Pvt. Harry Morgan
From the June 15, 1935 issue of'The Elgin Courier-News'
Co. E 3rd Ill. Nat. Guard, Inft.
From the March 10, 1916 issue of 'The Elgin Daily Courier'
WON'T OFFER I. N. G. UNTIL WAR DEPT. ASKS ILLINOIS AID
Springfield, Ill., Mar. 10,- The Illinois national Guard will not be offered to the war department for service in Mexico until the department asks for aid.
This was the statement issued by Governor's Secretary Sullivan in denying the rumor that Governor Dunne had offered the Illinois national Guard for service in Mexico.
From the March 17, 1916 issue of 'The Elgin Daily Courier'
VACCINATE MILITIA IS NEW STATE ORDER
All members of Company E. I. N. G., will be inoculated within the next few days with the typhoid vaccine, in preparation for any possible call to the front. Captain William R. Peck stated today that he had sent for the vaccine to the government and expected a supply with the necessary instruments in a short time.
From the March 22, 1916 issue of 'The Elgin Daily Courier'
DENIES I. N. G. HAS ORDER TO PREPARE
Springfield, Ill., March 22,- "I do hereby officially deny that any order has been given by this department or received here relating to the preparation of the I. N. G. for active service or preparedness." Signed Acting adjutant general Colonel R. J. Shand.
The above statement was made by Colonel Shand this afternoon to the United Press in refutation of the report that the I. N. G. commassary officers and quartermasters had been ordered to prepare for mobilization.
From the April 6, 1916 issue of 'The Elgin Daily Courer'
ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR I. N. G. CAMP
Elgin Militia to go to Fort Sheridan August 6-13
Springfield, Ill., April 6,- One of the most comprehensive encampments ever arranged for the Illinois national guard was announced today by Adjutant General Dickson.
Two camps, one at Fort Sheridan, Chicago, and the other at Camp Lincoln, Springfield, will be maintained. Six battalions of field artillery and the field hospital corps will go into camp with the regular army at Sparta, Wis. The engineer corps of Chicago will go into the joint United States army camp at Belvoir Tract, Av. The signal corps will go into camp at Fort Sheridan at a date to be set later. The first cavalry will take a practice march out of Chicago early in July. The naval reserves will drill with the Atlantic fleet.
The regiments will go into camp at Fort Sheridan, as follows:
First infantry, July 16-23; Seventh infantry, July 23-30; Second infantry july 30 August 6; Third infantry August 6-13; Sixth infantry, August 16-20.
Regiments will go into camp Lincoln as follows:
Forth infantry August 20-27, Fifth infantry, August 27 Sept. 3; Eighth infantry Sept. 3-16
The first school of instruction for officers ever held in Illinois will be at Fort Sheridan August 9-16.
From the Adj't. Gen's. Report, Illinois
Rank - Cpl.
Home of recortd - Elgin, Ill.
Enlisted - June 19, 1916
Mustered In - June 29, 1916
Remarks - Reported for duty June 19, 1916; Appointed Cpl. from Pvt. 1st Class by Regimental Order #10 Jan. 6, 1917
\ From the June 15, 1915 issue of 'The Elgin Courier-News'
Capt. William R. Peck, in command of the company during the expedition to the border, some years ago penned an interesting acount of the unit's experiences during the Mexican campaign, excerpts of which follow;
"In June 1916, Company E was called to the Mexican border where trouble was stirring-we always suspected that it was started by the Germans to divert the attention of America from the fight abroad."
Billeted in Pig Pens
"We left Elgin 100 strong and went into camp first at Springfield, Ill. Here the first taste of army hardship began. Men were quartered in pig pens at the state fairgrounds, put through strenuous maneuvers and given equipment for fighting. We were sent to Camp Wilson at San Antone. Ariving there on July 5, in mud that virtually pulled off our shoes. We cleared the region of mesquite, scrub oak, drained it and pitched tent, making it eventually an ideal camp. The began our strenuous training.
"Long, arduous hikes brough broken arches and blistered feet, one of them being from San Antone to Austin, Tex., a distance of 214 miles, marching with heavy packs. This hike tried our endurance harder than anything we had ever experienced. Some of the men were forced to give up the march, joining the company the next day. Pup tents were pitched in open spaces near Austin and maneuvers began, the men being taught warfare that would have been put into practice had we invaded Mexico.
Lauded By Funston
"Before our return to Austin, our battalion gained the reputation of being one of the best in the Eleventh Provisional Division, composed of Illinois and Wisconsin troops. General Funston was alive at this time, and when he reviewed the troops he remarked on the splended showong of our regiment and kept us in Texas five months longer than any other Illinois regiment. He complimented the spirit of the regiment highly, and said that if he could keep it in the regular army he would do so. Col. Charles Greene of Aurora was the regimentsl commander.
"The Texas Training was a round of unforgetable annoyances-the pestering with vermin of all sorts, chiggers, ticks and scorpions. There were some illnesses, but no deaths. At last on Jan. 31, 1917, the troops were brought back to God's country-Fort Sheridan, this time, but landed there fresh from a tropical atmosphere of 60 to 70 degrees, in weather 22 degrees below zero.
From the July 26, 1916 issue of 'The Elgin Daily Courier'
The boys received very little mail today because it is almost impossible for the trucks to come into camp on accoungt of the mud. They go in way over the hubs.
It is jusgt the same as the day we arrived here, only we have our tents up now and that is a big difference.
We have a contest in progress here. Sergeant DeGaris offered a prize of the squad that could put the best design in front of their tentr. It is getting at its greatest heighth right now as the sixth squad has a very catchy one. It is the form of a watch, laid out in small stones and is a very good reproductionb of the Elgin watch. It is the work of Corporal Joe Gurno's squad, Villa Williams, Otis Parkhurst, Walter Kamper, Arthur Doerscher, Harry Lamp, Harry Henise, Lawrence Knudson and Earl Culver. The design is decorated with two cactus plants. The seventh squad had an elaborate design also which is very classy. It is a reprocuction of the state ornament. It is a circle which has cross guns and also 3-E-Ill. Another close competitor is the third squad the originators of the idea of decorating their tnet fronts. It looks like a flower garden on some reich man's reserve having put palms and other swell decorationbs to show it up.
"America Forever - 4th squad." The other four squads are very slow as they have just started in the game.
Corporal Albright has just as much ambition as ever as he wanted his meals brought up to his tent.
Bill Pederson argues more and uses less sense than enybody, he is also the biggest grouch in camp. He received another letter yesterday.
Four men have been named in our companby to be transferred to the machine gun crew. They are, Haward Campbell, Albert Monroe, Jimmy Mische, Harvey Gellerman. It is quite an honor for our boys. They will use the Lewis Maching gun which is being successfully used in the European war. It weighs 35 pounds and shoot more rapidly than any one efer monufactured. The boys were told it shoots 800 shells a minute. The barrel can be changed in one minute.
John Schuck has developed a very funny laugh. It is a cross between an Indian war whoop and a Mexican cow yell. It can be heard any time at mess.
Duffy (Villa) Williams has found mule blanket. Now he don't need any underwear.
Arthur Doerscher put his hand to barbering last night. He cut hs nib's hair in the deal and now they will use the shears to saw wood with.
Ike Whipple has finished a new ice box and is sure is sone piece of cabinet making. He has mastered the art of sawing with a jack knife.
Co. E visited Co. D of Aurora last nighjt and there a number of good stories and songs was heard. Herman Nofs showed some of his boxing abillity again. He puts it on all comers, in fact we think there is nobody more clever in the regiment.
From the Adj't. Gen's. Report, Illinois
Third Inft.
Name - Harry R. MorganRank - Cpl.
Home of recortd - Elgin, Ill.
Enlisted - June 19, 1916
Mustered In - June 29, 1916
Remarks - Reported for duty June 19, 1916; Appointed Cpl. from Pvt. 1st Class by Regimental Order #10 Jan. 6, 1917
\ From the June 15, 1915 issue of 'The Elgin Courier-News'
Compny E in Drive After Bandit Villa in June 1916
Ninteen years ago this month, June 1916, Company E, 129th Infantry, of Elgin left to join Uncle Sam's regulars in the punitive expedition against the Mexican bandit war leader, Pancho Villa. The company entrained, proceeded to San Antonio, Tex., and there were quartered for the grater part of a six-month period.Capt. William R. Peck, in command of the company during the expedition to the border, some years ago penned an interesting acount of the unit's experiences during the Mexican campaign, excerpts of which follow;
"In June 1916, Company E was called to the Mexican border where trouble was stirring-we always suspected that it was started by the Germans to divert the attention of America from the fight abroad."
Billeted in Pig Pens
"We left Elgin 100 strong and went into camp first at Springfield, Ill. Here the first taste of army hardship began. Men were quartered in pig pens at the state fairgrounds, put through strenuous maneuvers and given equipment for fighting. We were sent to Camp Wilson at San Antone. Ariving there on July 5, in mud that virtually pulled off our shoes. We cleared the region of mesquite, scrub oak, drained it and pitched tent, making it eventually an ideal camp. The began our strenuous training.
"Long, arduous hikes brough broken arches and blistered feet, one of them being from San Antone to Austin, Tex., a distance of 214 miles, marching with heavy packs. This hike tried our endurance harder than anything we had ever experienced. Some of the men were forced to give up the march, joining the company the next day. Pup tents were pitched in open spaces near Austin and maneuvers began, the men being taught warfare that would have been put into practice had we invaded Mexico.
Lauded By Funston
"Before our return to Austin, our battalion gained the reputation of being one of the best in the Eleventh Provisional Division, composed of Illinois and Wisconsin troops. General Funston was alive at this time, and when he reviewed the troops he remarked on the splended showong of our regiment and kept us in Texas five months longer than any other Illinois regiment. He complimented the spirit of the regiment highly, and said that if he could keep it in the regular army he would do so. Col. Charles Greene of Aurora was the regimentsl commander.
"The Texas Training was a round of unforgetable annoyances-the pestering with vermin of all sorts, chiggers, ticks and scorpions. There were some illnesses, but no deaths. At last on Jan. 31, 1917, the troops were brought back to God's country-Fort Sheridan, this time, but landed there fresh from a tropical atmosphere of 60 to 70 degrees, in weather 22 degrees below zero.
From the July 26, 1916 issue of 'The Elgin Daily Courier'
FOUR CO. E. BOYS ARE NAMED FOR MACHINE GUN CO.
Howard Campbell, Albert Monroe, Jimmy Miche and Harrey Gellerman Honored
HARD LUCK SIX WRITE AGAIN
Interesting Camp News Sent By Elgin Boys on Mexican Border.
BY PRIVATE HARRY MORGAN.
Speial Correspondence.
Camp Wilsoj, San Antonio, Teas,-It has rained all day and there is about a foot of nice soft mud in camp. There has been no hike or drill today which makes a nice vacation, altho we all have to stay inh our tents. When it rains here it pours in fact I don't believe Illinois has anything on Texas when it comes to bit rain storms
De Garis' Whistle is Silent.
First Sergeant Bill DeGaris' whistle has sounded very little today so we sent some one down every ten minutes to see if Bill is dead, because it is so unusual.The boys received very little mail today because it is almost impossible for the trucks to come into camp on accoungt of the mud. They go in way over the hubs.
It is jusgt the same as the day we arrived here, only we have our tents up now and that is a big difference.
We have a contest in progress here. Sergeant DeGaris offered a prize of the squad that could put the best design in front of their tentr. It is getting at its greatest heighth right now as the sixth squad has a very catchy one. It is the form of a watch, laid out in small stones and is a very good reproductionb of the Elgin watch. It is the work of Corporal Joe Gurno's squad, Villa Williams, Otis Parkhurst, Walter Kamper, Arthur Doerscher, Harry Lamp, Harry Henise, Lawrence Knudson and Earl Culver. The design is decorated with two cactus plants. The seventh squad had an elaborate design also which is very classy. It is a reprocuction of the state ornament. It is a circle which has cross guns and also 3-E-Ill. Another close competitor is the third squad the originators of the idea of decorating their tnet fronts. It looks like a flower garden on some reich man's reserve having put palms and other swell decorationbs to show it up.
The Fourth Squad is Patriotic.
The Fourth Squad of which I am a member is very patriotic. We have Corporal Albright's name in white stones on the left of the tent entrnce and a huge eagle with spread wings and it reads,"America Forever - 4th squad." The other four squads are very slow as they have just started in the game.
Corporal Albright has just as much ambition as ever as he wanted his meals brought up to his tent.
Bill Pederson argues more and uses less sense than enybody, he is also the biggest grouch in camp. He received another letter yesterday.
Four men have been named in our companby to be transferred to the machine gun crew. They are, Haward Campbell, Albert Monroe, Jimmy Mische, Harvey Gellerman. It is quite an honor for our boys. They will use the Lewis Maching gun which is being successfully used in the European war. It weighs 35 pounds and shoot more rapidly than any one efer monufactured. The boys were told it shoots 800 shells a minute. The barrel can be changed in one minute.
Red Bean Inherits a Towel.
Red Bean was seen emerging from the bath house today. It seems he was taking another bath, which is very unusual for Red. He is now very stuck up because he inherited a towel somewhere.I amin great danger of being sued for slander by several of the boys. They have taken some of the little bits in the paper to heart.John Schuck has developed a very funny laugh. It is a cross between an Indian war whoop and a Mexican cow yell. It can be heard any time at mess.
Duffy (Villa) Williams has found mule blanket. Now he don't need any underwear.
Arthur Doerscher put his hand to barbering last night. He cut hs nib's hair in the deal and now they will use the shears to saw wood with.
Ike Whipple has finished a new ice box and is sure is sone piece of cabinet making. He has mastered the art of sawing with a jack knife.
Trench Gas Mystery Solved.
Walter (Popp) Kamper reports that he bured his woolen socks last night. We heard this morning that the fourth regiment reports they know the Mexicans are near bdcause gthey could smell the gas from the trenches.Co. E visited Co. D of Aurora last nighjt and there a number of good stories and songs was heard. Herman Nofs showed some of his boxing abillity again. He puts it on all comers, in fact we think there is nobody more clever in the regiment.
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