Letters from Company K
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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 become 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 today. The boys all think the world of the captain and well
he deserves it for he 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.
Stewart
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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 and 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 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 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
thousand, 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 4 22, 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. 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. 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 of 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
train 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 cards 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
jollification 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 word") 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 Klondike 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 hands of certain parties and it was soon found that they would
open the doors of many summer cottages and provide 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 15th were soon established. Capt. 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 cases 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 country and will be for some time
to come. STEWART
(Source: Excerpt from the Advance Argus, Greenville, Mercer County, PA., May 5, 1898) |