Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-28
TELLS HOW U.S.H
TRAINING TROOPS
Camp Life Interestingly Told
by Harrisburg Boy Now
at Camp Gordon

with splendid conditions existing
at Camp Gordon. Ga, the following
letter Yves received by a prominent
Harrisburg woman from her nephew
who is staioned at Camp Gordon.
The letter would indicate that
Camp Gordon is model camp" and
tnat all the soldiers stationed there
are perfectly satisfied with all con-
ditions.
Headquarters Company
327th Infantry. Camp
Gordon, Atlanta, Ga.
Dear Aunt:-Sunday down here is
the only time we have for intellec-
tual pursuits, among which / now
class letter writing: so your letter
has remained until to-day unan-
swered 1 am continuing to enjoy
camp life and find that am less in
clined to be homesick here than 1
was in Camp Upton. Camp Gordon
is certainly fine cantonment. Per-
haps the details. of our daily life will
interest you. We rise every morning
at the o'clock bugle, hustle into
cur clothes, and assemble under the
stars for rollcall. This is followed
by a wild rush for mess hail, where
we almost aways have excellent
meals. After breakfast we have
short time in which to clean up the
barracks. Then. from until 11.3O.
we aresout on the parade ground for
calisthencs squad drill, singing,
manual of arms drill, etc. In the
afternoon we have company forma-
tions, followed by a five or six mile
hike, arriving back in time to wash
up for retreat at five. Retreat is the
most picturesque part of the day.
The company stands at Parade rest
while the bugle sounds and the flag
is lowered; then at attention while
the band plays THE Star Spangled
Banner" and the officers salute. On
Friday mornings, instead of drill, we
have a long hike, about fifteen miles,
through different parts of the sur
rounding country. On these hikes,
often think of Grandfather and Won
der whether he rode over these same
places when he was with Sherman
On Saturday mornings we have diVi-
sion review, passing by regiments, in
company fronts before General Swift
and his staff. Last week Governor
Brumbaugh was guest of honor at
the review. Saturday afternoon is
free, but We procrastinating privates
generally leave our weeks accumu-
lation of socks and handkerchiefs to
be washed at this time.
AT present, you see, the life here
seems more like a vacation than any
thing else; but we know that sterner
times are coming. l feel sure that
when we get to the trenches, every
body will do his duty, and that the
National Army will be one of which
the country may we'll be proud There
is perhaps less enthusiasm expressed
than has been the case in other wars,
but we are all firmly resolved to keep
the horrors of war away from our
own homes, and to go to the rescue
of those who have been less FORUM
ate than we.
l wonder whether Grandfather ever
knew General Swift; / have heard
that his father was in the Civil War
on the Northern side. There is no
longer any feetling between North
and South; If any existed before the
present war, it is entirely gone now.
1 find the Southern officers delightful
men.
Please give my best wishes to all
my near relatives in Harrisburg.
Affectionately,
CLINTON MINDIL,
Headquarters Co.. S27th Inf,
Camp Gordon. Ga.