San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-12
THE WIND-UP.
FIRST STATE ENCAMPMENT OF
TEXAS CLOSING.

TEXAS CLOSlNG.
Already the Troops, Regulars and
Volunteers are leavlng-The
Doings at Camp Yesuer-
day and Today.
This afternoon after dress parade,
the first annual encampment and
camp of instruction of the Texas Vol
unteer Guards comes to an end.
Whether or not there ever will be
a second annual encampment held in
this city, or even in the state, is a
matter of doubt. If the legislature
listens to the demands made upon it,
it may be that regular encampments
and camps of instruction will become
q fixed and regular feature of the
yearly lie of the militia man But,
however that may be, it is a con-
coded fact this encampment has an
swered its purposes in degree highly
satisfactory to all concerned. The
army officers who have been con-
stantly in attendance pronounce it
short time available in ,instruc-
ton is concerned, and admit
that the progress of the men in learn
ing their duties Is such as should
make the bosom of every well-wisher
of the Texas Volunteer Guard swell
with pride.
The demand in military circles
throughout the state is universally
for state aid to the volunteer militia,
with view of promoting its efficien-
cy, cause more companies to organize,
and to provide for the maintenance
and instruction Of the militia and put
ting it on an equal footing with that
of other states. But there is no an
ticipation of the state responding very
literally for few years to come, and
Gen. King and some of the other
officers express themselves as
satisfied if the legislature makes
provision for yearly encampments so
that they can be independent of the
citizens of the place where the camp
is held, leaving the solons to the
course of time before the question of
uniforms and armorIes are brought up.
But the army men say that there Is
one thing that the state should do
and that is to provide the men with
manuals and copies of army regula-
tions so that before they come to a
camp they will at least have theo-
retical knowledge of the evolutions
and be prepared to put them to prac-
teal use. The lack of such works of
reference could be plainly seen
in the greenness of the officers
and men " no had to be instructed in
the first steps of soldiers existence,
thus consuming time that should
have been devoted to practice, and
that much time was consequently lost.
The place of holding the next
eucampment, II one is held,
cannot be guessed at. All things
considered, San Antonio is the
only place that an encampment can
be held at all. The railroad connec.
tions are splendid; it offers the most
desirable site, and the proximity of
the headquarters of the department
renders possible valuable assistance
from the government which could not
have been obtained elsewhere. The
men are all in favor of holding yearly
encampments at San Antonio, and
are all pleased with the city, and
especially its hospitality and the
sociability of its citizens.
CAMP LIFE.
Yesterday afternoon at the camp
was one of the regulation style, of
nothing doing and everybody taking
a nap or playing poker. AS soon as
the atmosphere began to cool off the
call for battalion drill was sounded
and the men. turued out to drill and
be inspected by Maj. Woodruff, ap-
pointed by the war department to
inspect the encampment. Mai.
Woodruff speaks in high terms of the
condition of the men and their oc-
coutrements. He has inspected
many encampments in the north AID
south and is an authority IN his line.
After litter drill by details from the
4th and regiments the crowd
began to gather together to witness
the dress parade and exhibition drills
which had been advertised to take
place. At $50 p. m. the four
troops of the 9th regiment, Sd cavalry
gave an exhibition drill wb CHI was
highly appreciated by the audience.
Following came the dress parade and
review, the seven bands on the
grounds being consolidated and FORM
Ing q magnificent spectacle. AS the
troops began to leave the grounds the
Belknap Rifles and the Houston Light
Guards left the line and marched in
front of the grand stand for an exhi-
bition drill. The two companies were
consolidated, every alternate man be-