The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-02
LETTERS FROM THE
BOYS IN ARMY CAMPS

Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia,
July IS, 191S.-Mr. William BChrer,
Dear Friend Bill: Well Bill, here !
am at last and am not going to try
to make excuses for not writing
ooner for its nothing more than a
pure case of neglecting my cores
pondence that I promised to write
when / left, but nevertheless you will
have an idea where am and how
l am. l am going to try and trace
back where l have been and how I
have been for the last three months
and tell you little of this U. S. A.
for sure have seen some of it since
l left the Little Giant factory, and
sure would like to see all the boys
again. But l want to see the other
side first as / am in a permanent
company now and ready for over seas
which will be soon.
| was at Columbus Barracks, Mo-,
for about month, from there l
went to Camp Grant, ILL.,, then l went
10 Camp Hancock, Georgia and here
am, where ! have been ever since
the 18th OF June. l am ready to
leave anytime as that oven you have
up there Bill couldn't hold candle
to the heat we have down here, as it
was 135 in the shade here yesterday,
and | am not stretching it at all, and
it was LOG today.
l have lot had dry clothes on
since l came here and YOU can sweat
just doing nothing. We<have all of
our oversee outfit, and our wooden
suits. They also help us keep warm
IN this hot climate. This is a great
cotton state and there are fields of il
all around the camp, which are in
bloom now.
l have drilled like soldier ever
since l got into the first camp and
nave been or a few long hikes. You
tell Jim Campbell that 1 looked for
his friend at Columbus and l found
the hotel but l didn't get to see his
friend, as he. wasn't there. | sure
saw some pretty country, when l
came through Tennessee and Ken
lucky, Bill; and you couldn't buy-my
trip Bill, for it certainly was fine so
far.
Oh, l have had few hard knocks
such as being washed out of our tent
IN the middle of the night by a rain
storm, and when it rains in this neck
OF the woods it rains, believe me.
All the boys here like their lob.
Bill, and we are having a time of our
lives. | anu in the Ordnance Branch
OF service and we are all men of
some trade, mechanics, McCartys.
McFaddens and so on. Well Bill. I
don't want 20 make too long a let
ter out of this or you'll expect it
when | write again. and l don't sup
pose I'll have much time to write
When l get over there, so tell all the
hammer bunch and the others hello
for me.
With the best of luck to you and
the Little Giant, am as before, your
friend, William d. Ferguson, July r.
q c. company, Second Prov. Regt. O.
i. C., Camp Hancock, Augusta. Geor-
gia
+. s. Give my best wishes to Jim,
and Mr.. Hatcher, and the girls. m
try to write from over there, Bill.
The writer of the above is a broth
er of P. M. Ferguson, manager of the
Citizens Telephone company. He
was formerly employed at the MAYER
Brothers company.
Camp Robinson, July %, 1915
The Free Press: / ain going to drop
few lines and let you know | am
getting along fine. have been trans
ferred to Camp Robinson, B. E., 331.
Sparta, Wis, so would be pleased if
you would change my address and
send the paper to Camp Robinson. I
like it fine for we have all kinds of
excitement and also it is a great
place to learn all about army life.
frank Tillman.
l.. c. Diamond is in receipt of a
letter from his son Clayton who en-
listed in the navy about week ago
and is now at Great Lakes, ILL.,, The
young man writes that while he en-
listed for electrical work he thinks
of asking for classification as a sea-
man, second class, in the hope that
he may 'go across" sooner than he
otherwise might. He is enthusiast
tic about the life and says there are