USA > New York > The first hundred years : records and reminiscences of a century of Company I, Seventh Regiment, N.G.N.Y., 1838-1938 > Part 29
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I was assigned an Army cook, and an upstanding he-man of a hospital Sergeant. The remainder were my one hundred and three.
Two-thirds of them had had the advantage of a week or two of "squads right and left"; the balance were a gangling lot of larrikins out on a lark. Some for the 69th, some for the 22nd-the rest were for the 12th, with the exception of my small detail for the 7th.
At the last moment (how canny they are in the Army!) Captain Easterday handed me one hundred dollars in cash, with the parting advice, born, no doubt, of his own experience, that I land at McAllen with not one cent left, lest I spend the rest of my life accounting for it.
A boat took us to Jersey City, where the train awaited us alongside the wharf.
The train, a special, all to ourselves, consisted of a Pullman for myself and the Sergeant, an ancient mail car ingeniously fitted out as a kitchen, four tourist sleepers of the vintage of 1871, a blind baggage, and a pretty efficient-looking engine.
I had noticed, in the collection of youngsters, two or three of Hibernian persuasion-older men who had served two or more enlistments, who were rejoining their old units. They early showed signs as potential trouble-makers and boarded the train well "corned."
Once under way I called the Sergeant and discussed the best way to handle such an irresponsible mob as I had on my hands.
We went through the train, saw that they were settled in their berths, and after making a few changes, gave them a good straight-from-the-shoulder talk on behavior and obedience.
We then selected ten of the best appearing lads and ordered them to report in my car. There they were given some elementary instruction and appointed acting
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Gordon Grant
A gangling lot of larrikins
Corporals under the Sergeant. At every stop their posts were on the platforms, two men to each, with fixed bayonets, with orders to allow no man to alight without special permission.
A second tour of the train disclosed the fact that strong liquor was aboard and in active circulation; with several of the men, our old-timers in particular, already in an uproarious condition.
I ordered a round-up of all the stuff and gave receipts for it. Only two held out on us, and I was obliged to search their baggage and confiscate their stock.
I need hardly say that these proceedings were highly unpopular and some colorful remarks were passed on the Army and all its works.
The utmost ingenuity was shown by whomever it was planned our route. All . sizable towns were most cleverly avoided. Day succeeded day and our view from the windows was of farms and small settlements.
This was a wise precaution in the circumstances, as every morning the train was halted on a siding and the Company given a half-hour's marching exercise. These occasions produced a diversity of entertainment for the natives and an opportunity for the comedians and mischief-makers of my precious flock. One day the Sergeant had them formed in "line" across the tracks when a freight train backed down and cut the Company in two. By the time the train had got clear the other half had vanished into the blue; not a soul was in sight.
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I secured what I had on the train, and set out with three of the Corporals for a search. In twos and threes they were rounded up, in bars, bakeries, and what not; six had commandeered a laundry wagon and a milk cart and were con- ducting a hell-for-leather race down a side street. Half an hour elapsed and we were still minus six men, so I ordered the engineer to give some vigorous blasts on his whistle and move slowly onto the main line.
The effect was instant. The missing men, among them one of my sons of Donnegal in a glow of intoxication, immediately appeared yelling and waving, lest they be left at the back of nowhere.
This particular fellow was a thorn in my side. On three occasions during halts he had asked leave to go up the street for a drink-or "for God's sake" to give him a shot from what I had taken from him, even once touching me for a quarter wherewith to slake his thirst.
Despite refusals he managed in some mysterious way to get liquor somehow and made such trouble in the cars that I threatened to confine him. The climax came unexpectedly. One of my Corporals, a fine young buck named Fox, told me that Clancy had threatened him, and asked permission to take matters in
Clancey and his dinner?
his own hands. I told him to bring Clancy to my car. Five minutes later the Sergeant reported that the culprit was flat on his back with the skin of his jaw broken in two places, and asked for money to buy him a baby's feeding bottle in the next town. I asked Fox no questions, but next time I saw him I noticed a twinkle in his eye, and made no effort to hide my own satisfaction.
The evening of the fifth day found us approaching Harlingen, where the train would take the branch line for our destination, four stations distant.
By some miracle or other I still had my one hundred and three men. My one hundred dollars had all but vanished in the purchase of sides of beef, bread, and other provisions, but there still remained about seven dollars.
Arrived at Harlingen, the platform guards posted, I wired McAllen of our approach and blew my seven dollars on Camel cigarettes for the men.
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Three slat-sided cars loaded with horses were slipped in between our blind baggage and the engine and when we pulled out on the last stretch the conduc- tor figured that we should arrive at McAllen about 10 o'clock. It was quite dark as we passed Mercedes, and the Sergeant approached with a much- worried expression on his brow.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant, but I've just been making a check-up and I'm six men shy." "Good Lord, Sergeant, here we are within a few minutes of arriving and you spring news like that on me! Count 'em again!" "Very good, sir, but I've counted 'em twice with the same result."
Twenty minutes passed and he reported that he had made a most careful count and was now minus nine men.
As it was a certainty that no one to anyone's knowledge had left the train at the junction, we had a mystery on our hands.
Four counts were made, in which I took part, and each time our deficit grew by ones and twos. The Sergeant and I were at our wits' end, and I was on the point of ordering the train back to Harlingen when the engine stopped at a signal light and our ears were greeted with the rousing chorus of "Rings on My Fingers and Bells on My Toes," accompanied by shouts of laughter from the entire Company. The missing men were on the roof of the stock cars. The Com- pany had known it all the time and were having the joke of their lives on the Lieutenant and the Sergeant.
At 10:30 we pulled up in McAllen yards, where I found orders awaiting me to remain on board until morning.
Up at 6, and after breakfast I dropped to the ground and had my first look at that great camp that old "Toujours Pret," with the help of a few others, had hacked out of the cactus.
A platoon approached, and to my great delight it turned out to be from old "I" Company under command of Captain Hayes himself-so I was given a royal and quite a touching welcome.
In due time details from the various regiments arrived to claim and escort away their recruits. I got a receipt and a cheer-and an hour later a demand for satisfaction from the train conductor. He was shy forty-one blankets.
I told him he could demand his satisfaction from the Army-I was through.
Ah, but you see, I wasn't through-not at all.
Months later-back in the Armory-the Regiment was being paid off. Colonel Buffington, U.S.A., sat behind a desk with an aide, checking names and passing out pay checks.
"Second Lieutenant Grant-Company I."
He flicked over a few sheets and found my name.
"Sorry, Lieutenant-can't pay you. I find one mess kit and one spoon down here against you."
"Perhaps the Colonel can tell me how to discharge the obligation."
"Simple enough-pass it along," said he.
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Three minutes later I got a mess kit and spoon from the bin down in the basement. Four minutes later I had a receipt for them from Captain Hayes. Ten minutes later I had my check. Simple?
Some weeks later Captain Hayes had some voluminous correspondence with the Ordnance Department about some mess kit or other-and a spoon.
Twenty years ago-Ah, well.
MEXICAN BORDER
In July 1916 the Regiment, as a part of the New York Division, was ordered out for service on the Mexican Border. This was one of the most unkind and needless acts ever perpetrated upon a group of patriotic business men who would have been of far greater use to their country and their families if left at home to pursue their various occupations. As the whole thing was foolish, it is difficult to pick high spots of foolishness that have the redeeming quality of humor.
We began our journey in a lot of antiquated railroad cars which were called "tourist sleepers," the idea probably being that a good tourist never sleeps. We proved the idea 100 per cent correct.
After several days of the old railroad game of Stop and Go, we were dumped out on a desert under a blinding sun and a zero shade. All over the place, pecu- liar animals and insects were disporting themselves, and we soon became acquainted, at times too intimately, with scorpions, tarantulas, and a queer sort
Texas landscape-The stuff you fell in
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of ground squirrel. Lyle Ray had a fine specimen of the last of which he made a pet until it ate most of his clothes. There was little vegetation; just a bit of cactus and mesquite located at the exact spots where we were ordered to pitch our tents.
On the map this Garden of Eden was named McAllen, but in our vernacular it soon became-Right the first time! You must have been there too. Nearby was a town named Pharr; the pronunciation would be explained in a subway ad thusly : "Sometime Baby, you go too Far."
Life settled into a round of drilling in the sun, sweating, calls to mess by Mess (Muss) Sergeant George Miles, marching in the sun, sweating, making swagger sticks, telling mucha muerta jokes, sweating, eating "stacks of wheats" at a little shack near camp, guard duty, and cleaning rifles with abdominal or "abominable" bands sent by loving females up North who, judging from the number of bands they sent, must have thought the boys had plenty of guts.
In every community different levels of society are formed. God knows what the upper levels were at Muck Allen but without question the lowest level was the "Mule Skinners." Those low fellows, Burnside (Val) Value, Phil Garey, Henry Littlefield and Paul Iaccaci, were pains in the neck. They did no work themselves and the dirty bums would not give up their jobs to more deserving loafers.
Yes, we saw the not so Silvery Rio Grande. We were on duty at a pumping station for a short period. Our chief instructions were to swallow about ten grains of quinine a day and under no circumstances to go near the river. The impression grew that all the crack sharpshooters in the Mexican Army were
Watching the Mexicans across the Rio Grande
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lying on the other bank waiting for a pot shot. One day Charlie Cattus decided he should have a swim. The river was muddy as usual, but Charlie was damned hot, so he peeled to the buff and swam across. There were no barracuda in the Rio Grande or Charlie might have become the newest Boy Soprano in the Heavenly Choir. Reaching the Mexican side, he calmly sat on the bank dan- gling his feet unmindful of the mythical "Mexes" waiting to do him in. His return was more dangerous. When he reached the American side he got hell. This little episode illustrates the "triumph of matter over mind."
One recalls the hundred-mile hike, and it was no mean feat to march troops over the whole State of Texas and call it one hundred miles without cracking a smile, but then General O'Ryan was a very efficient soldier. During this Good Will Tour, one bright spot was Sterling's Ranch, where the versatile Mr. Sterling sold a mixture of grape juice, sugar and water for ten cents a throw, thereby paying off his mortgage.
A Sergeant of the Ninth Company was detailed for the day as orderly to General O'Ryan. He thought that was pretty soft and was inclined to be a bit chesty about it. As Al Smith says, "Let's look at the record." When the orderly reported for duty he was asked by the General if he could ride. Trying to answer this question with a semblance of truth and still not lose the detail, our Sergeant allowed he had been on the back of a horse before, but neglected to add that there had been some difficulty about his staying there.
The General may have had his doubts for the orderly was given a huge slightly wall-eyed horse which, however, possessed a good broad back. The plan for the day included a tour of the camps with about a dozen stops. At each stop the orderly's job was to dismount from his beast and then hold the horses of the General and his Aide. The three horses had a pretty little game of their own which was to see if they could step on both of the Sergeant's feet at the same time. If they only got one foot it counted only one-half point, but there were not many fractions. When the General wished to mount, his horse had to be brought to him on the proper side, and in jockeying him for position it was an even bet which horse was presented to the General and whether the part presented was a side, a head or a rump.
The Sergeant got by somehow until Squadron A Camp was reached and Major Wright joined the party. The Major was mounted on one of the ancestors of "Man of War" and all in the spirit of good, clean fun he reeled off the Futu- rity in close to record time with the General and Aide well behind for place and show. Old Wall Eyes was way back on the track and the Sergeant, by some miracle, still up. Did this satisfy Major Wright? By no means. He decided on a spot of cross-country work. You have seen pictures of Italian Cavalry going up and down young mountains and wondered how they did it. Nothing but child's play. You should have seen Wall Eyes and the Sergeant climbing in and out of irrigation ditches. The sport did not last long as the officers laughed so much they damn near fell off their own horses. The Sergeant wished to hell they had.
-FRANCIS L. GOULD
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LETTER FROM CAPTAIN WADE H. HAYES TO MAJOR FRANCIS LANDON
McAllen, July 5, 1916
DEAR MAJOR :
Here we are and doubtless here to remain for some time, judging from the preparations that are being made for our comfort and convenience by the Quartermaster Department of the Army. You of course have followed our trip by the stories appearing in the daily papers, so I will not repeat any of that. You think that you know the Ninth Company as few men know it, but without the opportunity to know the Company as I have been enabled to know it during the past few weeks, your knowledge of what it really is is yet incomplete.
It is really difficult for me to write with moderation about the perfectly splendid way in which the Company has taken hold of this job and done it with absolute perfection. Words fail me if I try to express my real feelings. Even the newest recruit seems to have become imbued with the spirit of the Company, with the result that we continue just where we started-at the top.
I would not have believed it possible for a hundred men to leave the sedentary life of men in the city to do the actual hard, manual labor, under the most trying conditions and without a murmur, that has been done by every man in Company I. You Veterans need have no fear of the best traditions of the Company being sullied in the least. I am confident, no matter what the situation may be, the old Ninth Company will be a success.
Events have followed each other so rapidly in the last week, that I hardly know where to begin in an effort to tell you all about it. After leaving San Antonio, we loafed along until we arrived here about nine Sunday morning, and Ye Gods, how hot it was. Yet it did not seem as oppressive as I had expected it to be. Everyone was dripping with perspiration by the time we arrived at camp, which fortunately is only a few hundred yards from the railroad siding where we detrained. Of course we had a lot to do, so I kept the men at it until everything was done except a few finishing touches. As a result the camp looks as though it had been established for weeks instead of only a few hours.
Not a man in the Company reported sick, and I believe that the majority of them are in better physical condition than when they left New York. The ground on which we are camped is absolutely flat and not a spear of grass on it. A part of the cactus and underbrush has been cleared away and the water connections made, but even so the place was still a jungle and a great deal of clearing had to be done in order to get rid of the snakes, scorpions, tarantulas and millions of others of the queerest-looking beasts you ever saw. The men were keenly interested in the cleaning up process and their curiosity regarding what would turn up next appeared to spur them on. Fortunately only a few of the insects are dangerously poisonous, though all of them sting or bite and cause some swelling. In fact everything here, animate or inanimate, has some sort of sting to it.
The men will be days picking out the cactus and other sharp-pointed things from the various parts of their anatomy. Yet they remain cheerful and happy. Last night the Company did some of the best singing I ever heard, and I sat in my tent and listened to them with real pleasure both because the music was so good and because they were so well and seemingly so happy.
A native told us upon our arrival that it had not rained here in sixteen months, but that evidently was because the Regiment had not been here during that period. Im- mediately after our arrival, it began to look like rain and soon after the tents were up, the heavens opened and for about an hour we had a deluge. It was a blessing, however, for it cooled things off. Though soaked through, the men could work more comfortably. For about twenty minutes before the rain, we had our first experience with a dust storm. Really it was indescribable. We could not see five feet from where we stood, and the hurricane velocity of the wind caused the particles of sand, alkali and other sharp things to cut like knives. Without goggles one is helpless for it is excruciatingly painful to try to keep your eyes open. By the time the rain came everyone was mud color, and
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when I opened my bedding roll it was filled with sand. You can imagine how dirty we all were. During the rain everybody stripped and had the first bath in a week. As soon as the rain was over, all were ordered into their clothes because of the blistering sun.
After just one day at camp, the entire outfit is burned red and black and can no longer be called "pale faced." Fortunately sunstroke is unknown down here, providing one always wears a hat. The Regiment is known as "the rainmakers," for even down in this desert country old Jupiter Pluvius has not forsaken us. The nights are fine and cool, everyone sleeping under a blanket. At night, one hears the queerest lot of noises imaginable, also the various things that crawl, creep, and fly, have a sociable disposition, and you never know what you will find in your blanket when you wake up in the morning. In time the officers will have floors for their tents, and the men will have cots. Shower baths are planned and should be working in a few days. The men are learning fast and are falling into the routine of camp life with wonderful alacrity. I simply swell with pride over the Company and the corking things everyone is saying about it. Everyone is working hard while I sit on the side lines and watch the wheels go round.
The town of McAllen has everything one finds in the average town except a laundry, which to a Mexican is about the most unnecessary thing in the world. The population consists of about two thousand Mexicans, five hundred whites, and about five hundred human beings nondescript as to race and color. The men are not allowed to leave camp except for some special reason, and when they must, go armed and have their rifles and ammunition with them. Officers leave when they like by reporting to headquarters, but they too must at all times wear their pistols and carry their extra ammunition. No one is allowed to go into the Mexican part of the town either at night or day. We are about six miles from the Border. The local railroad map which I enclose will show you our exact location. I thought you would find it interesting.
The 2nd Texas Regiment is camped near us and they are splendid fellows, very much like our own men. They are particularly smart in their appearance, and their military courtesy is superior to our own. As to their efficiency, we have not yet had a chance to judge.
Of course you have always known that Colonel Fiske was a wonder as a commanding officer, but ever since the first call was received for this service, he has been improving daily. The manner in which he has handled the situation is superb. I do not believe that any officer in the regular service could possibly have handled this organization as success- fully as Colonel Fiske has. He is a great disciplinarian and stern, but always just and thoughtful and considerate of the comfort of the officers and men, especially the men. You of course know how active the Ninth Company was in their efforts to elect Colonel Fiske to his present position. Therefore you will share with us the satisfaction we all feel in having done the Regiment such an excellent service.
Cordially yours,
WADE H. HAYES
NOTES FROM THE SEAT OF WAR October 1916
COMPANY I PARTY AT SHARYLAND
Twenty-five hundred miles from the mess hall of the 7th Regiment Armory, the scene of many a brilliant Ninth Company entertainment, another affair no less successful because of the unusual conditions under which it was produced, was held on the evening of October 4 at Sharyland. Even the absence of the famous "light and dark" failed to prevent the old Company from celebrating in its customarily enthusiastic manner, and Jerry's own brew proved a very acceptable, if less exhilarating, substitute.
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After evening mess two Division motor trucks bore the men of Company I in instalments to the office of John H. Shary on the Mission-McAllen road. Of our impression of that ride we can say but little, but the general sensation was that of a ride in a crowded subway train over a cobblestone pavement.
The large room of the Sharyland office was attractively decorated with palm branches and red, white and blue ribbons, and the music was furnished by an excellent native Mexican orchestra.
After the Company had partaken liberally of Jerry's punch, Chairman Harry Burdick introduced "String Bean" Joe Walsh-height, six feet seven inches; weight, 139 pounds, and "Hefty-footed" Bert Hemingway-height, five feet; weight, 125 pounds, in a three-round fight. Joe's famous reach proved to be of no avail against the furious assaults of the doughty Bert, who literally lifted him off his feet, not with an uppercut, but with a clinch around Joe's legs. Our little hero was finally borne off victorious, leaving behind him a trail of cotton muscles.
Then came the quartet, composed of Ray, Clayton, Chapman and Freeman, who sang to the accompaniment of Houston's mandolin, some clever verses com- posed by Jack Freeman, with the assistance of Ray and Houston.
Captain Hayes, with an entertaining speech presented Major Beavers of the 69th New York Infantry with a set of insignia of his new rank, and introduced Colonel Haskel and Major Reed of the same regiment, and Lieutenant Kent. Lieutenant Grant entertained the Company with some witty dialect stories.
To top off the entertainment, Jerry was on hand with the "eats," which were popular, not only with Charlie Cutter, but with the whole Company.
In spite of the unusual environment and circumstances, the affair was one of the most successful ever given by the Company, and the greatest credit is due to Corporal Harry Burdick, whose efforts and ingenuity rendered it possible.
McAllen, Texas, October 20, 1916
MY DEAR MAJOR :
Since the receipt of your letter of October 13 I have made diligent inquiry among the non-commissioned officers and men in the Company, but have been unable to learn of anything which they actually need. Our Company fund is now taking care of the Company mess in a very satisfactory manner and, inasmuch as we are limited by law and regulations as to the manner in which these savings can be spent, we have been applying the money which you Veterans have sent to us to purchase such incidentals as we may feel in need of from time to time, but which cannot be purchased from the Company fund.
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