The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-02
RESULTS OF CAMP LIFE.
THE ADV SOeY BOARD ON TIE
CiICEA ,.AU8A ENCAMPMBNT

ThOrOCgnly Equipped ana lis
cIrlinsd Organ zation-aow the En-
campmsnt appropriation Was Ex-
pended.
The military advisory boards report to
the governor upon the Chickamauga en-
campment, submitted to the legislature day
before yesterday, is an interesting review of
the troops during the late encampment.
The report is signed by Col. William
Garrard Of this oity. Capt. S. P
Gilbert Of Columbus aud Col C. M
Wiley of Macon. 1t takes up num-
Der of matters concerning which the public
will be glad 10 know. 1t deals with the
poor condition of the military
and the urgent needs for
state aid. Its recommendations, if adopted,
would place the state troops upon firm
basis. IL cOrrects a number of errors which
have been current concerning the work of
the advisory board and shows how the
money was spent at Chickamauga.
THE BOARDS CONCLUSION.
The advisory board reports that IL has
given very full consideration to the con-
dition OF the military force of this state, and
herewith submits its conclusions.
The present force OF the state, viewed as a
whole, il in a poor military condition, which
| reflects no credit upon Q commonwealth, but
| IL is gratifying TO note, that the effects Of the
benefit, more especially to those commands
| which served In Camp Chickamauga, and to a
| less degree, TO those which prepared for it.
The strict discipline of the camp. teaching
| the force to obey, as vel as to command and
| perfecting the men in guard and other camp
| duties, has planted the seeds, which we are
| sure will produce good results.
The fact Is incontestable, that Camp Chicka-
| manga has pnRandpFP1 fn1 military shirt
| throughout the force, and has instilled an
| earnest desire in officers and men to learn the
practical duties of soldier In the field, and to
| subordinate display to hard work and martial
| efficiency. II was noticeable that the tendency
| of the commands was to adopt rough and mex
| pensive service uniforms, and tie board is salts
fled that in the future simplicity OF dress will
| be the rule. The men have ascertained how i'm
| portant and interesting camp lessons are,
| despite the accompanying hsrdShips. They
have learned that the value of their services TO
| the state consists 10 tho knowledge of these
practical duties rather than in mere parade in
holiday attire. The board Is entirely satisfied,
| by tho experience at Camp Chickamauga that
| continuance of enCampments from year to
year will inure the force to hardship and equip
| it for any real service the state may demaud OF
it, and that no other mode of instruction can
possibly accomplish the same result.
A HIT AT THE NEWSPAPERS.
| II is to be regretted that the drift of some OF
the newspaper criticisms upon the encampment
were sensational, tending to induce the public
TO believe that one OF the main objects TO be
attained was fun and frolic, whereas the OPP
posite was the truth, the service being
duous one, which was well performed, as the
reports OF tie army officers will show, and if the
general assembly could have visited the camp,
as was contemplated, 10 would have been an
object lesson OF great value, demonstrating that
the volunteers of Georgia are real aud not play
soldiers.
The commands went into camp with larger
numbers than had been counted upon, es-
peClallY those from remote DOtntS
thus increasing the per diem
as we'll as the mileage, so that the
funds did not hold out for the complete training
Of all the troops. The experience gained in the
management OF this camp will b. of much
value In the future.
In this connection it may bs stated that the
board, under the resolution directing a perma-
nent camp, was compelled to visit various 10
callties aud inspect them, the expense of the
same being 1891 IS, which came out of the mill
tary fund, and there also had 10 be paid from
| this fund the expenses Of a general court mar
tial, amounting to $204 81, and also a deficiency
| due by tbs state on the camp at Augusta III 1890
| OF S9SS 81, and these deductions, together with
all the ordinary expenses of the year, and the
expenses of the cavalry camp at Savannah of
the Fifth regiment, had to come out of the
amount appropriated. thus lessening the fund
Tor actual use at Camp Chickamauga
The 81, contribute by the Crawdsh Springs
Land Company were expended in the arrange
ment and preparation OF camp grounds, the
building of mess halls stables kitchens bath
houses, hospital house. sinks, tent floors and
other equipments, leaving the state to pay about
$500 in excess Of said sum for these purposes.
THE CAMP ACCESSORIES.
The state has on hand all of said building in
GLIDING stoves, 600 tent floors, COO mattresses
and other camp accessories, the value of which
cannot be determined until the permanent
camp is located The state had only 213 tents
and was compelled to hire forty at So each from
discomfort.
The commands were compelled to supply
their own ratlonS going to and coming from
camp, in some instances amounting to two
days rations beyond the time for which they
received per diem allowance. One large Fegult
gained by the state, but, unfortunately, at the
expense OF the commands, is that thousands OF
dollars were expended in necessary equipments
FOR service such as blankets, leggins, overcOats
cap covers, baversacks, canteens, knapsacks
and such like, thus rendering the force at large
more effective and ready when called out by
the authorities for actual service.
Numbers of applications have been made for
the organization Of new Commands, which ap-
plications, the board was constrained, from a
stern sense of duty to lay upon the table for the
present, not to be taken therefrom until com
pete inspection shall have been made Of every
command in the state, which inspection has
been ordered, and will be- proceeded with as
rapidly as possible. The board takes purely
military view of this matter believing that the
governor and general assembly hold Il strictly
responsible for the equipment and organization
Of the present force in fact such is the language
of tao appropri alton act.
Tho present force of the state is fiftv-one com
panes of infantry, fourteen of cavalry aud
two of artillery of Georgia volunteers and
twenty-five companies of ooIored troops and
the rigid inspection TO be made Will unquestion-
ably cause to De diIbanded a number of the
commands Of both classeJ
INEFFECTIVE AND WORTHLESS COMMANDS.
The board deems it to be duty, after dis
banding ineffective and worthless Commands
and taking from them arms and equipments to
first put ia good military condition the co n
mands retained in the service, so they can be
moved effectively, fully equipped for service at
short notice, and second if necessary to or
| ganize new commands to the extent only as
the state is enabled to equip them fully, having
needs of the service
The board is satisfied that the object to be
attained should be, to have a compact we'll
| equipped and we'll organized force no larger
| than may be absolutely necessary.
| Georgia is no longer a purely agricultural
! state, Out mining manufacturing and com
merClal one as we'll Its population has very
| much changed, is more MIXED than formerly.
| and necessarily more turbu ent. Property and
| LIFE depend on stern and prompt enforcement of
the law. The executives right arm is thls vol
uuteer force, which the general assembly, in It's
wisdom under the mandate OF the constitution,
has begun 70 foster, train and equip, and
which, with patriotism and self-sacrifce is
striving hard TO attain proficiency 80 that il
may satisfy state pride aud sustain her dignity
and power. Recent events in neiZhboring
s.ate have shown the humiliation proud COM
monweaith may be subirc ell to, which. on the
Instant when law is dsfied openly and grossly
is compele to bargain and Maggie with rioters
because II has no power with which to force
them TO peace and obedience.
KIND WORDS FOR LIEUT.. sATrERLEE.
Tha SarvlcaS ~ n D