Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-10-12
HALIFAX BOYS AT
CAMP JACKSON
Account Of Trip Down and Brief
Resume Of Camp Life at Nation.
al Army Cantonment
at Columbia
SOME PROMOTIONS FROM RANKS

We left Halifax on Friday
morning, the 2lst of September,
at s o'clock, our train was due at
3 AM. but it happened to be late.
Our men were assigned to a spe-
cial car on the regular train, and
Mr.. Otto Meyer, of Enfield was
appointed officer in charge of the
men and Mr.. ]. R. Manning, of
Roanoke Rapids, was second in
command. We reached Rocky
Mount about 7 o'clock, our car
was sidetracked, and we were
marched to the A. C. L. cafe for
breakfast, after offering thanks
to Almighty God for his blessings
and asking him to bless US on our
great mission and to permit US to
return to our loved ones, when
we will inexperienced our duties
for our country, we enjoyed a
very good breakfast at the ex-
pense of Uncle Sam. While wait
ing for the special train to be
made up, some one in our party
secured a large American Flag,
which was placed on the rear of
our car. Most all Of the cars on
the special train had flags, but
the Halifax boys had the largest
flag that was seen between Rocky
Mount and Camp Jackson. The
cars for Edgecombe and Nash
Counties were next to our car,
andas the Edgecombe County Red
Cross ladies had too many Com
fort Bags for the Edgecombe boys,
they gave the extra bags to about
5 of our boys, and these bags are
very useful for the boys in camp,
(but many of the boys prefer
that the cigarettes and playing
cards be omitted, and the Edge
combe ladies were thoughtful
enough to omit these items.)
Our train was due to leave
Rocky Mount at 8 O'Clock, and
long before this hour, people be-
gan to gather from every direc-
~tion, and when we left there was
a multitude at the station to bid
the soldier boys farewell. In most
every town and city that we pass
ed through we saw crowds of
people at the stations, and they
cheered us and waved flags, hats
and handkerchiefs at US as we
passed.
When we reached Fayetteville,
there was a large crowd of school
children assembled at the sta
ton, and the. reception that was
given US by the loyal citizens OF
this progressive city reminded
the Halifax boys of the night
when the news of Woodrow Viii.
sons second election was receiv.
ed. Fayetteville will be long re-
membered by our boys. We ate
dinner at Florence, S. G. about 4
P. M.
As our train was speeding or
its way and the end of oul
journey was drawing near, some
of the boys began to look sad, as
their thoughts wondered back tt
mothers, sweethearts and loved
ones at home. One married mar
began to write to his wife before
leaving Rocky Mount, and some
of the boys said that he mailed 8
letter or card to his wife every
time the train stopped between
Rocky Mount and Camp Jackson
We believe that this man will b,
as faithful to his country as h
is to his wife.
Our train reached camp aboi
6:15 in the afternoon. and a
we detrained, we were attached
to Company G, and the boys be
gan to prepare for camp life. A
the rations were rather short, Of
account of Company &C" havinl
more men to care for than wa
expected, we had only bean soup
corn bread and coffee for suppe
and the boys began to roll thei
. eyes and sigh. After supper W
were given one blanket each an
assigned to a single bed wit
hay mattress. These mattresse
are made by filling a white due
tick with wheat straw, and tn
straw must be changed abor
twice a month. The boys though