Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-16

CAMP ALEXANDER HAYES, /
SEPTEMBER Ii, 1880.


Special Correspondent Of the cssTHE DsnocsaT.
Yesterday evening as the 9th Regiment
stood at parade rest, in the presence Of
the brigade commander, his brilliant staff
and vast concourse of visitors, Acting
Adjutant Captain Marks read the order Of
Lieut.. Col. Hastings directing us TO break
camp at O'Clock this morning. ] cannot
say that we heard this official death sem
tence of our term of camp service with any
great degree Of satisfaction. Although we
have been absent week and have been
subjected 70 the most rigorous discipline,
yet we have found 1t far from unpleasant
and this morning we bid adieu TO the good
old tents that have stood by US through
sunshine and storm with lively feelings of
regret. There is nothing that brings out
in bolder relief either the latent good or
bad which every man possesses TO greater
or less degree, than this enforced compan-
ionship with his fellows under the restric-
tions which all must undergo as citizen
uOtatNies iht HHo fDlhhthIllJ NVHH
the blue and enrolls himself among the
defenders of his State must understand
that he at that moment resigns many Of
the privileges and immunities which he
enjoys as = simple citizen. lie who fails
10 appreciate this disappOints his friends
and makes for himself an unenyiable name
among men. The Commonwealth does
not expend vast sums of money upon her
National Guard without expecting some
return in kind. She exacts obedience and
faithfulness as well as unceasing endeayor
TO reach the full measure of trained and
capable soldiery. To do this entails work,
care and implicit and unreserved submis-
sion to the will OF your superior officers,
TO the end that the thorough discipline,
without which the National Guard would
be mob, may be maintained and enforced
The man who fails 10 hold these truths
for his guidance only courts disgrace and
discontinue The only real unpleasant
memory that remains 10 us Of our week in
camp is iracable directly TO failure 10
understand these truths aud the young
man who in the arrogance of youth and
an utter disregard Of the will Of his su-
periors invoked humiliation that will
cling to him for life, can now in sack
cloth and ashes reflect upon what might
have been his record at Camp Hayes had
he but remembered that the most beautiful
and fragrant flowers in the garden OF life
are those that bloom ever a duty conscien-
tiously performed. | have no wish 10 fol-
low this offender with. harsh words, HE
punishment has already been great indeed,
and allude TO this circumstance merely
for the purpose of indicating the only path
soldier can follow with honor. Let IL
never again be said of member of Com
pany ID, that he failed TO do his whole
duty. This morning was ushered in by
the dull, dreary beating Of fast falling
rain drops upon our tents, and soon the
voice of our cook was heard calling us TO
our last breakfast in Camp Hayes. A
hasiy cup Of coffee, pleniifully diluted
from the dripping trees under which we
stood, was soon disposed Of, and then we
addressed ourselves 10 the work Of packing.
Nine O'Clock found US fully equipped and
ready for m onward movement. We were
quickly formed and marched in review be-
fore brigade headquarters, and then took
up our line of march 10 the train. 1t
was terrible under foot and soon the
boys had dubbed 1t, " Hastings Muddy
March 10 the Sea" On We went through
the drenching rain until at last we reached
our Mecca, the waiting train. The work
of embarkation was speedily accomplished
and we were once more handed over 10
the tender mercies of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Thinking, doubtless, tha. We
had become sufficiently Injured TO camp
life 10 undergo any kind and amount of
discomfort, we were incontinently dumped
into wretchedly drcary car, which lacked
everything that the one we came out In
possessed. But even this could not chill
the ardor Of the boys or dampen their
unfailing good humor, and we came home
in as jolly mood as possible.
Altogether we have good reason to be
satisfied with this our first eneampment.
The eommissary was fully as good az we
expected, and there were few complaints
heard except from chronic GROWERS, with
out whom We presume no well regulated
community can be happy The success Of
tho encampment was obvious and the work
accomplished by the men was something
prodigious. ! am safe in saying that our
home company made great progress in
efficiency I'm the difficult evolutions In