On the Train to El Paso - 9/8/1916

On Train

Sept 8, 1916

1:00 P.M.

My Dear Parents: - At last we are out of Camp Willis, the last ones to leave. We loaded the trains last evening and entrained this A.M. about 10:30. Gov. Willis came to the crossing and shook hands with each one of us.

Don't believe anything the papers say about our being tried for walking out of camp, because they have made an awful mess of everything that they have printed so far.

The only probable outcome of the affair will be a day or two of extra details and better eats.

There was no violence nor breaking into stores, etc., we just took a little vacation. We had a good time the two days we were in jail and were treated fine. The only reason they put us there was because it was the only place that they could accommodate 32 fellows.

As soon as I have a decent opportunity I will tell you all about it.

There is no disgrace connected with anything we did and it is taken as a joke.

We are going to Ft. Bliss at El Paso and expect to return at least by Nov. the first. Please don't worry about me for I am having a good time and feeling fine.

Love to all
Howard

The above photo is courtesy of Alexander F. Barnes and shows National Guardsmen boarding the train that will carry them across the country to Mexico in 1916. It's unknown from which state these guardsmen hail.

Troops were mostly transported in Pullman tourist train cars, so their comfort was generally good considering the long journey. According to the Railway Age Gazette from December 1916, "Official reports from all military departments showed that no organization moved in coaches in less space than three men to every four seats and wherever possible two seats for each man."

I could not find the newspaper articles that Howard references online (romantic date with microfilm to come). Interestingly enough, I did find a similar article in July 1916 that mentioned a company from New York who stopped in Cleveland for food, who acted in a similar manner that Howard described (breaking into stores, looting, etc.). I wonder if that was the running theme to sell papers at the time.