The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-24
THE ENCAMPMENT OPENED
SIXTEEN HUNDRED ON THE GROUND
The Putting Up of Tents Is Attended With
One Two Accidents-Two or Three
Soldiers Overcome by the Heat,
But Not Seriously Injured.


sixties. When the sun went down on Camp
Hovey last night (for that is the new military
title given to Mr.. Armstrong; grove) it saw
about sixteen hundred young soldiers within
the Enclosure. Every one of the state militia
companies were on hand, with the exception OF
the Elkhart artillery. which was not expected.
Company /, from Waterloo, the last 10
reach the grounds and when it marched into
camp shortly after o'clock, Gen. Ruckle ex-
pressed the opinion that there were about six
teen hundred troops on hand as the forty COM
panies present would average forty men each.
Camp Hovey is situated just northwest of
North Indianapolis and little less than half
mile from the Kank akee railroad. The latter
is the most convenient avenue OF approach to
the grounds from the city by those who are too
proud to ride in carriages. Special trains are
being run 10 and from the encamp-
ment and they stop at a point nearest
the only bridge crossing the canal in that
vicinity, the railroad and camp grounds being
on opposite sides of this pearly stream. Arm
strong's grove is rather an uneven piece of
ground about forty acres in extent reaching
from the canal quarter OF mile east, and ex-
tending about the same distance north and
south. The west half, with the exception of
small strip along the canal, is sloping field,
recently shorn of hay crop, and the east half
is a wood, hardly dense enough to
furnish good shade, but possessing
the desirable quality OF being rolling. 1t is in.
terlaced With several ravines, making it a good
camping ground There was a diversity of
opinion among the boys yesterday as to
whether the grounds were as good as the ones
at Evansville last year, but the opinion will
doubtless be unanimous in favor of Camp
Hovey by the close of the present encamp-
meut.
Gen. Ruckle had several objects in view
when making the selection. The open field is
desirable as a drill ground, and on account of
the slope will afford good view to spectators.
Then the proximity to the canal gives the
young veterans a good bathing and swimming
place, which is one of the most desirable feat
ures OF the grounds.
The half mile walk from the railroad 10 the
camp-ground is free from the embarrassmeuts
| OF mud and shadow The beautiful sunshine
cheers the travellers path all the way from the
shadow OF the cars 90 the shade OF the woods
inside the grove. There was almost a steady
stream, either OF wagons or soldiers, travelling
this beaten road from o'clock yesterday morn
ing until in the evening. 1t was the
mountaineering spectacle ever witnessed by the
! denlzens OF that neighborhood. aud they were
! out IN force, upon the shady side of their dom
iciles, 10 watch the show. About the first thing
to meet the gaze OF the soldiers rs they alighted
! from the tram was the spectacle OF tent upon
the lett bank Of the canal, with a large awning
bearing the inscription, "Alaus beer for sale
here" IL is needless TO say the troops were
| shocked, inasmuch as they had 10 form in line
| before they crossed the canal and march 10 the
/ camp ground. The beer dealer looked OPP
pressed by the heat and lack of patronage. His
| beer was also Affected by the weather
The militlamen began arriving IN camp be-
tween and 10 O'Clock. The first 20 come were
the indianapolis companies which pass under
! the general title OF the "city battalion They
were followed between II and - o'clock by a
large train-load from various parts OF the state.
! BY noon there were twenty-five companies on
| the grounds. Another train arrived about 3
o'clock and about o'clock the special train
which started from Evansville with three com.
| panies, and picked up one company each nc
Cannelton. Princeton, Mt. Vernon, Nincenuee
Brazil and Rockville aud two companies at
Ierre Haute, unburdened it's masses, who made
a really splendid spectacle they marched
across the field Just south OF the camp ground
and, headed by one brass band, with another
leading the rear portion, paraded through the
gates. The Waterloo company came in half
hour later, and this made the quota complete.
The barren field Of the evening before had in
day, become the scene of lively little army.
The hrSt thing the boys did upon arriving at
! the grounds and being showed the place as
signed them was 10 stack arms. The Indianap-
oils battalion all stacked arms about the same
| time during the middle OF the forenoon. By
night the guns were occupying two long rows
on the east and west sides OF the camp. As
soon as the arms were stacked, the boys pulled
/ of their coats and went 20 work putting
up tents. Each company had TO erect
/ its own tents including sleeping and dress de.
partments. This is work and not play, and
| the procedure yesterday was attended with
I some mishap. Some OF the lads went at their
| work OF driving down stakes aud pulling away
/ at ropes with TOO much vim, and fnasmuch es
the sun was pouring down without any inter.
/ Yening partitions, there were two or three
\ slight sunstrokes 10 mar the pleasure of the
/ FIRST day. None OF them was very severe, how
| ever, and an effort was made TO suppress the
names of the sufferers. Jesse Lane of 40
! Cliiord-ave, this city, was one of the
while az work on one of his company's
| tents about noon, and was carried 10 the hoSpi-
tai, where he soon recovered nicely and looked
all right late in the afternoon, although he re-
NAMED indoors. Inc camp, OF course Is sup
Piled with regular military hospital, which
/ is in charge OF Drs Lapp aud Thompson, with
/ other distinguished surgeons on hand. These
/ gentlemen had more To do during the day
/ than they had anticipated. The first accident
I 90 occur was quite a serious one. f. A. Farms
worth OF the governors guards was helping
/ about the tents when he received a bad cut
I from an AK across his right knee, the ncsion
/ being two or three inches IN length and quite
/ deep. The young man was conveyed to
! the hospital, where the wound was
sewed up by DIR. Thompson. Farms
I worth spent the remainder OF the
| day on n cot, but when seen by a SENTINEL re-
porter late in the day looked as happy as a
| lark. He will be laid up during the week.
| Billy Lowe, another member of the governors
| guards, had his hand painfully lacerated by a
/ gpy-rope, which he held onto when it was NOV
| ing with altogether TOO much force and rapid
! ity To the touch. Still another member OF the
! governors guards had his thumb cut, but his
name was not left on the hospital book.
| These accidents, while disagreeable 10 the vic
tins, appeared only 10 impress their compan-
ions with the sober reality Of a soldiers life.
There was no regular program t. carry out
/ yesterday-about the only thing to do being TO
get on the grounds and put up tents At 8
| y. M, however dress parade OF the Second
/ aud Third regiments occurred. Nearly all those
who came on the late afternoon trains
belonged 10 the First regiment, and hence
| that division was unable 10 partic-
| ipate in this parade. The Third regiment
| drilled on the open field west Of the cainp, be-
ing commanded by Col. r. W. Mcbride Of
| Waterloo, and the Second regiment took advan-
tage Of the open space 10 the east il was
commanded by Col. w. j. Mckee OF this city.
Gen. Ruckle inspected the parades from
| short distance, as did quite a number of ladies
| and their escorts who had driven mp from the
city.
The companies belonging to the First regi'
| ment are stationed In the northwestern portion
| Of the camping ground; those belonging 10 the
Second regiment in the southeast sechoni and