Catoctin clarion., 1918-01-31
THURSDAY, JANUARY 81, 1918.
Eddie Fits To The North.
Colder Weather, But Better
Shacks Than In Georgia.
Camp Merritt, Dumont. N. j.
January 25, 1918.


Dear Mamma and ALL
Last Monday at Camp Hancock l knew
for sure we were to leave, but was work.
ing in the kitchen all lday and could not
write. On Sunday when wrote you,
had an idea we were going to move, but
could not tell you. If we give too much
information we are subject to whatever
a court martial might direct. Everything
in this letter will be all right to let any
body know.
We all had plenty of time to pack our
packs and barrack bags. The latter are
the overall colored bags we had at Meade.
They were put in trucks and hauled to
the station and hauled from the station
up here in the same way. Our train had
three companies aboard 16 cars in all,
the barrack bags being in two box cars.
got the ball, glove, cigarettes, pipe
tobacco, and other articles in the bag,
other things, such as razor, towels, soap
and so on, was carried in my pack which
goes on ones back The following is
what usuallyis in one of these packs:
knife, fork, spoon, mess kit, cup, water
bottle (called canteen), first aid kit, car
fridge belt, meat can, can for salt. pep
per, sugar, coffee. toothbrush and paste,
towel, soap, washrag, socks, undershirt,
drawers. razor, brush, slicker (raincoat)
blanket, shelter half which is half tent
for two and short pegs for fastening it
down-al this goes in this pack and then
room for more. a had my barrack bag
packed full, the things above mentioned,
and on person. underwear, socks, shoes,
leggings, pants, shirts, coat pockets full
of books, sweater, gloves, overcoat and
pockets full, and hat, so you see am
about as we'll supplied as l can handy be.
If had more l would have no place to
put it.
| may be here a week or two or more
or less, and bet if some more of those
caramels and chocolate cake was sent up
here would get them before | went.
Some hinter, am | not. How could |
help it. Don't send more than you have
been sending, as am liable to eat all at
once and get sick.
The boxing is getting so interesting
here in the Y. M. C. A. that | can hard
ly write.
Going back to Camp Hancock again.
we walked to the station and got away
from Agusta at about 2.3O p. M, Tues
day. We had a nice Pullman car until
we arrived at Washington, Wednesday.
Was on guard there to see that no one
left the car. We arrived in Philadelphia
about 10 o'clock Thursday a. m, and did
not get away until els p. m. The Red
Cross in Washington gave US sandwiches
and coffee, and in Philadelphia they gave
us apples, candy and cigarettes. | was
on guard again.
We got off the train at Dumont, which
is right up against the camp and about
IL miles from New York. There is plen-
ty of snow here and don't mind the cold
near as much as down in Georgia. This
is some camp. 1t has Camp Meade beat.
The barracks are smaller, and built bet
ter, practically no air comes in without
opening the windows, and it don't take
long to heat up. We have warm water
for washing and all kind of accommoda-
tions. Even our mess hall is nice and
warm. We have cots like at Camp
Meade and mattresses instead of straw
stuffed ticks.
Let all read this who are interested.
will try to send at least card to some
ore every day. All write as soon as you
Private Edwin C. Creeger,
lst Regiment Co. l.,
Motor Engine Mechanics Signal Corps,
Camp Merritt, Dumont, N. J.
IL. q