Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-26
DAkorA's DEFENDERS.
How they are Conducting Them
| selves at the Fargo ERcampment.

How they are Conducting Them
selves NJ the Fargo ERcampmcnt.
Correspondence Bioux City Journal.
Camp Grant. Fargo, Sept. 20. 1856
The day opened bright and pleasant.
with fairly cool wind from the Mani
toba regions of ice and snow, though BY
the time it reached this camp it had 20
moderated that the sentry could keep
warm BY quickening his pace on his
beat, while the boys routed out OF their
tents at an early hour kept warm by
close association with the cook and his
fire. Last night the camp, beneath the
fickering glare of the electric light, pre-
sented nice appearance. In various
quarters the snare drum, the screech of
some cornetist practicing for the NOR.
row, the distant "halt" of some sentry
as some private tried to sneak into
town to see the sights, was heard far in
tosthe night. Some of the boys visited
the city on passes, while not q few man.
aged to get by the guards somehow or
other, and had q jolly time IN the corri-
dors of the hotels, at the theaters. vsrie-
ties. and possibly q few scattered
prayer meetings that are reported
rare in Fargo. The colonels are
bored nearly to death by requests for
passes. heard Col. Sheafe, of the
Second, tell captain to say to his COM
mand that it would be doing him per-
sonal favor to tell the boys not to ask
for passes. l have not thus far observed
single case of intoxication in the two
regiments. The soldiers are quiet,
orderly fellows, composed generally of
| the best young men in the towns where
the companies are raised. In the mill
tia quite per cent of old soldiers are
| visible among the officers and even in
the ranks. Probably nearly half the
captains saw service during the war.
The companies are generally we'll drill
ed, and on inspection to-day showed
quite proficiency for their chance and
practice. The Second regiment was in.
spected to-day by Col. Townsend, of
the Eleventh regiment, United States
infantry, stationed at Fort Lincoln.
He made thorough inspection of the
regiment, of their arms, accoutrements,
dress and drill. He expresses his sup
prise at the proficiency Of the boys. He
particularly mentions companies A, of
Flandreau, b, of Sioux Falls, u,
of Elk Point and F, of Valley City, as
deserving of especial mention. The
boys are pleased at the notice from such
high authority. Bu', taken as whole,
the regiment did splendidiy today on
inspection, much to the qualification of
Coll .tShesfe and the friends of the reRi-
ment in southern Dakota. The second
regiment, 1t might be we'll to remark, is
composed of southern Dakota compa-
Dies, with the exception of the Valley
City company. The first regiment has
companies from tYanktop, Redfeld,
Egsn and Aberdeen, residing IN south
ern Dakota, the balance from along the
Northern Pacific. Tomorrow this lat
ter is to be inspected, as the second was
to-day. 1t is probable they will be sue
cessful. The regiment is composed ss
Company A, Bismarck, Capt. Call; AZ
strong.
Company y B. Fargo Capt. McCsrty; 81
strong.
Company G, Fargo, Capt. Simonson;
40 strong.
Company D, Redfeld, Capt. Lots; So
strong.
Company E, Yankton, Capt, Helmets
ter; Sd strong.
Company f, Bismarck, Capt. Stacy;
4S strong.
Company G, Aberdeen, Capt. Babcock !;
As strong.
Company b, jamestown, Capt. Hicks;
Al strong.
Company !, Egar, Capt. Anderson; 46
strong.
Company K, artillery, Capt. Smith,
Liston.
The regiment Is commanded by Col.
Bentley, with l. G. Wade as Quarter
master. II consists of 443 soldiers, and
sixty of band attendants at heada uart-
ers, making total of 500. I hear lots
of encomiums on the attention and p.o-
fessional skill of DR.. Pettlgrew, of Flau-
d.au, regimental surgeon of the Second,
The water the boys have to drink is bad
1t ls supplied from tank, and as the
water comes from slough, it is far from
healthy. DR.. Pettigrew reports to-day
| quite number of cases of diarrhoers,
brought on, he ssys. bv the bad water.
| While none OF the cases are in apywise
serious, the boys dislike very much to
miss duty.
Col. Townsend said the Canton band
was the finest organization he had seen
for years, and complimented them high
ly on their music, knowledge of drill
and tasty suits.
There is no dearth for music. As
write thie, late in the afternoon, there
are three bands playing in various parts
of the camp. At least ten companies
are out drilling, and as the evening sun
sparkles on their bright guns, the sight
is certainly pretty.
As rule the boys are industrious and
seem to drill nearly all the time. Dur
ing the day there was quite an attend
ance of the citizens of Fargo. The boys
step briskly when passing by the carri
ages filed with young ladies. The
girls were all gone on Adjutant Higgins,
of Mitchell, but some wicked local editor
published the fact that Higgins has a
wife at home, and they show their dis
appointment. Col. Elson is quite fs.
vorite among the war widows. 30 also is
Capt. Ruth, of DE Smet. Capt. Murphy, of
Brookings, was seen asking for pass to
60 down town last night to accompany
q little beauty to the theater. Capt.
Crofoot, of Huren, is q great favorite
with the susceptible maidens of Fargo,
and IS long as they do not get on to the
fact Of his marriage he will have roar.
| ing time.
| The following unique order was is.
sued this afternoon, and created quite q
little fun in military circles:
Headquarters Episcopal Society, Sept
%, l885-Special order No. l: Brig.
Gen. Dennis is hereby ordered to as.
sign any reglmental band OF his com.
mand which it may please him to select
for duty at Episcopal headquarters
Johnson's building, at the hours of IL m
and %. m on W0dpestlav and Thnro