The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-09-27
sanns's first Camp Fire.


enjoyable than was anticipated. Their
were some seven tents pitched, beside
a large pavilion tent named for On
occasion Headquarters" The cam
was named Camp Gilbert q. Lowe, Il
honor Of a brave SOLDIER who nov
sleeps In Gypsum Hln Cemetery. A
about Q O'Clock the veterans com
meneed 10 gather. and before On
evening had passed fully three hun
dred Vets were upon the ground. L
NJ futile was Commander Ofthe Post
f. c. Culp. Onicer Of the Day; Chas
Bush, Officer Of the Guard j. @
MOhler, Judge Advocate ID. J. Add
son, q NJ. a &. 8. +. A. Smith, Ad-
jutant General. The usual number o
A. ID. C.'s aud other officers wsr,
present, and still there was q gOOdly
number OF privates len. Bridge POsl
was well represented and marched d
camp In good order. A large number
OfspectatOrs were present, All Of whom
seemed TO enjoy camp life very much
The camp was we'll lighted by lamps
and the usual camp fire hence quite
a brilliant scene was presented. The
Sallna Rifles were present and kindly
assisted the boys with their arms and
equipments. When supper was an
nOunced a general rush was made for
tin cups, tin plates and supplies, and
bean soup, coffee, bacon and crackers
all the best that could be made In
camp fashion-wers served IN abun-
dance. Friend Gardiner was made
the chief cook and George Black, as
sistant; and to them many were the
thanks and compliments bestowed
upon their success as cooks Even the
ladies enjoyed the army fare with
keen relish. The boys enjoyed the
supper hugely and ate II In stOry-tell-
ing groups, here. there, and everywhere
under the great trees Following sup
per came dress parade, in which the
boys managed 10 form a line equally as
straight as q Virginia fence. Several
high-toned orders were read, one
among sthem being the arraignment
Of Private Solomon H. Williams,
charging him with acts unbecoming
a soldier, and appointing the mem
bers Ofs court martial for trying him.
Amer the parade, guard mounting
took place, and sentries were posted
and the country was safe. The sec
ond relief' was never called upon.
The boys Of the "hrst RELIEF either de-
serted, fell asleep upon their posts or
were captured. Ten minutes after the
sentries went out, therelwas not a man
on his beat. Then came the court
martial with II. ID Baker as President,
AOhleF, Judge Advocate, Manchester
and Wait as members. Private VIII
Ilams vas brought before the court
Elder Zee was assigned as his counsel.
The substance OF the charge was that
here was gross irregularity Ia the
methods O.Private Williams
chicken stealing One witness was IN
he midst Of his testimony when
/, rescuing party came flying In and
he prisoner disappeared. AT this
uneture the prisoners counsel bitter
y opposed q continuance Of the court
martial. He claimed that his client
Who but recently was % near and yet
low was 20 far, was ready for trial and
insisted that the eouFt-maFtlal
IhOuld prOesed. The arguments both
4 the Judge Advocate and Counsel
b. the defense were learned, Welghty
md Impressive. A continuance was
aken. But little time elapsed before
be prisoner was reeaptured and
brought before the court. The judg-
nent Of the court finally was that
Private Williams be drummed out Of
amp Thesentenee was not approved
" the commanding Ofiicer; hence the
natter rests for the present During
he evening ine and stirring martial
music was rendered BY q band made
- from the sallna and Bldge Posts.
some patriotic songs were also effect
vely sung By Messrs Aldrieh, Bond.
Sicklss and sbuts. In the oourse Of
he evening MeasFs. See and Mohier
made stirring speeches, which the
'oyB enloyed.veFy much Soon after
ho crowd commenced dispensing, and
.b0ut dfty Of the veterans prepared
heir blankets for rest. But there was
% rest. Hardly had q comrade CON-
neneed to dozs, when q squad with .
orch would come along on mischief
nte1t, and the sleepy soldier was
1vH from BIS tent hssi8 Or head fore
lost. Il soon became dangerous 70
e seen IN a tent, and TIE boys would
eiake themselves to remote paris Of
be park for an hoGF Of undlsturbed
st. Bnt the tramp Of that sQuad
'ould Be heard on the evening breeze
ID the unfortunate W0uId Be routed
1t. Nc foot 81 ground escaped The
larohing squad that night; hence the
1yu had 10 gather either q The pavIl-
on or around the camp IRE, and tell
ID iistsn 70 stories the live-ionR- /
lght Towards mOralng ode
IEten" were fetched % Head
lartsu and they were Immediately /
aatsd % tie blanket perfo rmanoe IN |
< sets. Familiar camp cries were
sard 81 night IN Ell directions. Soon
tsF dawn The remnant 81 TIE sleepy
uop tack little coffee and bread IN
ieiu and dlspersed-pleasad beyond
IeasuFs win their nighFs exnsri-
iosz And thus The writer has told
Z be remembers, aflsr q sIsspIe.s
Ishi - Camp Gilbert @. Love. We
ops the Saline oouniy veterans may
sVs TIE pdyIlsgs e participating IN
any mare peasant camp IRA ana
.nnlota.
TIE 'hlns and tIis gray minded
nI|I - rrrrr H.r..l 1871 =. "a a.. 49,.