The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-09-09
CAMP HARTRANFT.
ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE
SEVENTH DIVISION AT ERIE.

Ths Seventh Division, composed Of
the 18th and 18th regiments OF Pennsyl-
vania, Nation Guards, had been ordered
to encamp for inspection and review at
Massassauga Point on the. LIST of Sep
tember. Company II (Ridgway Rihes)
Of the seventeenth had been busily
preparing for the great occasion and
through the untiring diligence Of Capt.
Schoening and First Lieutenant Bailey,
the company, despite the cl smoriugs Of
those, whose wish that the project,might
fall through was father to the thought,
finally equipped and drilled ready for
the occasion. Last Wednesday after
noon Company H was marched to the
depot to the inspiring strains of fife
and drum; the train was an hour and
forty minutes behind, which time was
improved by the boys in drilling and
wishing the train would come. At few
minutes after four O'Clock, the iron horse
with snort and bound, appeared on
the scene, land the boys filed into the car
set apart for them on the side track and
were quickly attached to the train, and
mid the waving of hats and handker-
chiefs and the cheering of men they
sped around the curve and were soon
out of sight and on their way to camp.
Nothing of note transpired on the
way, until we reached Cory where
Company f. of Clarion County were in
waiting to take the train for the distant
camping ground.
In the course Of time we were landed
in Erie where we found Major Sweeney
in waiting at the eselevator dock; baggage
and men were soon uuloaded and we all
supposed that we would soor be sailing
down the bay toward our destined goal,
r but we were doomed to wait two long
hours; hours in which the piercing winds
of the lake seemed to take delight in
adding to our misery,while The profanity
of the owners of small sailing vessel,
:, at not being allowed to take our bag
gage for us, made the scene still more
interesting. AT last the wait ended as
the Ariadne steamed alongside the
wharf and shipped Company H. and L
We were soon at the "head," and
. hungry as a pack of wolves. Sand
y witches and ginger snaps soon put an
g end to the cravings of hunger when
J we marched along sandy road up &
/ steep hill TO camp Hartranft. The still
e ness Of night reigned over the entire
: camp, and not sound was heard save
the lively tune of the cricket and the
It steady tramp Of the sentinel, as he
o walked his lonesome beat, the snoring
e of the heavy men Of the McLear
e Guards adding variety to the quie
e scene.
S The silence was soon broken as th'
wild cats, from the burnt districts, will
=. cheers and beating Of drums made
+ night hideous, until where silence 81
r: lately reigned all was hustle and confus
/, ion (his phrase is applicable to al
v scenes Of this nature) held away, "n
. sleep till morn" was the watchword an,
$ all night long the cheers and shouting o
@ the aforesaid Seats" made Camp Hart
f. ranft resound with merriment and pro
family.
The tiresome vigil was at last ende,
and rosy morn broke in grandeur upol
n the camp, and soon the boys were busil
al preparing for breakfast.
V While the breakfast is being serve
t. we will take a view of camp Hartranft
l. Situate on a bluff commanding fin
= view of Lake Erie, the breeze at tn
d heat of MONDAY, at eve, and in the earl
'e morn, tanned the soldiers weary brow; o
'e the Lake side of the bluff is situate
q Gen. Huldekoper's s head quarters, Will
le the 18th regiment is encamped near th
o. bluff and the 17tk have their tent
J. pitched farther south. Each regimen
;; is composed of ten companies ana til
III companies average about forty mel
Is The tents we're placed in rows, each con
D. pany having separate row, with 5roa
y street in front, each tent was larg
s' enough to accommodate four men con
fortably. At the extreme souther
u side of the ground the suffers tent an
y dining tents were placed, on the we
e side OF the ground is a fine piece
III woods while to the east is level fel
n used for parade ground. The me
y were furnished with water by tV
1t hydraulic rams placed in deep gulc
n about two hundred yards to the rear {
d the suffers tent. The company ar
r. regiment head quarters were range
ID along next the woods. In the NJ ornir
nj the boys, with soap and towels in han
C I L e.