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UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER [in the 9th Massachusetts Infantry] : 1916 DAILY JOURNAL MANUSCRIPT DETAILING THE DUTIES, MEETINGS, AND WORK OF A HIGH RANKING MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY OFFICER AT CAMP COTTON, SETTING UP CAMP AND PREPARING TO HUNT DOWN THE MEXICAN REVOLUTIONARY PANCHO VILLA

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a fascinating journal kept by an officer or high ranking NCO at Camp Cotton in El Paso, Texas. He appears to be an officer with the 9th Massachusetts infantry, fresh off training from Camp Framingham in Massachusetts, who have come down to Camp Cotton. It appears that the troops were sent down to Camp Cotton to take place in the Pancho Villa Expedition (attempting to hunt down Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa for his role in attacking New Mexico), though they may have also been used to provide support for the ongoing Border War between Mexico and America. Beginning in June of 1916 and ending in September of the same year, the journal documents the daily, every day duties of the officer's command. Such looks into the darily Army command responsibilities in the early 20th century are not easy to come by. Such daily entries offer fantastic glimpses as to the uniform, routine, and daily activities of the officers and the enlisted men. One entry even goes over each detail of a meeting in which the Infantry’s camp was set up:“El Paso. Camp Cotton. Sunday July 2, 1916. 1st meeting 11 am. Push all work till next meeting later in day. 2nd meeting 5-20 pm. Capt. Lawless will require spare parts and cleaning materials. Tops. 10 pm. Roll call chief and repeat to Regmt. Officers can buy for cash at Depot Quartermaster. Draw for Enlisted Men: 1 hat, 1 cord. 1 O.T. shirt. 6 jean undershirts. 6 jean underdrawers. Belt if necessary. 3 breeches - cotton. 1 pr. Leggings. 6 pr. Socks for work. 1 pr. Shoes. 4 pr. Leggings laces. 4 pr. Shoe laces. All men must have one new outfit at all times. The above will be paid for by each man from his ____ of $4.00 for 1set 6 mos. Then $6 or $7 allowance for each 6 mos thereafter. Muster In Rolls. Col. Buck is sending the roll for correction. they must bear names of all officers and men. Ammunition 100 rds must be issued to each man. 6:30 pm. Rec’d 5 cases of 1200 rounds each from Capt. Lawless same as usual. At 7 pm each man rec’d 90 rounds which is all they belt can carry. Balance for present will be held by 1st srgt in his tent for immediate distribution. Tents must be ditched and cinders placed in Company seets. Calls Reveiller at 6am and all other calls same as those need used at Framingham. Tents Loop up early in morning drop at 9 am until further advised. Cots Request in for cots. Mess An officers mess will be established. Pay It is understood that Col. Parker is on his way here and will arrange to pay men for 8 days from Mass state funds...” There are many more meetings in the new few days as the camp is set up for the soldiers arriving soon to the Camp. The men arrive a few days later around July 11th. There is an officer's meetings: “11 July. Meeting at 10 am. Meat only 2 times a day. Coffee twice a day. Muster and pay bills. Men to keep away from the citizens of the city. Physical inspection this weekend. Thereafter once a week.” There is a tremendous amount of information about the nitty gritty details of running a camp full of enlisted men in the early 20th century. What to do if men go AWOL? What happens when they are ready to be discharged? Who will set up the latrine? What supplies to order for the cook staff? Who will staff the canteen and what will be served? All these details come from the many notes the author took in the twice daily officers meetings held at the camp. The journal ends with notes on a “15 day hike” about to take place. This hike may very well be the Infantry getting ready to hunt down Pancho Villa in Mexico, though it is unknown: “Revelle 4:45 am. Men carry two blankets. One man left believed in prison. Regt’l surgeon will decide men who are to be excused. Carry 3 days dry components. Have men report to Capt. Doly 5:30 am.” There journal is an absolute wealth of fascinating information, and provides a really great amount of daily officer work and details of the life of an enlisted man on the border of the U.S. and Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. The book’s cover and spine are still in good condition. The covers are marbled paper and show some wear and fading. The book opens from top to bottom, not from right to left. There are approximately 65 handwritten pages, and the book itself is 110 pages in length. The paper is still in good condition, showing only minimal wear and aging. While the binding is still intact, it is no longer very tight. The book should be handled with care. The handwriting is clear throughout, in pencil. There is so smudging and fading in a few pages, but in general, the handwriting is clear and legible. (The Pancho Villa Expedition—now known officially in the United States as the Mexican Expedition, but originally referred to as the "Punitive Expedition, U.S. Army"—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa from March 14, 1916, to February 7, 1917, during the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1920. The expedition was launched in retaliation for Villa's attack on the town of Columbus, New Mexico, and was the most remembered event of the Border War.) OVERALL: G. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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