The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-02-08
COMMUNICATION
Fort Smelling, Mimi,

jan. Soll,
Never did a thousand men ever
seem any happier tina 1 did the 1st
Infantry, North Dakota when they
stepped from the cars on the Mil
waukee tracks. Just like a bird
getting back to its nest, says Joe
.Vachon, supply sergeant of Co. L.
Are you glad to get back home
was asked one of the boys and the
universal answer was: I'VE sure
are One of the boys said I
wouldn't take a thousand dollars
for what l went through, but it
would take more than thousand
dollars to get me to go back and
go through it again. The boys
are all happy here and they real
ize that the restrictions here is
only the same as they have just
been through and there is not i
whimper from any of them.
1t will be remembered that
the boys left Wahpeton on the
morning of August without
knowing what was ahead of them
and the uncertainty of the situa-
tion kept them on edge for some
time in the future. The thing
that seemed to impress all the
boys in camp here was the big
maneuver at Brownsville. in
which Co. I played the important
part, making march of II miles
in one day besides marching
through sloughs and fording riv-
erS waist deep, going the II miles
at ii forced gait, the final maneu-
YER ended in driving the enemy
back 81 miles.
To illustrate the ability of the
North Dakota boys the following
will tend to show how we'll they
We're thought Of:
The regiment has fully met ev-
cry demand due upon it, and has
been the subject of many favor
able comments on account of its
appearance and the manner of it's
performance of duties both in
camp and in the field. It's ad-
ministration is second to few if
any in the command. Should it
have been called into active SER
vice. it would no doubt have Civ
Ell an excellent account of itself.
Brigd. Gen. E. NJ. Lewis.
j 1T present and some time in the
past your regiment has led in
sanitation over all other organic
afions of the 18th Provisional
Division.
l.. Breechmin,
Major Med. Corp, U. s. Army
TO the Officers of the ist North
Dakota Infantry"
"After months of detention here
in camp you are today leaving for
your northern homes. The Cit
zens of Mercedes having been
witnesses of your daily drills
your fidelity to work-your sold
icry qualities and manly bearings
under the restraint of in action,
desire to compliment you upon
these facts "nd desire to corg:at
ulate your governor and the poo
pie of your home state upon the
splendid military efficiency you
have shown under circumstances
r'".st exacting. Our oppor:un-
ity for observation has been !a'ec
and we contend that the American
Flag can never be lowered whcn
defended by men Of your fidelity
and character.
"Homes have been safe-our
people fully protected whiis YOU
Ilav" been present and we deisrc
to express our deep appreciation
Of your service to us and the
country. Our good will ac-
companies you and may this and
our palms and flowers plead with
YOU to return and revisit us as in
dividuals in happier times"
Mercedes, Texas, Jan. 23rd, III.
The above was printed on cards
and handed to the boys as their
train was about to pull out and
flowers and palms were showered
on them, which actually coAvinc-
ed .he good citizens of Mercedes.
Texas that they raised pretty good
lads in the State of North Dako-
ia, and as one Mercedes said:
Every father. mother and in fact.
"verv good citizen of thc State of
North Dakota should he proud
that their sons and their fellow
citizens belonged to such a splcn-
did organization: while we had
organization on the border that
had to be kept under The lash at
all times.''
It is rumorcd that the officers
of the First Minnesota regiment
asked the commanding officer Of
the brigade why they had to stay
on The border while the North
Dakota regiment was being sent
home to be mustered out. This
officer said: II will shox you
and he took the regiment to the
LlanO Grande parade grounds
and put them through drill and
drove home the fact that the first
Minnesota had several things to
1na nm hnFnpo lbnx, xr,nnn fhn nffioi