Daily globe., 1883-07-21
THE TENTED FIELD.

How the Boys of the Gallant First are De-
porting Themselves at White Bear-The-
Days Doings in Camp and Around the
Outskirts.
Being crowded from his seat in a pas
senger by the rush of women and babies,
the writer had the pleasure yesterday af-
ternoon of riding to White Bear On loco
motive No. 8, which carries at its front
neat monogram, B. L. E., brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers), the letters being
bound together by horseshoe. The ride
gave an opportunity of observing and
noting the distractions the engineers have
avoided in locating the much curved track
by which the cars of the st. Paul Il Duluth
road. are drawn up from the city to the
height of land near White Bear. 1t also
gave an enduring impression of two
things-the power OF the engine which
moves along with its great load at speed
of near thirty miles an hour, and
the feeling Of safety, which comes from
being able to see the open track in front.
On arrival at the First regiments camp
it was learned that though there were some
unpleasant experiences during the fierce
storm of yesterday morning, yet there was
no great damage in camp. Two or three
! of the company tents leaked and some
were partly blown down, but their occu-
pants quickly found dry shelter in neigh
boring tents. The ridge pole of
one of the large guard tents was
broken by the weight the wind
and rain added to the tent, and If there
had been any disinterested party to wit
ness the sight, he might have laughed to
see the set of details crawl from under the
wet canvas with no protection against the
storm but their night garments. The de-
| tail which went on guard at midnight was
oat during the whole storm, and among
them were four or five of the Red Wing
company. Private Foote. just as the
storm was over, was steadily pacing beat
which was covered with water several
inches deep, when one OF the officers
of the guard came up to him unchallenged
and said ''You should have stopped me,
sir, don't you know your business?" "Yes,
sir, I'm running ferry boat" was young
Foote's meek answer. A tent occupied by
a mess of one of the Minneapolis compa-
nies was protected by neat bitches on three
sides, but unfortunately the front and
highest side of the tent had no ditch, and
the occupants of the tent were thoroughly
drerched by a stream of water which
poured through the tent for over an hour.
. The light, loose soil with gravelly subsoil
quickly swallowed the rainfall and by a.
N. the company streets and parade ground.
were in as good condition as if rain had
) not fallen there for month.
When night had come down upon the
camp Wednesday and the tattoo was
sounded, strange to relate and most unex-
pected to the officer Of the day, every man
on the rolls was reported to be safely in
camp. Whether the faithfulness of the
men or the vigilance of the first sergeants
is most to be admired is an open question:
with the points and probabilities somewhat
in favor of the sergeants.
The company and battalion drills in the
: morning hours were said to be quite eff
!; fective and the battalion drill during the
forenoon for benefit of the new companies
( was a warmer for the colonel who conduct
ed the drills as well as for the men, whom
he put through in approved style. The
officers of the new companies are agreed
I with spectators of the drills and parades
in the opinion that the new companies are
5 gaining very fast but more from what
J. they see the older companies do than from
, = the daily drill on their camp streets.
Ii During the leisure hours of the day
I
events and experiences of the first day and
: night were pleasantly told by the soldier
- lads to groups of admiring friends. In g
. conversation which occurred in the tent of
!, Lieut.. Colonel johnson, that officer ex.
pressed his opinion that the legislature
would not early allow the formation of an
- other infantry regiment, but he thought il
:. might be persuaded to authorize one
% more artillery company and one OF
- two companies of cavalry. He though
- the state should pay all expenses of
% transportation to the annual encampment'
- and should also make liberal appropri
20 alton for target practice, in which ht
=, y would adopt the regular army practice OF
y forming company and regimental team;
- and of rewarding the best shots of eact
- year by suitable memorials.
Capt. Lawson, Q. S. A., selected b!
" General Terry, to inspect and criticize tn
:. regiment, arrived in camp at noon yester
- day and has his quarters in a tent near tn
g colonel commanding. Capt. Lawson VIII
was in camp with the Second
regiments last week, commends the annua
encampment of the state guar
as doing very much toward makinl
," the guard good military body, ready TO
service, but thinks it a pity that the time
Ill COLL 10 OAiJ WOChs WllSL
u second week would more thai
It double the gain from the drill, practice
st example and competition of having tht
y whole regiment together. He notices tina
- men and officers are very much in earnes
~ in their desire to improve in drill ,and being
i, frequently called upon for his opinions OF
I doubtful or disputed points yesterda.
is afternoon, gave great satisfaction by hi
g courteous and clear explanations. He vii
RS remain with the regiment until it break
W camp.
N Lieut.. Colonel johnson thinks the twt
n regiments should be united in the annua
IN encampment, for the saving of expense
at and for the advantages of having large
ut bodies of men to execute battalion move
n ments, while there would also be smaIle
Ip details from the company for guard ant
le special duties, leaving more men tc
~ join the daily drills and exercises
e. He is also in favor of the CAM
e, being pitched not less than forty mile
to away from st. Paul and Minneapolis nea
is some favorably located village like Waseca
1e Frontenac or Litchfeld.