Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-03-20

What State would not be proud tC
claim a city like Clarksville, anC
what city would not be proud tc
claim a company of boys in the A.E
f., like those of the Supply Company
Hath Field Artillery? The answer
you know. This Supply Company
was recruited in Clarksville, and the
neighborhood thereabouts during the
early days Of Summer, 1917. On the
28th day of June 1917 they were
mustered into the military service.
At this time the company's strength
was about thirty-eight men and two
officers. For nearly a month the
meetings of the company were held
in the Masonic Hall. From here the
company moved to Nashville, going
into camp and training on the cam
pus of the Vanderbilt University.
Here they got their first taste of
what the soldiers life would be.
About the 9th of September the COM
pany moved to Camp Sewer at Green
vile, S. c. The camp being located
near the little station of Paris. AS
far as the town and the camp was
concerned at this time it was mostly
name, especially that part of the re-
serve that was assigned to the artil-
lery. We had the name and the
space, so it was up to US to make
something to fit these. No day labor
er, who depended upon the wages
each day for his existence, ever work.
ed harder or more earnestly than did
these soldiers without home. The
appearance that dense pine forest
gave to the eye when it first fell
upon it was enough to discourage
even the bravest hearted. From day
to day these boys worked at their
task of clearing away trees, and
building roads, until the surrounding
yielded the appearance of real camp
being Systematically laid off, and
throughout, well-cleaned. Then be-
gan the training at drill, on the guns,
on the horse, and on the march they
worked on through the winter, and
in early spring preparations were
made for leaving for service over
seas. This was the thing we had
been working for and looking forward
to through all those weeks and month
of sun, rain, ice and snow. Now we
were wild with excitement and joy.
On the goth day of May, 1918, at
1890 P. M. the Supply Company left
Camp Sewer via the Southern Rail-
way for some port of embarkation.
Enroute to this port we passed thru
Richmond, Washington, Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York. Many
of US saw for the first time our Ma
tion's capitol, and the famous Wash
ington monument that pierced the
very skies, seemingly, as it rose so
majestically and high. Upon arriv-
ing in New York we were transferred
to the Ferry Lakewood, and trans
ported across Long Island Sound to
the station on Long Island. Here
we boarded train and went to Camp
Mills, arriving there about II P NJ,
and making a very hard march thru
the mud to our tents, which were al
so filled with water and mud. We
stayed in this camp long enough to
finish our equipment, which was as
certained by a series of inspections.
While here we visited some of the
neighboring towns, among these were
Hampstead, Jamica, Garden City, Min
neola, etc. Passes were granted to
go to see the great city of New York,
but on account of this privilege be-
ing revoked after the first day, only
a few of us availed our selves of this
opportunity. In this camp there was
on Aviation Section, where the fliers
to battle were given the final tests
before sending them across as train
ed fliers to battle with the Hun. On
Sunday morning about we left camp
and arrived at the Cunard Line docks
about 8. We loaded on and about
l p. NJ, we weighed anchor going
out thru the Sound, amidst shouts of
the crowds on nearby ferries and
whistles of the boats. We sailed on
past the statue of Liberty, which
ever one wished to see. When we
had drawn out of sight of this sta
tue we knew that we were leaving
our home and loved ones behind and
that we had begun the journey which
would probobly be long and danger
Gus one. However, we did not go
outside of the harbor until the next
morning about 8. We pulled out
upon a calm and beautiful sea. AS
we came out of the mouth of the har-
Dor, the shore on each side became