Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-28

regiment, Illinois National Guard, who was detailed by General Vance adjutant general, Illinois, to visit the camp and observe the routine and methods of instruction is greatly pleased with the weeks work and will bring back to his Illinois brigade very favorable report Adjutant Rand, of the Seventh regiment N. G. s. N. Y., accompanied by other Seventh regiment officers were in camp Thompson I. R. P. Third regiment, who is now a member of the Seventh. Major Clapp, brigade-inspector finishes the examinations of the regiments books to- morrow. He is very critical and thorough. The machine guns have been new and val ued entry into camp life this year. At the shooting by squads and random they did excellent work. There has been number of privates discharged here this year from the brigade for conduct prejudicial to camp dis cipline Hexmer of Hoboken, N. J., who owns the horses used in camp this year, arrived here to prepare for their removal home tomorrow. The battery to-day was worked by the Hartford City Guard, First regiment, and Captain Embler's command of the Second regiment They did their work creditably Colonel Fink of the Twenty third Brooklyn, N. Y., regiment visited Camp Smith yesterday. H. H. Bunnell and Col Rutherford Trowbridge were with him.
 The ten-ineh guns were put in place to day and present 8 very formidable appearance.
 Ex-Governor Walters staff held a reunion in camp this afternoon. A telegram was re- eeived from the now consul general at the court of St. James stating that he was with them in spirit if not in person. Prominent men present here to-day were: Senator Cleveland of H artford, General w. P. Trow- bridge, ex-Lieutenant Governor Bulkeley,
 Mayor Bulkeley of Hartford, ex-Postmaster Hubbard of Wallingford, Alexander Troup, collector of internal revenue; Major Keefe, Colonel Healy, New Haven; Senator Platt and Senator Hawley of Hartford, Major Lynde Catlin of the U., s. A., Ma jor Colt of Norwich, Ct., Senator Cleveland who was present at camp to-day, was the man who caused the camp to be laid out here.
 When the State officials were looking about for camp Senator Cleveland recommended the securing of the field now tented by the States brigade. It suited all so well it was purchased. It is, perhaps, the best spot that could be selected for the purpose. The spec tators to-day were greatly pleased to see so little delay in the programme carried out. General Kellogg, of Waterbury, ex-Quarter- master General McManus, Professor Rizzy of Hartford, and many other Hartford people were in camp to- day.
 Colonel Morer of the Governors staff has been the friend of the newspaper men while at camp, something that cannot be said of all the officers here. The colonel is from Norwich and is talked of among the officers thia week for promotion. He well deserves It, IS the 1r1DQC6 the reporters C6QO0f. HIS sister, Miss Morer, and her friend, Miss Os- good, have been registered at the Morton House for the past week. Miss Morer was the acknowledged belle of the ten thousand people present yesterday. She is very stately and beautiful and dresses handsomely. The newspaper men wish the colonel and his sister all kinds of luck.
 Major Lynde Catlin of the regular United States army, who has seen twenty-six years of active service, had chat with COURIER reporter this afternoon. He was very high ly pleased with the condition of the States brigade and thought they drilled equally as well as the regulars. Major Catlin has seen number of years of service on the iron tier. He is typical officer and could be recognized as such almost anywhere. The men on guard duty to-day when Major Cat
 lin was passing there instinctively saluted without having ever seen him before. He said in regard to the condition of the United States army that it should be increased to one hundred thou sand regulars. If such mum Der of men were on the roll when Fort Sumpter was at- tackled we should never have had civil war. He said in regard to the gun service of the country that it was rather poor. When the Girbeauval gun was adopted in this country, said he, it had already been superseded in Europe by the improved stock trail carriage. The Rodman smooth bore RuuS1 0lSuG duQ UGH HIGH, were cdtSb III GuS forties, and in 1857 the howitzers were intro duced. There was great impetus given to the manufacture of ordnance during the civil war. There was a fifteen inch Rodman cast during the war which was fol lowed by twenty inch gun of the same class, throwing a shot weighing ,0S0 pounds. They were the most powerful in existence. Major Catlin said he was in favor of having the siege guns and mortars here in camp. It will be big thing for the soldiers, who will be given some idea of war. The speaker watched the firing of the mortars with much interest. The light battery of the service dates back to the '30's, when Ringgold's battery was first mounted. At present there are ten light batteries in the regular service; one of them is armed with the new Hotchkiss revolving cannon. Among the bewildering list of brass, cast iron and wrought rifles brought into existence by the late war the ten pound Parrots are the most numerous, and the only which survive the memorable struggle. There is growing inn provement in the service now, however, said the major as he prepared to return to camp from the vicinity of the mortars. Major Catlin has son, a we'll known iterateur, member of the brigade. His son L. R. Cat lin has seen camp life on the frontier and hardly gives passing thought to the ponp and pageant here. He had one of the spe- cially prized posts to day, that of guard at brigade headquarters. Major Catlin is at present stopping at his summer cottage at Stony Creek.
 Tomorrow morning Camp Smith will be thing of the past and the soldier boys will return to their homes and families.