Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-04

l.. Allen 10 Miss Mabel Allen of Mt.
Vernon, his sister.
Camp Wadsworth.
Spartenburg, S. c., March Is, 1918.
Dear Mabel:
1t has been a lovely dag here. it is
fine and warm; the birds are sing
ing; flowers are in bloom, and the
grass is springing up green.
The trees are beginning to leave
out and everything looks and seems
like a real spring. In fact. the tenn
perature Of some of the days seems
more like real July weather in
Maine. To make it more real we
have an occasional thunder shower.
We have been in our present camp
about five weeks and like it very
much. Our regimental camp is To-
Gated on north west slope, not
very steep but with enough grade to
make good drainage.
We live in white pyramidial tents
Is feet square, with eight or nine
cots in a tent. There are wooden
floors in each of the tents, which
adds to the comfort. MI
We have good. iron, spring cots to-
sleep on. which, with q straw tick
and five good blankets. makes a bed
good enough for anyone to sleep on.
We eat in mess shacks, which are
good substantial buildings and will
seat about two hundred men, The
mess kitchen is in the same build
ing.
We have good substantial food and
plenty Of it. 1t is not an unusual
thing to have pie for dinner or
doughnuts for breakfast We have
hot drink at each meal: for break
fast coffee: dinner tea; supper CO
Goa. There is a fine supply of nice
water at each mess shack.
Life in training camp is not
without entertainment. In our own
camp we have boxing bouts once a
week. and moving pictures several
times q week. We also have a band
which we are proud of, which gives
u concert every day that is pleasant.
About five minutes walk from our
camp is the Liberty Theatre; here
many seek entertainment evenings.
If one cares to go outside of camp
he is allowed to go to Spartenburg
each evening from retreat until
elevep p. NJ. and Thursdays and
Saturdays from one p. NJ. to
eleven p. NJ, and Sundays all day,
provided he is not on duty.
Spartcnburg is a city of 10000
population; it has nice business
section and some lovely residential
sections,
The people are very cordial and
seem to like to have the soldiers
around. In Spartenburg, through the
kindness of the people of that city
and the ladies of New York, has been
built the Soldiers Club. 1t is a
building exclusively for soldiers and
their friends. and is much appreciat-
ed by them. There they have oppor-
tunities for reading, writing. games.
music, dancing, and all kinds of en-
tertainment to make the soldier
happy.
In our own regiment we have the
Regimental Union, which has done
WOilutfS Loi our lllpl- II lbs q eau
ing and writing room wherever we
go: supplies all the stationery and
reading material, and runs the NOV
ing pictures. 1t is made possible by
people back home in Maine who have
generously given of their means
toward its support.
We have baseball team which
has made a name for itself: having
lost only one game out OF six. They
are prncticing every day and looking
for more games.
Nearly all the troops here arc New
York regiments. Those outside arc
the skeleton New England regiments
waiting to be filled up.
We are now drilling seven hours q
day: from A. NJ, to 80 and from
p. NJ. to 400 =. NJ.
We get up at 5.45 A. NJ. and from,
then until time for our drill we mal,o
our beds. sweep out the tents 90,
breakfast and do any necessary worr
around lamp.
At night all lights have to no ~.
out at nine O'Clock. but We do not 49,
to go to bed until eleven. As Iigh,s
are already out in the tents ,b;.,.
will have to close for this ,ina
With love.
lSignedp Corp. Clifton L. Ala,
Headquarters Co. 56th Pionee, 10