Telegram-herald., 1890-07-24
BOYS At CAMP BLACK
The Telegram Herald's Special "
Tells All About Them
IEyIIsC on THE OLD CAMP CROUsD
The Lads Had Great fine Yesterday,
hut Ioday the sternsr Realities OF
Camp Lite Begfns-The Men
Highly CoRPilIaentsd.

Special Correspond enee l1LE EGRAN-hEkALD
CAMP BLACK, july 23.-The boys sre
tenting on their old camp grounds, but
as yet al is excitement and confusion,
aImany of the companies have only
just arrived. The familiar scenes OF a
year ago are being revived and Lake
Goguac presents a scene picturesque IN
the extreme. The tents are pitched on
an elevated plateau at the base OF which
is the beautiful sheet OF water men,
toned above. The city of Battle Creek
ls two and one-half miles distant. IL
lies III the Kalamazoo Valley and the
foliage OF the country completely hides
II from sight. Ii WAS nearly noon when
companies /, X and B arrived IN the
city. They were joined at kalamazoo
by the Kalamazoo Guard, and as the
train pulled into the depot II seemed
as If all the city had turned out 10
greet them. The far sex predomnated
and the boys gave three rouslng cheers
as they entered the depot.
Then commenced the march TO the
lake, "A distance which Is yarlously esu-
mated at from two TO three and one
half miles. The troops, however, scout
this idea, and last night they were will
ing to wager all they possessed that It
was at least five miles. One OF the
Grand Rapids BOYS facetlously remarked
that he thought 1t WAS at least hun
dred. The city authorities, however,
We're conslderate enough TO sprinkle the
road TO the lake, thus laying the sand
and dust and making the trip at least
comfortable.
The Grand Rapids companies were
the first of the State troops, except the
advance guards, to reach the camp.
After the muster they were assigned to
10 their respective quarters. The
Second Regiment is located next 10 the
FIRST Regiment Of the brigade. The
Fourth are ON the extreme left and the
Third between the Second and Fourth.
When the boys were ordered TO
break ranks, they made rush
for their tents, and TO
their surprise found that the
advance guard had not been
idle. In an hour the camp homes were
turned into verltable palaces. Many OF
the tents were decorated with pictures
and inscriptions were written on the
ontside of the canvas which read as
follows: "The Hungry Five" 1--WE
Never Get Left" Always on Time
| for Grub" etc. For time good humor
| reigned supreme, and when the order
! to fall in for dinner was given, IL was
| Judged that none had left their appe-
| tite behind them, for their movements
would have done credit to the regulars.
After dinner the captains gave the
boys their liberty TO do as they wished.
| They warned them, however, against
ungentlemanlv behavior, and also told
| them they would have To report in the
evening for dress parade. The boys
received this as a joyful piece of news
and soon they were on their way to the
lake or the city, as their fancy directed
them.
Companies kept coming in all day,
and by night II was estimated that 5000
soldiers were on the field. The Fourth
regiment arrived at O'Clock, and the
others came struggling along. Menom-
lnee has the banner company of the
brigade, Company X, OF Grand
Rapids. comes next with six-elght men;
Company has forty-five men, and ten
more are expected by Sunday. Com
papy has forty eight men. The men
are all enjoying themselves tonight,
but tomorrow the stcarn realities of
camp life will begin, when the regular
routine will be commenced.
The Nineteenth regulars, Of Fort
Wayne, under command of Col. OTIS
Smith, have been attracting much atten-
ton. The Texans, for they were lately
transferred from san Antonio TO Fort
Wayne, are fine looking lot of men,
and there many Jolly ones among
them. 1t was after the colonel of the
Twenty-third, which regiment went to
Texas in place of the Nineteenth, that
Camp Black was named. Joe Dexter,
an old Grand Rapids boy, is a private
of tho Niuatcoptb