Bismarck weekly tribune., 1885-11-13
TIE TERRITORIAL MILIrI4.

coin, on the territorial militia as in
-: ,.... n 4. . :. I. : a. !,
spec'eu e, ny MN MN curing the encampment
at Camp Grant:
{Ts Fnpn App.u,,. 49,, :, I, 8
ioni "A Al 1AnnAaAM na.ataa. LiNS0LN, ~ sSol,
.Doi i'' Aooo, i
A91utant .1 General, United States Army,
washington, Dc. a$
SIR: have the honor to report, that in
obedience to par. IS. o. No. 1853, Headquar-
ters of the Army, A. G. o., current series,
and letter of instructions from the adiu-
tant general United States army, dated
July Is, 1886. / proceeded, on the 21st of
September last, to Fargo, Dakota, at which
place, had been informed by the governor
Of Dakota, that the encampment Of the Da-
kota national guard would be held. I was
accompanied from this post by First Lieut..
and Assistant Surgeon G. N. B. Macauley,
United States army. and Second Lieut..
Henry o. S. Heistand, Eleventh infantry,
officers on duty at this post, and who ob-
tained each leave of absence of seven
days to enable them to be present duriug
the encampment. They acted as staff off
GERS for ME during the entire period, and /
desire here to express my Acknowledge
me by these young officers, who were un-
tirlng in their exertions, and who contrib
uted IN marked degree to the success of
the encampment A large amount of in
struction was impaired through their
means that would have been practically
Impossible for me alone. Capt. James
Rockwell, Jr., Ord; Department United
States army, was also present during the
en4Gampment.
Fargo is city on the east line of Dakota
Ierrigory, situated on the Red River Of the
NOrth, where 1t IS crossed by the Northern
Pacific railroad: 1t contains nearly $500
lnhaDltants, ana ls the largest town in the
tterrltory. IL Is the center OF three railroad
C!unk nnes ana Two oranch lines. twenty
SKI SIX passenger sen tralns arrive and depart
uaity. lne CoWn IS s9Ppned WIN Holly
WAFER WORKS, electrlc llghts and telephone
service.
Inc camp ground was located one mile
ana one-fourth northWest OF the city, on a
perfectly level plain, entirely suitable for
the purpose. l doubt II better site could
De i9und IN any state or territory. 1t was
road, the st. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba
raliroad and the Fargo q Southern rail-
ROAD, which sent out trains every twenty
minutes; also by carriages, which were
numerous. The grounds were supplied
with water, by temporary pipes, from the
city water works, and hydrants were con-
veniently placed at various points.
The camp, at night, was lighted by elec-
trio light, temporary. wires and apparatus
having been erected for the purpose.
The encampment commenced September
22d and lasted four days. The last detach-
ment OF troops arrived during the night of
the 21st, and the first troops to leave de-
parted about a. m. September 26th.
The name given was Scamp Grant," and
was under the command of Brigadier Gen
| eral John B. Dennis, commanding first bri-
gade Dakota national guard, q veteran Of
ficer of the war of the rebellion.
There were present for duty one assistant
adjutant general, one inspector general
four aides de camp, one surgeon, one brig
neer, One chief commissary Of subsistence,
one Judge advocate, one chaplain. The du-
ties of brigade quartermaster were per
formed by Col. Charles III. Peck, quarter
master general of the territory. Two reg
iments Of the Dakota national guard-the
First regiment, consisting of nine compa-
artillery attached thereto. the whole com
manded by Lieut.. Colonel W. A. Bentley.
D. N. G.; the Second regiment, consisting Of
nine companies of infantry, Commanded by
Colonel M. w. Sheaf. d. No.
Both regimental commanders have seen
more or less service during the late war, as
we'll as quite number Of the field, staff
and line officers.
The total number present for duty. off,
GERS and enlisted men. were 922. There
were also present nine bands of mnsic.
having come from the different towns with
the companies belonging thereto.
The troons we're 1laced in column of
companies, With sufficient interval between
regiments: in which interval was nlaced
the two pieces of artillery 1twelye-pomnd
NapOleons) in charge of the hatterv of lirht
artillery, A plan Of the camD is herewith
inclosed.
The companies messed separately. Cook
and mess tents on the tanks. fires in the
trenches. camn kettles and mess mans he.
ing generally used. Coffee. bread mea,
(salt and fresh), q variety of yegetabIes
were prepared for the diet Of the troons
and. so far as nv observation extanded
were we'll cooked and nalatabie, They
were purchased bv the commissarv Of smh.
sistence in the city of Fargo. the cost of The
ration being twenty.seyen cents. The No.
lice of the camp was generally fair after
the first or second dav' and in a numher
of Companies excellent.
| The sinks were placed about 200 wards to
| the east of the carnn on the ed9e of a
| slough. and were entirely suitsh1e, heinz
in no Way offensive.
The tentape consisted of wall tents. ton
large for service during a camnaiQn. but
not unsuitable for such an eneam pmenf
as this.
TO the enlisted men ~ each comnanv
were allowed six tents. 1Ox12 feet. and one
tent 12x12. for cook tent. The comnanv of-
ficers were allowed one tent l6x2O feet,