Camp Named Harry J. Jones

Transcribed by Jean Walker 17 Feb 2026.  Safford Guardian, Safford, AZ. 17 May 1916. Page 1.

Letter from Sergeant Smith Gives Interesting Account of Camp Life

We received the following letter Friday evening from R. W. Smith. Quartermaster Sergeant, Company B (“Curs**). Sergeant Smith gave a graphic description of the journey to the border of Safford’s company and also an interesting account of “our boys” doings in Camp Harry J. Jones. The letter is as follows:

CAMP HARRY J. JONES DOUGLAS, ARIZ. May 17, 1916.

To JOHN F. WEBER, Esq.,Editor Graham Guardian, Safford, Arizona

FRIEND JOHN: - It is now blowing like seven thousand fiends and this little old machine is covered with dust an inch thick, good old Arizona dust. At the present time the tents of the company across the company street (30 feet), cannot be seen with any degree of distinction. However, it makes no material difference to the boys; they are all out now at different kinds of fatigue work; some making ‘dobe for the camp kitchens and incinerators (receptacles wherein there is burning a continuous fire and into which all rubbish must be thrown, thereby insuring a sanitary camp).

I think it well at this point to take you through a tiresome and tedious resume of the company’s actions from the time they left the fair valley of the Gila.

The leavetaking (sic) is to you well known; that is, the part which you, who remained behind, could see; what you could not see, perhaps, was the ache in the hearts of most of the boys as they saw and felt the warmth and sincerity of the good byes of the “folks at home.”

As we pulled out of the little station, going we knew not where, we knew to a man that those whom we left behind were sending their hearts with us and I tell you those hearts are needed right here. That, my friend, is to be one of the biggest things in the campaign through which we may have to go. There is, perhaps, not a man in camp who has not a picture of some loved one; some token of remembrance in his watch or in his loose-leaf notebook, where it can be carried nearest to his heart. And, sir, those kind of men are the kind who have something for which to fight and who can not fail.

As we passed through the various towns and villages en route, it was a revelation to see how the boys conducted themselves.
Not once did anyone become boisterous or make a demonstration, but at all times conducted themselves as the utmost gentlemen. A thing hardly to be expected of an organization so young, or, in fact, of an organization of any age.

The train pulled into Douglas at about 7:30 and the company marched to the camping ground, about a mile and half from the depot. The night under the stars and the moon, they pitched their pup tents and sang the while, despite their fatigue.

The next day the squad tents were pitched, a tent about twelve feet square, in which eight men live, and the kitchen tent put up; also the company street was graded and cleared of brush. The boys worked like trojans and in no time the place was ship shape. The next day, the remainder of the regiment of the National Guard detrained and pitched camp beside us. There are now 11 companies of National Guard in camp and it has a wonderfully businesslike appearance, too.

The regimental street runs the entire length of the regiment, from north to south. On the east side the company streets extend, a row of tents to each company facing north and a company street in front of each, about 20 feet wide. On the west side of the regimental street are the officers’ tents, facing their respective companies. The regimental street has been graded and the company streets will be in a short time; also, the streets will all be oiled and sprinkled.

Yesterday, the 14th regiment of Infantry, U. S. A. from the state of Washington, encamped adjoining this regiment on the north. That same night one of their members was shot in the ankle with a spent bullet. That does not mean, however, that we are in danger of being shot, as that is the first and only bullet that seems to have fallen on this side since we have been here.

Each night, however, we can see the camp fires and signal rockets of the Mexican forces on the hillsides across the line. We, by the way, are stationed about three hundred yards from the line, and (the irony of fate), adjacent and contiguous to a well-filled and very attractive graveyard. The headstones, however, will make splendid cover should there ever be an engagement.

We have nice hours as follows: First call, 5:30 a.m.; reveille, 5:55; assembly, 6:00; mess, 6:15; drill, 7:45; mess, 12:00; fatigue, 1:00 p.m.; recall, 5:30; mess 5:45; first call retreat, 6:05; assembly, 6:10; retreat, 6:15; tattoo, 9:00; call to quarters, 10:45; taps 11:00 o’clock, the men get passes to leave camp, getting them in turn, so that each man will get one day, or rather evening, off in every three or four.

In closing for the present, will say that our men would go thru hell if need be for our officers, of which I shall tell you more next week, as it would take too much space for this letter.

Sincerely, R. W. Smith

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