The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-15

proved. Gov Oglesby, who had been at the
Clifton over night, started for Camp Welter
in the morning, and when near the grounds
was met by detachment of seven companies
of the Fourth regiment, under Col. Bennett,
and escorted to the grounds. He was accom-
panied from the city by Major ,Whitmer,
Adj Gen. Vance and Hon. William Cullen,
in carriage, and Lieut.. Coils. Ball and Durand.
On reaching the encampment grounds sa-
lutte Of IA guns was fired from Tobey's bate
ry as welcome A few hours were then
spent in looking about the camp and watch
ing the firing at the rifle butts. The Cover
nor took hand in the score himself, but as
he is sadly out of practice, the score Of the
chief executive officer Of the state would not
look well in print. After the Inequalities of
headquarters had been extended to him in
the way of a fine dinner, preparations were
made for the grand review of the troops, to
take place in the middle of the afternoon
Train after train Of excursionists unloaded
tuclT VI NlsltOTS ~ TIC llttle n,
each boat brought a big cargo of human
freight and the vehicles of the city carried
hundreds to the scene. The roadway to the
camp grounds was literally covered with
carriages and buggies, and the entrance to
the grounds was blockaded long before the
review took place, BY 3 o'clock fully 800
vehicles of every description were tied about
the grounds, and 10, 900 visitors had assem-
bled en- the rock. This estimate is not at all
exaggerated, but accords with the honestly
expressed opinion Of number who are good
judges in such matters. Every city, town
and village in the county had its delegation,
while hundreds residing at distance took
advantage of the cheap excursion rates and
materially swelled the numbers.
The review took place at $3.50. To the left
of the line was the Third Infantry, Col Bra
zee Col. Knox, with the Fourth Infantry,
came next, and on the right Col Bennett
and the Fourth, and Major Maxwell in COM.
mand of the Cavalry. In front of brigade
headquarters was the Governor on horseback,
and his staff, as follows Gen. j. W. Vance,
Adj. Gen.; Col. Z. b. Hamilton, Quartermas-
ter General; Col. F. II. Matthews, Surgeon
General Col. J. A. Schafer, Inspector of Ri.
le Practice; Col. Theodore Ewert, Asst.
Adj. Gen; Col Henry Evans, Col. r. Bruce
Kennedy, Col. A. c. Mcintyre, Col. J. H.
Madden, and Col. Geo. W. Johns, Aids-de-
camp The military evolutions on the parade
grounds, surrounded by the Gordon of spec
totors from ~ to 30 deep, afforded grand
spectacle, and were thoroughly enjoyed by
the thousands assembled to see the sight.
The men were highly complimented on their
soldierly bearing and the proficiency mani
Tested in drill. Each company had its friends
and admirers on the ground, and as they
passed up and down in review near the
spectators cheers and hand -clapping attested
their approval-now of Co. d, with their
gallant Capt. Sid. Blanchard in command !;
then of Captain Madden's Company |, of La
Sale, and so on. 1t was nearly O'clock
when the regiments finished their battalion
drill and the military exercises of the day
came to close. Then came some artillery
practice from one Of Maj or Tobey's l2-pound-
ers. There were no blank cartridges this
time A clay bank on the opposite bluff was
fred at and each time cannon bali was sent
whizzing across the valley to bury itself in
the earth The 20 shots were placed close
10 each other, showing good practice.
The days doings being over, now came the
scramble for means to get home. Hundreds
were compelled to wait far into the night for
conveyances, while hundreds of others made
the four miles to town on foot.
The Governor left the same evening at $50
for Springfield. Tobey's battery broke camp
yesterday morning and started for home.
Last evening an order was ISSUED to break
camp this morning, so that by noon to-day
the grounds viii be cleared.
Taken as whole the Encampment mnst be
regarded as a splendid sticeess, with but one
untoward event, the sham bhttle OH Wednes-
day, to mar the good feeling Throughout. As
far as we heard expressions, both ofOfiHsrs and
men, they seemed to be highly pleased ~ith
Buffalo Rock as an encampment ground, and
the chances for securing it as permanent
camp have been consider ably strengthened
during thk past week. Nothing that could
be done by the citizens of Ottawa towards its
success was left undone, and all interested
have reason TO feel proud of the manner in
which the business was carried through
Stray Shots.
The first countersign was Welter.'