Excerpts
from the Advance Argus, Greenville, Mercer County, PA, May 5, 1898,
page 7
LETTERS
FROM COMPANY K
ON
BOARD TROOP TRAIN,
WEDNESDAY
EVENING, April 27.
There
seems to be no end to it, even at this late hour of the night. The people
all along the line are shouting and red lights arid flags are to be seen
on all sides.
After
leaving Greenville the first stop was Houston Junction and here the whole
of Mercer turned out in force and a royal welcome was given the boys.
At
Grove City it was simply one mass of living humanity and it seemed for a
short time that the train would be taken by storm, but after the Grove
City boys boarded the train the tears of mothers and sweethearts seemed to
melt the crowd down.
The
next stop was Butler and orders were here given to form into line. At the
command the whole regiment marched to the park. Arms were stacked and amid
the booming of canon and the shouts of thousands the Butler people
welcomed the 15th regiment. An elaborate spread was set and the boys
enjoyed to their hearts’ content the sandwiches, coffee, etc.
At
exactly 8 o’clock the train pulled out from Butler.
Many
sad farewells were given along the line and “Good bye” and “God
bless you all” were heard on all sides. The old veterans greeted the
procession by baring their heads while the young recruits passed by.
All
are feeling in the best of spirits and no cases of sickness are reported
at this writing.
The
total number of enlisted men with the 15th is 422, with 32 officers,
making a very good showing.
Company
K is holding up the Greenville end by their excellent deportment and good
soldierly conduct. The applause Capt. [John H.]
Martin received in Butler was indeed flattering to that young
officer.
The
boys, all through the cars, are well aware of the fact that many a heart
broken mother is left behind tonight and that prayers are going up all
over the land for them.
These
remarks are frequent and can be heard through the whole train and many
bitter tears roll down the cheeks of the soldier boys tonight as they
think of home.
W. [William] T. STEWART.
CAMP
HASTINGS, April 28, 1898.
In
a down-pour of rain, hail and snow the 15th regiment, under command of Col.
W. A. Kreps, rolled into Mt. Gretna at 1:35 p. m., Thursday, after
being on the go since Wednesday at 1:30 p. m.
The
trip was a delightful one and beyond description. After leaving Butler the
boys were all soon fast asleep; and if the people at home could have seen
the different cars that night with their beloved ones sleeping on the soft
side boards stretched across the back of the seats, they would
soon come to the conclusion that a soldier’s life is not all one of fun.
The
same grand display of patriotism was shown in each town as the long trait
of 18 cars rolled on, but the grandest sight that was ever witnessed
occurred at Harrisburg on the arrival of the train. Thousands upon
thousands of people thronged the depot and it took all the police force of
the capital city to keep the crowd back and from under the wheels of the
many moving trains. In each person’s hand was held a flag of our country
and the shouts and hurrahs of that multitude would have inspired the
weakest even to do battle.
Just
before the 15th's train started, the cars were visited by Governor
Hastings and General Wiley. They
called on the gallant colonel of the 15th. Governor Hastings shook hands
and then a regular hugging affair took place between the colonel and
Governor Hastings. The cause of the jollication was the news brought by
the governor “that the reorganization bill would not affect the National
Guard, and that the Guard would go in a body to the front as the old
organization.” The train then pulled out amid great cheering leaving
your correspondent on the stairs of the Harrisburg station as he was on
his way to send you a dispatch (at “two kopecks a w-o-r-d”) announcing
the arrival, etc. A second train was just starting out which held the York
regiments, which the undersigned hastily boarded and had the pleasure of
almost freezing to death, having no coat or any warming fluid. One of the
boys remarked he thought he had struck “the Klondyke train instead of
the Mt. Gretna.”
The
regiment was lined up upon arrival and marched to quarters in a large open
pavilion. If there ever was a time when the men wished for their warm
homes and a comfortable fire, it was when the order was given to break
ranks, such a dismal sight you cannot imagine; cold, rainy, and full of
sandwiches, olives, etc. it was enough to turn the hardest stone to shed
tears.
It
was not long, however, before the camp fires were lighted and the boys
gathered about and tried to keep warm, but the outlook for the night
seemed dismal as the tents and other paraphernalia had not yet arrived and
to sleep out on the wet ground with no tents made things look blue. But
the Lord always looks after His own and so, as if by a miracle, a bunch of
keys fell into the bands of certain parties and it was soon found that
they would open the doors of many summer cottages and pro vide shelter and
warmth for the night. Under commands from Col. Kreps
your correspondent and Dan Packard soon had one of the finest houses
selected and the headquarters of the 15ath were soon established. Capt.
[John H.] Martin took possession of the fine cottage next door in
the name of Uncle Sam and soon had fires going and Company K was located
for the night in good, comfortable quarters.
There
are now with the regiment 520 men including officers, and it will be
interesting, I am sure, to add that there are no eases of sickness upon
the hospital report and that the boys are in good shape. Friday the tents
will be put up and then the camp will be in first class shape. The only
brigade under canvas at present is the First but Friday will see true
soldier life. Mt. Gretna is now the business spot in this section of the
Coutry [Country] and will be for some time to come.
[William T.] STEWART
[Read
another letter from William T. Stewart of Co. K.]
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