New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-02
DRILLING IN SPITE OF RAIN.
TIE PROVISIONAL BATTALION DEFIEs THE
ELEMENTS.
AN INTERESTING SPECTACLE FURNISHED WIS.,
IroRs TO THE STATE CAMP" HOLY
MOSES IN THE MUD"

ITORS TO THE STATE CAMP HULA
MOSES IN THE MUD"
ps.ksk,u. ~ " Aug. OspeoaD.-Major Wallace
A DOWNS OF tho list Regiment. who Is In command
of che Provisional Battalion brought OUT tho soerS
Qualities of the men in his command to-day IN way
~, furnished both entertainment and instruction
% abe members Of the 47th Regiment and the Few
,s;,orx who were IN camp. His work was also very
tavorsbly commented upon by the s'a'e oniocrs
rhsre has been so little opportunity for oat'aioh ur
mr. any other kind for that matter, during 'ie unio
,s, the camp has been inhabited by its present occu
nants that Major Downs took bis men out LOT ortii
,h,s afternoon. Tho rain had boon failing moro or
less all day, on the five previous days anu inc
n.rade ground was covered with a miniature lako
.rourb which the mon went spashing while going at
douhe quick on the skirmsh line, and in which they
Id N kneel while firing Three out OF the four
s.narats companies composing She Provisional Bsp
talon have recently been mustered into the service
and have never been In camp before But 'holr orin
this afternoon covered them with mud and glory ana
,aueh, them more than they would ordinarily nave
,o.rnsd IN two or three days When they had been
a, the work for half hour or So
and the men had received tho bcncnt Of two or three
urbt showers. a big black cloud straight from
the crest Of Old Dundeberg and dropped It's contents
over the devoted camp in streams. The mon began
m look expectantly toward their tents, but Major
Downs paid no moro attention 10 the rain than As
though II were the brightest day IN Indian summer
He kept the men hard at work and dcpoyed them
out in a skirmish line to drive an enemy which was
taking advantage OF the storm to come up over inc
bluff toward the Annsviile Creek
Many OF the men had never shot gun before. and
the work became intensely interesting Immediately
The smoke from the rifles chung close to the wet
grass nearly obsouHng tho they hurried ABOUT
at double quick in the pouring rain, f$si the we"
Of the five six hundred spectators who were watch
ia aohG
on tie surrounding hills, mingled with the noise OF
the clements. made the scene wild one. and II
seemed too much like a real battlefield to be sham
The most exciting part was to come. After the
enemy had been successfully driven over the bluH
another one appeared the hill IN the woods at the
north OF the parade ground-Or at least Major Downs
imagined that one had, for he wheeled the oatahon
around ard ordered charge up INC
slippcry hillside into the woods Part Of
tie ground over which they must charge
YVES broken ground and was up a steep incline. The
soil was yellow clay and the water had made II as
slippery as a piece of glass. Several Of the men
slipped down upon their hands and knees, pasicnns
their uniforms in front with yellow clay. But they
scrambled their feet and went shouting up the Dill
and over the stone wall, which was the scene OF the
exciting scenes and accidents during the sham oatue
mat the members Of the list Regiment had While hey
were tcro The men forgot all about the rain IN the
excitement of the charge although was stin coming
down in streams. They were recalled 10 the parade
grounds and then ey thought that they would sofeIy
be sent In, but Major Downs concluded that as they
were already as wet they could possibly be they
might as well have the fun of firing of the remainder
OF Their ammunition, so he kept them at u ior neSfH
an hour more -,
Lieutenant Robert II. Smith, who was officer OF the
guard Yesterday was returning 10 the guard tent
late last nlght when the sentry the guard-house
challenged him.
Who comes there 2" demanded the sentry
Lieutenant smith stepped in mud puddle just as
thu bsyOnct stuck np under his nose and he
stopped quick that his feet went out from under
SIM and he sat dow1 in the puddle. Holy Moses "
he exclaimed, quickly that il seemed In answer TO
the seUtTN's challenge.
Can out the guard and send for the chaplain,
here's Holy Moses I'm the mud" yelled the sentry.
Lieutenant George F. Ilbbey. of Company 6. was
presented with a handsome sword by the members
% his company This evening The presentation was
uade By Captain William X. Pettlgrew.