Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-04-17
A YEAR AS AN
ARMY CHAPLAIN.
Preparing To Leave U. S
And Journey Across
Atlantic.

AtIdIllIC.
To prepare regiment for overseas
required both time and effort. Besides
the constant drilling, the numberless
physical and property inspections there
was no less important task of getting the
necessary equipment. Every man was
equipped from head to toe with entirely
new things and in addition he carried a
pack upon his back and there was carried
for him barracks bag full of extras.
There were new rifles to be secured,
new pup tents, field ranges, field desks,
type writer's, medical supplies, telephone
equipment complete, etc. Our regiment
carried with it sixty-fve miles OF tele-
phone equipment complete. including
wire, poles, switch board, desk and wall
and field telephone sets.
There were two very sad incidents that
occurred before we sailed. Two OF our
boys committed suicide. One took his
life after physical examination had re-
vealeC the fact that he was physically
unfit for overseas duty. The other shot
himself in his wife's apartment. The
latter boy was from a wealthy family
and our investigation brought out the
fact that he had been unhappiy married.
A very happy event took place just
two days before our leaving. 1t was the
occasion of the wedding of one of our
officers. 1t was an outdoor military
wedding. At the suggestion of our Col
onel it was a gala occasion. Held on the
beautiful lawn fronting the officers home
on the hill at Fort Strong it was most
picturesque. Besides the officers and
their friends there was present the whole
battery of 237 enlisted men of which the
groom was a lieutenant The wedding
march was played by our reglmental band
of AZ pieces. Battery A formed in two
lines facing each other and crossed their
rifles high over the heads of the bridal
party as they marched down this long
lane of men. Just a little in advance OF
the bridal party walked two color serg-
eants one carrying the national colors
and the other the regimental colors.
Then came the four ushers followed by
the bride and brides maid and the groom
and best man. Standing between the
colors performed the double ring cere-
mony after which the wedding party re-
turn ed down the long line under the
glistening bayonets. A delightful recep-
ton followed in the Colonel's home. The
happy couple left that evening for hon
eymoon trip of only thirtysix hours.
Before fortyeight hours had elapsed
from the hour of the wedding the entire
regiment had left Fort Strong.
Tuesday, July 30th, 1918, will always
be remembered by the members of the
list Artillery, C. A. c. All day long
men were working with feverish haste.
There were so many things that could
not be done until the last day. By early
in the afternoon all the baggage had
been taken away from the fort on the
Government Quartermaster boats. Where
it had gone, whether to the docks at
Boston or on to New York by rail, none
except the Commanding Officer and his
Adjutant knew. We could only wait
and see.
At P. M. two batteries received the
order to fall in. The Quarterma ster
boats could take only two batteries at
time. 1t is half hours run from Fit.
Strong to Boston. At 7.30 in heavy
downpour of rain the last of US. including
Col. Long and his staff, fell into line.
The wives and children of many of the
officers were at the Fort. Loving fare
wells were said, then came the sharp
command, Forward, March, and brisk.
ly we marched away. In few minutes
we were on our way up the Boston har-
Dor. We soon saw that we were heading
for the docks in East Boston. and now
knew that we would go on the transport
there.
To our disappointment we learned that
the regiment would not be together on
the trip across. We were to sail on two
small transports-about nine hundred
men and half the officers on each boat.
For several hours we stood around cd the
deck before going aboard. AS we had