The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-08-02
LETTERS FROM BOURBON BOYS
IN CAMP.

Charles Tackett, formerly of Paris,
who enlisted in the service some time
ago. Mr.. Tackett is stationed at the
Coast Artillery camp, at FIT. Kear-
ney, Rhode Island. His letter fol-
lows:
''Our barracks are located about
one hundred yards from Narragan-
sett Bay, where the salt water
breezes play around us at night.
We have to have blankets or we
would get very damp from the salty
vapors that drift in with the breezes.
1t is not very pleasant to wake up,
as / did the first night Oh two, and
find that j was almost in a chill
from the night winds from the ocean.
] had to put on extra clothing one or
two times while the others were dry
ing The air is always very damp
around here, because the ocean is so
near, you see / know from expert
ence, as / went to sleep once about
half-an-hour before lights were out,
and woke up at 1890 a. m, and
talk about someone wishing for the
good old Southland, it was me that
night.
1.-The heavy artillery is sure one
good branch of the service, as you
cannot help from taking an interest
in your drills and doing your best.
The way our days are generally
spent is by jumping out of bed at
$50 a. M, then dressing and hav-
ing our hunks made up nicely by
600. For twenty-five minutes after
this we take our regular exercises,
which certainly have a tendency to
wake you up thoroughly. After that
we take our baths and then eat our
chow breakfast it would be called
by the people of good old Bourbon
county, Then at 1880 it is to
fleece up, and from 500 to 1000
we have artillery drill, which is one
of the most interesting parts Of the
days program to me. But it is by
no means a play affair, as some peo-
pie might think. From 1000 until
1890 we have infantry drill, which
completes the morning.
In the afternoon we have about
an hour and a half of infantry drill,
and about two hours of games, such
as boxing, wrestling, wheelbarrow
races, foot races, and other kinds of
games. / hold the record for the
18th Company on the foot race. The
winners of the 18th and the 23rd
companies are going to see which is
the best next Sunday. / am hoping
that it will be in our favor.
Tell all my, friends to write to
me, as i would enjoy letter from
each one of them. These letters
make you feel mighty good, especi-
ally when they come from your old
home town. My present address is
Private Charles Tackett, 18th Co.,
n. B., FIT. Kearney, Rhode Island"
THE NEWS is in receipt of let
ter from Mr.. H. E. Everman, for
merly of Paris, who is now stationed
on the u. S. Wolverine, at Detroit.
Mr.. Everman is a son of Mrs. ]. A.
Gilkey, of Paris. He enlisted in
the navy last Spring and after an
intensive course of training at the
Great Lakes station, was sent to De-
troit. The letter follows:
mo doubt you are somewhat sur
prised to see letter from the writer
of this, but this is war time and /
want to thank you for forwarding |
your paper, THE BOURBON NEWS,
to me. 1t comes to my address on |
time, but / am in and out, in and out |
i of Detroit, almost daily, sometimes |
for the day and then for longer peri
DDS, and often get more than one
copy at the time on this account. |
Anyway, one or a dozen are welcomed |
with outstretched arms and / shall |
never forget you for your kindness. |
Il noticed in recent issue an ar
ticle relative to writing to the boys
at the front, and those in the service, |
which appealed to me very much.
The writer of that sure had the
proper spirit, for. a letter oft times
is like a message from Heaven, es-
pecially when a fellow feels down |
and out and among strangers. have
been fortunate along that line, but
many day have 1 seen my camp and
ship-mates walk away from the mail
crelk with head bowed as if some
sorrow was lowering over them. 1
think the people who have to stay
at home should write to. the boys,
sending them words of cheer, (never
send them sympathy no matter
whose son he is, he is there fighting
for them. We are all brothers and
sisters, anyway, lin Christ.)
"At present / am on the U. S. S.
Wolverine, and attached to the new
training station near Detroit, but
not permanently. Our ship is the
oldest commissioned ship in the ser
vice to-day, having been launched in
1S43. 1t is, or was, the original bat
tleship. Michigan, but the name was
changed when the new Michigan was
built. 1t was the first steel ship ever
launched and originally carried a
cOmnlemonf of ono hundred man