Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-02
YIN. c. A. W0RKN
CAMP EPRASED
Harrisburg Soldiers in Camp
Hancock Pleased at Little
Conveniences

Corporal George A. Roberts, of
| the Eighth Pennsylvania Band, has
written home from Camp Hancock
where he is greatly pleased with the
conveniences that the Y. NJ. C. A.
camps have been able to give the
soldiers from this city. His letter
/ follows:
Army and Navy Y. NJ. C. A,
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1917.
Mr.. Palmer,
Dear Friend:
| thought 1 would include you in
my correspondence this evening. AS
you may suppose, / am writing this
letter at a local Y. NJ. c. A. building
in camp. This organization deserves
much credit for the work they do
here for the soldiers. In the first
place they furnish us with stationery
and writing materials free. Nearly
every evening the boys who are
musically inclined bring their instru-
ments and gather around the piano
and play.
There is also a phonograph with
records. Plenty of reading matter is
furnished the boys, which includes
newspapers from home" magazines
and good books, any of which may be
taken to a soldiers tent to be read,
and same to be returned. Last Sun
day afternoon the Y. NJ. G. A. had
the "Orpheus Four" a quartet from
Los Angeles, Cal, here to sing, and
they entertained the boys. Every
Sunday they have a concert, of some
kind. The Y. NJ. C. AS work among
the men certainly is great and thor
oughly appreciated by all the Yam
kee Boys"
Our day begins at SIS at which
we (the band) arise shortly before
the rest of the camp, and line up
with all the buglers in the rear GA
buglers). We then march up and
down the whole regimental 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 roll
call, after which comes mess (breall-
fast); band rehearsal at to IL;
mess at 1915; band rehearsal at 2
to 8; drill, $40 until 4.45; mess, 6
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 light outs" when taps"
are sounded, which is at 1890 p. m,
and if any man tries to get into mis-
tent after that time without leave of
absence by the noncommissioned Of
ficers he is nearly always stopped
by a sentry and taken to the guard
house (the cooler) overnight, and is
reprimanded and punished in the
morning. Rules are very strict here,
not at all like on the Island at Har-
risburg.
We have sand six to eight inches
in depth on which to march and
drill, and in dry weather it rises 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 will be broken up, and
tanning three good cooks and have
nothing to complain of the food We
also have a fine man in charge of
headquarters, First Sergeant j.
Boyer, of Carlisle. He is one of the
finest men I've met for sometime,
and is well liked by the whole COM
pany. Orders just received state that
our copany will be broken up, and
the orderlies, which, of course, in
cludes Sergeant Boyer, will go to
Camp Meade to mobilize (very
likely) for France. The band, to
which I belong will stay here in
definitely to help train the draft
rockies" We do not expect to ever
see France. but stay here as a depot
station.
Last night actors from the thea
ters in Augusta came out to camp
Ca distance of six miles) and enter
tanned the men of the Eighth. The
Eighth Regiment band also gave q
concert. A few minutes afterward
there was a fire call" blown by
bugler and this was taken up by
every other bugler in camp. We i'm
mediately lined up and started out
on the double quick for the fire,
which proved to be a small farm
house outside the camp. The boys
worked on it, but it had too much of
a start before We could get the line
of hose stretched that far. The
camp is piped with fireplugs, water
for which comes from Augusta.
The electricians are finishing the
wiring in camp. We will have street
lights, and bulb in every tent.
Each company has their individ-
nal mess hall, kitchen, shower bath
and latrine.
The ladies of Augusta show their
interest in the boys and show II by
SOliiiilS W lhG camp every thursday
afternoon to do what sewing they
can for the men.
So far, Mr.. Palmer, yours truly
has been his own wash woman and
seamstress.
Kindly remember me to Mrs. Pal
mer and also my friends in the Sun
dav school and c. e.
I will be glad to hear from YOU at
1rv time. Sincerely,
Corp. GEORGE A. ROBERTS.
Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry Band,
Headquarters Co., Camp Hancock,
Augusta, Ga.