Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-09-13
Letters from oiT Soldier Boy
From Capt Miller Bishop

LelteTS IrOlu OUT 0Oluios DS!y
From Capt Miller Bishop
On Boar Ship
Saturday
Dear Hone Folks:
I do not kn3w
whether you received the letter [
wrote you before | left New Port
News or not but I presume you
know by this time that / have
started over there. Everything
was in such a.rush the night before
we got away that had time for
only short note and then [ did
not know whether it ould be held
up until after this ship had reach
ed the other side or not as the rules
were very strict there and while
I tried not to put anything in it
that would cause it to be held up
| could not be sure about that.
GAS you know | was ordered to 90
from Washington to Charlotte, N.
C.. end take command of the 34lst
aero service squadron. For some
reason my orders were slow in get
ling out and the day received
them got a wire from the Colonel
directing ne to report to the camp
of pmbarkation Immediately. |
did this after receiving my orders
at four o'clock in the afternoon
and arrived 10 Newport News the
next morning at eleven and report
ed out to the camp, There |
fund my squadron I,eady formed
and waiting for me. Their we're
five other officers with it, all fist
licutenants. We were there from
Thursday of one week until Tues
day of the next when was called
from my bunk one night Al zine
thirty and ordered to have Il The
equipment packed and rea y Ter
shipment at six the next 'n'rn
| ing. 1t was a job but we haI !
ready on trucks and then we marci'
ed to the boat at eleven. We
made the eight miles in little less
than two hours and were at the
pier at two when we were supposed
to 20 on board. As the ship was
in dry dock we had TO Walt and
did not get on board until six thirty
that evening. l got the men on
board in fine shape then but we
we're hungry, tired and SLEEPY and
lust as soon as we could get some
thing to eat and have our state
rooms assigned we went to bed.
They loaded the cargo all night
and we pulled out the next morn
ing about eleven and passed out OF
the capes where the rest of the
convoy was waiting for us.
| expected to have good time
on the ship and have nothing to do
but eat and sleep, but on opening
the sealed orders which were given
to me l found that I was the Off
GER Commanding Troops on board
the entire ship which was some job
as | have about fifteen hundred
men under me and am responsible
for their health, food and discipline.
So I Immediately appointed one of
nv best officers adjutant aud we
got busy getting out orders regard
ing the guards and other things
that were necessary. After ! had
gotten things we'll started and was
having time to look around and
find myself we were at sea and the
ship began to roll, so I immediate.
became very sick and stayed that
way for three dogs. I was very
lucky to have some officers who
did not get sick and they ran things
very we'll for me until l had gotten
50 | could take an interestin what
was going on.
After breakfast got to my order
ly room and look after things there
for a little while and then guard
mount comes at ten o'clock At
ten thirty there is thorough in
spection of the ship by the Chief
officer and myself to see that every
thing is clean and fresh. Then we
have lunch at twelve thirty. At
two o'clock have officers meet
ng where they are given their
instructions and called down for
anything we find wrong with the
sections of the ship to which they
are assigned. About two thirty We
have the life boat drill, then there
is nothing to do until supper time,
at six thirty. At six all the port
holes of the vessel are closed and
fastened 50 that no light can show
out and from that time on until
morningit is very close and stufIy
aboard, but we manage to sleep
some way until four O'Clock.
am not enjoying the trip one
bit and l think everyone on board
will be very glad when we land
"Somewhere in France. We DO
not know when or where but hope
to make it Monday night.
There are plenty of books on
board and a big music room but
they are not as attractive as tie