Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-08-31
MOTT HOYTS LETTER HOME
Writes Of vermontsrS' New Camp
Near Boston

Writes Of vermontsrs' New Camp
Near Boston
How keenly some of the members of
the first Vermont regiment were disap'
pointed at the order to split up the or
ganization, is Indicated in letter from
| j, Mott Hoyt, son of Mr.. and Mrs, 5, 7,
Hoyt Cf Middlebury, extracts from
whose letter The Register is privileged
TO quote. Hoyt, who graduated from
Middlebury in 1915, and who gave up
his position as principal of school at
North Bangor, N, y, TO enlist with the
| Vermont boys, was one of the 1900 men
of the regiment who were ordered from
Fort Ethan Allen last week to Join the
| 26th division of the United States
Army at Camp Darling, birmingham,
Mass.
IF the whole regiment could have
gone together, he writes 1--WE would
have been enthusiastic over the de-
parture; but II seems an almost heart
less crime, not only TO have split up the
regiment, but split each company into
at least three parts We had hoped to
90 as a unit of Vermont men and all as
volunteers. Some men left good jobs
and came back 10 Vermont for that pur-
pose, but now we must go to fill up the
ranks of other states who could not get
recruits enough TO fill up with their
own men,
1T looks like raw deal on Vermont
state. 1t seems as if most of our spirit
was gone. ! was surprised to see how
men could become attached to each other,
Strong, rough, burly men, whom ordi-
narily you would not suspect Of having
any feelings at all, shook hands with
very few words, or in silence, or, after
shaking hands with a few made for
their tents and stayed there till the last
minute. ! felt most sympathy, as far
as my interests were concerned, for
Col. Thomas, the head of the regiment
and for our Capt. Cowen, and our two
llieutenants, for they worked hard to
organize, drill and discipline US, with
the ambition to lead US in action.
might dwell on this longer but there
was one relief for the situation and that
was the march to band music and
cheers of the crowds. The cavalry fell
lows turned out in large numbers
and followed us to the train Our
packs were quite heavy but the band
music seemed to carry me along pack
and ALL The thrill and rhyth made me
Jingle all over ana was almost beyond
description.
Writing at midnight on board the
train which took the Vermont boys
south on Friday night, Hoyt tells some
incidents Of the trip:
you may be interested to hear how
made my bed. Three fellows in two
seats turned facing each other, cannot
be as comfortable as two, so | got the
other two lads to take up the cushions
and lay them across ,ide by side to
make longer bed. Then Iunrolle my
pack in the space on the floor under and
between the backs of two seats and
curled up on my blankets never
dreamed before now comfortable such
place can be. slept again from 2:3O
till 4:00.
IL have to laugh during the stops we
have made, TO see the people, mostly
girls, who have been watching for our
train. Some of the girls have paper
and pencil and take down the names
and addresses of all the fellows they
can and give some of the lads their
names and addresses They make fools
of themselves in other ways. Certain
ones of the boys enjoy making fools Of
the girls and themselves and the rest
Of US are amused specta ors.
Upon arriving at their destination,
the Vermonters found things more
pleasant than they expected, 1t seems
from Hoyt's letter;
l2:45 p. m.
eve arrived in our new camp about
II 900 a. m. We do not know how long
we will stay here, but | hope we can
stay Tor some time because it is "A beau
tiful spot. 1t is located near FIR ming
ham, Mass, and is called Camp
Darling. There is little lake about 80
rods away in which the fellows go bath
ing, so please send my bathing suit by
return mail. There are groves of trees
all around. 1t is not far from Boston
and the fellows can 90 into Boston
evenings, as we did into Burlington
from the Fort. We may have to leave
here before the bathing suit can arrive
and on the other hand we may stay
some time. Send the suit anyway (the
new one).
"The fellows we are put into camp
with are cavalry lads reorganized into
machine gun troops"