Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-17
SOLDIER BOY WRITES LETTER
FROM CAMP MILLS, NEW YORK

Camp Mills, Hampstead, N, Y. Sun
day, October 18th, 1917.
1t is now three weeks ago Thursday
that we arrived here and four weeks
ago today that we left Des Moines.
Our ride was very interesting, l
thought, but it was also tiresome and
tedious. We rode on the Nickle Plate
road from old Chicago to Buffalo,
passing through Fort Wayne, Indiana,
Cleveland, Ohio, and Erie Pennsyiva-
mia. Had a good view Of Lake Erie.
From Buffalo to New York we went
about ninety miles out of our, way,
going through Almira, New York. Con"
meant and Scranton, Pennsylvania and
Belvidere, Trenton and Phillipsburg,
New Jersey. We rode along the Della
ware rive a good ways but it was after
dark. think we went through about
three big tubes under New York, etc.
to get to Long Island. Well, we had
no liberty whatever along the way on
" at long stops where perhaps ten to
twenty minutes hike under orders.
Thursday at $50 We hit fine little
"village" and laid over until 2:30,
where we were allowed to roam at
will and we sure did make many
friends at Forest Hills. l was much
relieved to get sight Of our camping
grounds, for they were grassy plain
and heaven to what Co H had on the
border last summer
Since pitching of tents began that
night we have been continually on
the go. Drills, reviews, parades, hikes.
clothes issues, inspections and hun
dred and one other army require
ments. Wednesday and Saturday af-
ternoons are supposed to be rest and
wash days, but we've only had one
half days rest since we've been here
and that was because it rained. Sun
days? Well, they are not like they
are on the farm, for it is either a re-
view or parade. 80
We get up for roll call at $50,
breakfast at 6 and fall in" for drill
at 1880. We have a nice little hike
of about mile and q half to our drill
grounds every morning. We only
have 118 acres to drill on so we have
plenty Of room to breathe. The Ala
bama regiment, the 167th, also drill in
the same field. To start with, after a
short rest, we have the manual of
arms and squad or platoon drill for an
hour, then a short intermission and
We start on an hours calthenics. Say,
the first week the officers put us
through some pretty funny stunts
thought and found had some cords
and muscles that never knew l had.
I like it now as do all the rest, for
it's a great physical training. Another
intermission and then we try to get
the manual of the bayonet through
our noodles. 1t has all been revised
to what our old border manual was;
1T is more offensive fighting as in the
trenches and the lieutenant says
there's only two things, you get him
first or he gets you" At II o'clock
we start back and have dinner at
twelve In the afternoons we have a
drill or hike with retreat at $3.50 and
supper at 6. -.... -.
Tuesday evening and shall endeav-
or to finish my letter. A review by
General Mann kept me from finishing
it Sunday afternoon: Today has been
real cold and rainy. Makes army life
very disagreeable for I've been under
my blankets nearly all day to keep my
feet warm and a poncho over me to
keep me from getting wet. Our tent
leaks horrid. Well it was rest day