Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-12-20
LETTER FROM CORPORAL
MURRAY R DICKSON, co. <

On Thursday of last week / was
very much surprised as we'll as im-
mensely pleased to receive a parcel
of "eats'' from the good people of
Langdon, and / believe that l have
the ladies of the Presbyterian church
to thank for this kindly act. At the
time it arrived we were as busy as
n~ailers, loading our goods and chattels
preparatory to our move to present
quarters, and right here I must say
that the change has been q very
welcome one and..our present quarters
are all that anyone could wish for.
We are now again in frame barracks
and have real beds to sleep on, which
is some treat after our stay at Camp
Mills. There are about thirty men
in each section, our company occupy
ing four buildings of two sections
each. Another advantage that we
are enjoying here is plenty of hot
water at all times. No doubt you
have already learned much of army
life from the number of fine letters
which the Langdon boys are writing
home, so will not try to relate any of
our past experiences, but I thought
that perhaps you might be interested
in hearing of u trip from Camp
Mills to Camp Merritt as l myself
enjoyed it more than any other of our
many moves within the past four
months.
We marched from the old camp to
Brighton road station, Long Island,
and left there at about one o'clock in
the afternoon. Our first stop was
on the water front and when the
order was given to fall out many
and varied were the surmises heard
on all sides as to our probable desti-
nation. However, we were not kept
long in Suspense and were herded into
the ferry house station at Forty Sec.
ond Street, there load onto a large
ferry boat. and taken down the East
River. All the buys enjoyed the ride
down the river and we saw a number
Of large ocean going vessels, also a
couple of transports and one immense
battleahip of the United States navy.
We passed under the three large
bridges, the Manhatten, East River
and Brooklyn, in the order named,
and where then right at the point
where the two rivers join. By the
way, we also had a fine view Of the
Goddess of Liberty.
l had to leave offsmy letter at this
point to answer a mess call, which
you may judge for yourself is a very
important item in the days proceed
ings of soldiers life in camp. To get
back to where, 1 left off, may say that
this is quite a wintry night and com-
ing up to the barracks from supper
l was struck with the picturesque ap-
pearance of the buildings in the
falling snow, which they tell me is
the first of the seson. We all dread
the thought of leaving such cosy
quarters, but look for an order to come
any time now, which will start us on
our trip across the pond and there isn't
a boy that I know of who is not ready
and eager for the fray. 1t is nearly
all that they talk of and makes them
keen at their drills.
In closing I would again thank those
ladies and others of our Langdon old
friends who by their acts are show
ing the great amount of interest taken
in the boys who have left to serve
with the colors of their country. With
the compliments of the season to all.
Sincerely Yours.
Corporal R. Murray Dickson,
Co. K. 164th Infantry, 41st Divi-
u;np rorn Morritf NJ