The Robesonian., 1918-08-12
AT PLATTsBURG CAMP.
Robson County Boy Gives Account
Of Trip to Camp and Life and In
cidents There-A British Captain

Who Has Some Gruesome Souvenirs.
The following are parts of two let
ters written by Mr.. Paul S. Oliver to
his parents, Representative and Mrs.
J. S. Oliver of Marietta Mr.. Oliver
received an appointment through the
State college to the officers training
camp at Plattsburg, N. Y, in July.
He, with other State college students
who are at this camp, will report in
September to the college, where they
will assist in military instruction dur
ing the next school term. Mr.. Oliver
will be member of the junior class
this year. The letter follows:
Plattsburg, N. Y,
July 20.
eve reached New York City Wed |
nesday morning about day light, went
over the city for little while, and
then took a steamer for Albany. [,
had always heard so much about the
places along the Hudson that it made
the trip a very interesting one.
"Our first scene was Grants Tomb
and Riverside drive, then the beautiful
Palisades. The home Of Washington
Irving, Tarrytown, N. Y, was Of
course interesting. From the back
ground we saw Sing Sing prison. The
next view of special interest was
Stony Point, of Revolutionary fame.
Many mountain peaks were pointed
out and the scenery all along was
beautiful AS we passed the U. S.
military academy at West Point,
wished that could have stopped there
for a day. We saw several of our
largest battleships and great many
noted vessels belonging to other coun-
tries. We had not gone very far on
our journey before the boys that were
coming up here grouped themselves; !;
! and then all the people on the boat
just turned in and tried to give us a
hundred bunch Of girls took us into
to make us enjoy our trip up here.
"We left the boat in Albany, spent
Il about four hours in that city, ard
then took the train for Plattsburg, get
tine here next morning about sun
rise.
'The camp is located on the banks
/ Of Lake Champlain, just a few r,iles
| from the Canadian border. We finf
| lots of interesting places and pretty
scenery around here but we are no.
| allowed to take pictures of any of it
We are in wooden barracks which arr
good, comfortable places The elm
ate is about like that at home excep
a little cooler at night. All the con
veniences one could wish for are her
! and we get the best of attention il
every way.
This is one of the oldest and larges
camps in the country. There are tw
regiments of regulars on the othe
side of the camp and also a grea
number of wounded men that hav
returned from France. On this side
are about four thousand COLLEGE boy:
| The~n are lots Of North Carolina me
in this company and in the compan
next to ours The regulars are pU
on guard duty at night, so we do nc
have that part Of it to do: otherwise
we have the regular training as pre-
sc~;hed for the ernv.
We are going to have to work har
hr,+ we are liking it fire now an
think we can soon see the benefit
II fror, coming ur here There are l,''
Of nice fellows here from every Sta1
in the union. Thew are ihorou2h]
raived too. Some Of our bows I !s,1
not seer since I"cane into the cam
The professors are right IN he1
among us and taking the same kir
I of work that we take.
"We are gathered around the ha
racks this afternoon singing all Il
war songs. One of the companies
the center of the battalion has a nial
and they lead out and we all "join in
I, We do not see any newsraners exec
the New York World on Sunday. SO
vnu can, send some RobesOnlans al
News and Observers occasionally.
DO &c i7osroctJOn d9V for T.
whole IT, S. army. All clothir
mess halls, and eauipment Of all kin
has to be clean and in order on tn
morrir~ A spot Of rust the size
a pin head on a rifle will cause. o
to get a punishment and everythl
.s else has tn he lust as claan and neat
it is nossible to make it.
- "We are training now to do inter-
guard duty. I was one Of the fl
. to be put on as sentinels from =
comnanv At night the comranv
ficers DISGUISE and try all kinds
franks on those that are walking po'
to see if they are up on their job"
August 20.
"This afternoon and tomorrow
are free about our posts but we hs
to he in our company street for abb
dozen formations within this I'll
we call free.
"I just heard the Y. M. c. A. $
retarv TALKING to North Carol
boy about being so tall and he Sc
'as rule the Southerners are m,
taller than the boys up here but
is because you eat so much chicl
and rice.
"Now we are right well broken
to work and while there comes alb
twice the amount we got when
first came here, it all seems eas
to us.
"For the past week we have b
. having bavonet drill. There are
British officers here instructing
in this who saw their share of
killing on the front in France.
Of them is plucky little fellow '
knows we'll the game. He has
rockets filled with souvenirs fl
the front and these are ewes, he