tire
headquarters, First Sergeant ]. Boy
er, of Carlisle. lie is one of the finest
men I've met for some time, and is
well liked by the whole company. Or
ders just received state that our COM
pany will be broken up, and the or
derlies, which, Of course, includes
Sergeant Boyer, will go to Camp
Meade to mobilize (very likely for
France. The band to which be-
long will stay here indefinitely to
train the draft rockies" We do not
expect to ever see France, but stay
here as a depot station.
Fire Call Sounds
Last night actors from the thea
ters in Augusta came out. to camp
Ca distance of six miles) and enter
tained the men of the Eighth. The