St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Page 167 text:

ig f 4.04 ,,,, A .Junk ,,,, 4 , ZMHZWW gm. i t f my V - . i l anti! v XM iff'-9 . ' -lv fi'44+'-Y' r .. A' .- . U nys- , . . ...gg t 'L -.JAM ' 'A QW' 'N APTILLERY possibly use was showered upon us. Never before had the reality of being a true soldier appealed to us as it did at Laurel. Everybody told us how brave we were, and how we would be missed. Our importance in this world had never seemed so evident. Bundles, which we called letters, arrived daily, the majority of which, in many cases, were in the same handwriting. How hard it was to lay one of them aside when detailed for kitchen duty! On June goth our stay at Laurel ended. At last we were to leave. XVe broke camp and marched through Laurel to the railroad. And did Laurel sit up and noisily send us away? Not at all. But nevertheless we were glad and anxious to be on our way, though we knew not where. Sundown found us speeding on our way to Texas. To relate the many interesting events that happened on our trip to the Border would be a book itself, so we must omit the greater part of them. At every station we were hailed as the brave men who were going to light the Greasers. Sometimes we were led to believe that this was true, for at Cin-- cinnati the lfzfjzzirer published, VVar with Mexico Inevitable. Upon reading this our blood tingled with eagerness to get on the tiring line Qor back homej. Y IN CAMP 164

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iw A M 4 l 1. 1' BUILDING THE MESS SHACK Tmmediately thought of the good times he had planned left his mind, and noon the following day found him dressed in his militia uniform, ready to render service to his country. Tuesday was spent in preparing equipment for the campaign, and VVednes- found the platoon on its way to Laurel, Maryland's mobilization camp, after a fond farewell to St. .lohn's and a big wonder of XfVhen shall we see you again ? .All Annapolis turned out to see us leave, and many indeed were the tears shed that day in dear old Crabtown. You see, we were heroes, or about to be anyway, which was just as good. NVe arrived at Laurel at 3 P. M., and were greeted by a grand drenching thunderstorm. And, to cap the climax, our Sibley tents did not arrive until after dark, when we put them up by lantern light. It was IO P. M. before we got our supper, and you can bet we did justice to it. Incidentally it was at this meal that we ate our hrst mashed potatoes made from skins and all. Qui' stay at Laurel was at first very interesting, but after a week of it, it became the most tiresome place in all the world. I-lowever, we were not for- gotten by Otll' relatives and friends for a minute. livery delicacy we could MExlcAN CHILDREN 163

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2 etii ill 95' da ,,,, L ,,., 4 i HARNESSING A MULE Our rations consisted chielly of hardtack, and for the iirst time we realized the reason for undergoing such a strict examination of our teeth, and wondered why the examining board was not more particular as to the ability of our digestive organs. However, the hardtack was in abundance, and served very well as name cards on which our addresses were written. These were tossed to some fair, one who, by chance, might be standing along the line as we passed through. The greatest disappointment imaginable was to spy the queen of the town, and with all exactness possible sail the would-be name card in her direc- tion, only to have it caught by a teasing breeze and carried to the feet of some old negro mammy, who, thinking it to be a chip, carried it home to start the fire in the morning. In time we came to Memphis, Tenn., which we thought was almost to the Border, and then the great, Hat rice-raising State of Arkansas. This was the hrst State that looked altogether different from our dear old Maryland. Cotton fields and rice fields passed by in rapid succession. Every now and then we would come to a little town. invariably the whole population was on the station platform to greet us. Few stops were made in iArkansas, and at 5 P. M. July gd we crossed the line at Texarkana into the great State of Texas-Texas, that l . .. e, I REsTlNc V 165