Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-11-09
PROMOTIONS FOR SOME
OF OUR COUNTY BOYS
SergeantS Williams, Harris, and
CheeSeman
Batteries Now Formally Organ
iEed, and Much Interest in Work
BY Roy y, Harris
Camp Deyens, Mass,
November 6, 1917.


November 8, 1871
The first period Of our drill is com
pIeted, This week found us starting on
what might be called the second period
Of training, The first period has been
given up wholly to infantry drill,
Everything so far has been, what all
soldiers in whatever branch they may
be, must know. Beside the foot drill
we have learned the rudiments of guard
duty, the most important duty of a
soldier, military courtesy and kindred
subjects,
This week we began on the Artillery
work, So far the time has been given
up to reorganzing the batteries. Mon
day night regimental retreat was held
on the parade grounds. Before the
ceremony Of retreat the first Of the
non-commissioned officers were an
nounced The remaining officers are
to be appointed in about three weeks.
The Addison County men who were
appointed at this time were Williams of
Bristol, First Sergeant and Harris of
Middlebury Sergeant, both of Battery
G.; Cheeseman of Addison sergeant,
Headquarters Co.; Tatro of Vergennes,
Sperry of Cornwall and Mayo Of Sails
bury, corporas Battery C.
Now that the Batteries have an or
ganiza:ion all were ready for the first
formal guard mount which took place
tonight. From now on all must take
their turn on guard duty.
In regard to the organization of
Battery of Artillery will try to give
you some idea in a later letter. So far
the men have been divided into three
groups cannoneers, drivers, and spe-
cial detail, The cannoneers are given
work on the guns while the drivers take
work on the horses. AS yet we have
only few horses to work on but more
are expected within short time.
Artillery work is very interesting
and there is plenty to learn which will
help eliminate the monotony which civil
ians usually connect up with soldiers
life.
Since my last letter there has been
two fires in camp but each were very
soon under control for the camp is equip
ped with very efficient fire department
When ever a fire breaks out in camp all
men must report in their Battery street
for a formation. This keeps the men
from all rushing to the fire and hinder
ing the work of the fire department.
Another funny thing happened this
week. We were all marched to the
Base Hospital where We were examined
by the nut doctors This is the name
given to these doctors by the men.
The examination is one which cannot be
described All ! can say about it is
that we had to answer all kinds of funny
questions, The purpose of these exam
nations is to find out what each man
is capable of doing
Last Saturday forenoon was gwen up
to a general clean up around camp. All
the men were taken to some part of the
camp which might be called mo mans
land and cleaned up all rubbish. A
half day of cleaning may not seem much
to some of you but when you stop to
think that forty thousand men were all
engaged in the same work you will real
ize that some ground was cleared off.
Many brush piles were fired all over
camp which made this a smoky place
for half day. 1t may be of interest
to Mddlebury people and of especial
interest to all college people to know
that Joel j. Lamere and Harold Haskns
have been made sergeants in the Artil-
lery, Lamere being in Battery c. and
that Charles Randall and Harold Hollis
ter have been made sergeants in the
infantry. These four men are we'll
known around Middlebury having been
recently graduated from Middlebury
College.