Excerpts
from the Advance Argus, Greenville, Mercer County, PA, May 5, 1898,
page 4
LETTERS
FROM COMPANY K
CAMP HASTINGS, April
29—The morning broke as dismal and rainy as on the previous day. Camp
Hastings was a sight to behold, the red clay being shoe deep. The boys all
passed the night in private cottages, appropriating cots, bed clothes and
everything they could find that would make them comfortable. Imagine such
a rush on the private residences of Conneaut Lake and what the inside
would look like after a company of 60 men had passed the night there. But
all is fair in war and no one has any right to make a fuss for the
exposure of these boys that night would have been the cause of many
deaths.
This morning early at the sound o [of] reveille all gathered at
quarters and the march was taken up for the near camp grounds. It was not
long before the boys were all hard at it putting up tents, digging
ditches, etc. Here was Frank Garber with mud
up to his ears digging away like a good fellow, while Will
Bright kept guard. [Frank] “Blink”
Aldenderfer, as all know, was assigned to the hospital corps, but
likes the profession of stealing good coats much better. But stealing here
is not a crime, each fellow must look out for himself and “Do others or
they’ll do you.” The hospital news is not so bright today, for Company
K has two men laid up; Private Mahanah has a
bad attack of pneumonia and will be sent to Harrisburg at once to the
hospital as the camp hospital would not be a good place to treat such a
case. The other case is Private [George] Skinner,
but his case is a slight one and last evening he was sitting up. Many bad
colds are reported, but colds will soon become a thing of the past
and the men will be come hardened to exposure.
The sun has just appeared
and the whole field looks beautiful. As far as the eye can see are
stretched thousands of pretty white tents in perfect rows - - it is a
sight never to be forgotten.
Your correspondent can now say positively that with the exception of
the surgeons of the N. G. P. the whole guard will be mustered into actual
service with the regular army and that Camp Hastings will be broken in
about from two to three weeks and will either go to Washington or Old
Point Comfort. Many of the boys will return home and not re-enlist, but
the majority will see the thing to the end.
All letters can now be addressed to the boys of Company K as follows:
“______ _______, Co. K, 15th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Mt. Gretna,
Pa.” The brigade and regiment must be put on, or they will not reach the
parties, and many are longing for those epistles.
Company K still continues to hold up its end and keep things lively.
Word has just been brought to Adjutant Pack that several of Company
K's men had been arrested at the 3rd Brigade. The adjutant took a guard
after them and upon return it was found that they were caught while
getting some blankets from a certain cottage. I do not purpose to mention
names as these are simply everyday occurrences at camp, and are of a
trifling matter. No one can be blamed for helping themselves, in fact I
did so myself today but was not caught.
Capt. [John H.] Martin came very near
having to sleep out of doors in the rain, Thursday night, but after an
assault upon the door with his foot, he managed to make the men hear and
also to get a very sore toe tot he forgot that his feet were encased in a
pair of rubber boots. As a result the genial captain is limping to day.
The boys all think the world of the captain and well he deserves it for be
has done everything in his power to make them comfortable, and always
tries not to have any of Company K’s men imposed upon.
A temporary appointment has been made in the 15th. Col.
W. A. Kreps has announced that George Kreps would
fill the position of sergeant major. This meets with general approval and
it is most earnestly hoped that George will
remain in his new position and receive the permanent appointment.
[William
T.] STEWART
[Read
more letters from William T. Stewart of Co. K]
Go
to the next page of excerpts
