Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/186

 ��THE FORT SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION

��mation were the most deserving of the hundreds of appHcants. These many hundreds, during the same period, filled with uncertainty, anxiously awaited the fateful news. Candidates had been rated A, B, or C, according to age and the amount of previous military experience and education they had had. This system had its human weaknesses, but it seemed to bear considerable weight in the selection of the prospects. On May 1 0th, the first momentous postal cards were received by some few hundred "A" men, requesting them to start at once for the Citizens' Camp at Fort Sheridan. They were to bring the cards with them to present to the Camp Adjutant upon arrival. From then on to the 15th, several hundred of these cards were mailed daily, thus virtually com- pleting the call of 5,000 men to Fort Sheridan and 40,000 to all the camps of the United States.

Those early days of arrival before work really commenced on the 15th were filled with many scenes of interest and action. Each train which stopped in front of that famous stone station with its antiquated brass cannon and caged cannon balls (one missing) poured forth from every step a stream of youth whose cheery faces and eager spirit augured the unfailing success of the future. Of course all were not cheery. Some faces were distinctly set with de- termination. But there were none downcast.

From the station the newcomers streamed across the electric tracks, across the road and along the cinder path which cuts diagonally over a field

���RAPID CONSTRUCTION OF BARRACKS

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