The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-01-24

FROM CAMP JOHNSTON

camp JOhntSOn we nave gained
some impressions that would per-
haps not be amiss IL we should
share a few Of them with you. You
have heard so much Of army life OF
late that IL would be monotonous to
you for us TO rehearse the ups and
downs rather the outs and ins, "a
IL is in the army. Of raw recruits.
But you will no doubt be interested
10 know something Of Uncle Sans
Baby Camp" as ours is called.
Camp Joseph T.. Johnston is locat-
ed twelve miles from Jacksonville.
Fla, on the st. Johns River. II is
said that nowhere in the country
can there be found q more ideal
camp-both from the standpoint Of
location and construction than the
baby camp. The name baby camp
has been attached to IL because IL Is
the last addition 10 the environments
for the training OF Americas fight
ing forces.
The site is indeed most ideal.
Lying as IL does upon a slight rise.
the camp is well drained and the
soil is OF such a character that mud
and slush is almost unknown. u
is surrounded on one side by the
beautiful st. Johns and on the other
three by beautiful groves, and il il
picturesque TO behold.
One man told us that the rapidity
with which the camp was construct
ed was little short OF marvellous.
Said he, ut was as though magic
ian had moved his wand over the
scene and buildings began TO appear
all over the ground. II was nothing
unusual for a visitor entering the
ground TO pass given point and on
his return 10 find that a large
building had been erected and the
carpenter work completed while he
was inside"
1t is a wooden city. and sprang up
in sixty days. Where a short time
ago only trees stood there is today
city Of several thousand people.
and everything is life and hustle
about the place. Within a short
time a brick roadway will be run
ming throughout the entire camp.
Another phase. perhaps, OF inter-
est is the significance OF its name.
Those familiar with the pages Of
American history know Joseph r..
Johnston too well for need Of COM
ment You no doubt remember that
he served as Quartermaster for our
armies in the Mexican War, and as
Commander-in-chief Of the Confed-
crate Army until he was shot from
his horse in the battle Of the Seven
Pines"
II seems very appropriate that
this camp, where men OF the re-
united armies-those Of the North
and the South, now sons Of one
country, meet in good fellowship TO
prepare for a common cause. i
should bear the name of this noble
Son Of the Southland who was loyal
both 10 his country and to his sec
tiOn.
You are no doubt getting tired Of
this long account and we don't blame
you, but we can't conclude without
a word Of appreciation TO you and
all our Berea friends. We can
never forget the send-off we received
al the hands Of the Normal boys. ard
the department as a whole. II stirs
our hearts 20 be more courageous
and hold up amid tainted languages
and army gossip the Christian prin-
ciples we received while at Berea
On December 10, 1917, our train
rolled away from our dear old Be-
rea. We parted from her with fond
memories that will follow
US throughout our lives. At times
when we are on our hunks and our
minds are wandering back thru
this beautiful land OF ours they
seem 10 focus on Berea and we can
egain hear the voices OF the fellows
that were singing, when the shrieks
Of the locomotive that took us away
made everything behind silent, but
still the singing rings in our ears
and we can realize as never before
the meaning OF the dear old songs.
I'VE Are All Good Fellows" and
'There'll Be Love in Old Phi Delta"
etc.
With best regards 10 all Bereans.
we remain,
Most sincerely yours
Robert +. Miller,
Ernest b. Hill.
p. S.-Remember that we are
always glad TO hear from our Berea
friends and we are expecting a few
more Of them 10 come across.
Address: Camp Johnston. Block II. IS,
Jacksonville, Fla.