Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-10

.-r|
,pa West Virginia State troops at the
sreampment at Gypsy Grove:
COLUMBUS BARRACKS,
September II, 1891.
rpee.0r GclCrUL Z. S. Il, Washing
tlp, ID. c.;
SIR: have the honor to submit re-
-,rr Of my inspection Of the militia Of
Vest Virginia, made pursuant to 10
..rrctions from the Adjutaut Generals
Caes. dated June 5, 1891, and from
r..r Office June 10, 1891. On June nth
/ reported by letter 10 the Governor OF
the state, announcing my detail AID Its
IMPOSES, and requesting instructions
f1r any specia, duty he might require.
In answer / received General Order No.
a. Adiutaut Generals Office, State OF
West Virginia, directing me to Inspect
+fe troops taking part in the encamp-
mont. commencing September 3, 1871.
Cr -he morning of the I'd of September
reported i'm person 20 Brigadier-Geu-
oral B. ID. SpillmaE, commanding sald
trc1us. The camp was located at TYP
sy Grove, a place used for campmeet-
ir-s and picnic grounds, on the Monon-
psbeIa river and on the line Of the Mon
CrraheIa River railroad, twelve miles
from the city OF ClarkSOurg, w. va
the nearest town The ground was
mostly wooded, with lew cleared
s1aces, but not enough for company
drills An adjacent pasture was secured,
however. i'm which battalion drills and
dress parades were had by the First
REGIMENT. The Second regiment-the
smauest-had It's battaliOH drills and
dress parade on grounds within me nm
IT'S of the grove.
This grove was totally untitled Tor
the purpose of enCampmentS IOr TWO
regiments, not having enough cleared
space. The drainage was good. Water
had 10 be hauled from well about four
hundred yards 10 the Campand was sup
ried In ample quantities. IL was
s.frhtIy suIuhuric. There We're no
tents for the use OF the troops, except
the bands OF the TWO regiments pres
err These tents, with those used by
tle brigade and regimental headquar-
tsrs. were hired for the occasion, and
were of an descriptions. The enlisted
men of the command were Quartered In
old frame buildings used by camp meet
- ing parties. They were dark, gloomy
and filthy, and fit for nothing but
kindlng wood. These buildings were
u'entifuny supplied with loose straw,
which was not removed during the en-
csmDment. The condition OF the rooms
can. therefore, be imagined. The camp
was not poliCed until the fifth day OF
rre QmDment-therefOre It's cOndl-
tion was bad. Sinks were not erected,
aud the surrounding country was used
accordingly.
The organized force Of the State was
an camp on the night of September 2,
1901. and consisted Of the following
troops. commanded by Brigadier Gen
eral Spillman: First West Virginia In
fantry, nine companies, thirty-One COM
uissiOued officers and thres hundred and
-frr-tv-1 enlisted man. -pcer.0- tN ~
tWeuty-fOur commissioned officers and
two hundred and thirty-seven enlisted
men, making a grand total OF ffJy-fve
commissioned officers and FIVE hundred
and eiyhty-nine enlisted men. Each
company has an armOry rented by the
State, but several complaints were made
% me that they were too small for drill
purposes, and that drill could only be
had outside during the mild months of
year. III better rooms were furnished
them, / believe that the efficiency of
the companies would De very much in
creased. There ere no cavalry or artil-
Ter organizations In the State. The
C0mspuy was armed with the Spring
field rifle OF the following patterns, viz:
One company with pattern of 1870;
seven companies with pattern of 1878;
seven companies with pattern OF 1854.
TIE regulation waist belt aud Nc
keeyer cartridge box was used,
and were In fair condition. The
entire command will shortly be
supplied with the latest pattern of
Springfield rifle. The old pattern rifles
were in bad condition, and evidently
had received no care. The new patterns
Were in fair condition, but better could
lot De expected, owing to the wet
weather which prevailed, and the ex-
posture % which they were subjected.
Zach company was equipped with
blanket bag aud canteen. The clothing
worn was the same as is used in the
army OF the United States. Every COM
pany but one had full dress uniforms,
aud all had UudreSS. Blankets have not
yet been supplied by the State, aud
each man brought with him a blanket or
Quilt. OvercOatS have not been furn-
ished, nor are the men supplied with
UuderclOth,ng. The ratiOns were Of
good quality, not well cooked, but were
abundant In quantity, the men getting
an they desired The cooking was done
by hired cooks, OF whom there were not
enough, nor were the facilities for cook
ing az an ample. On the first two days
Of the encampment there was consider
able delay in feeding the men, partly
from want OF facilities for cooking, and
partly for want of supplies, but the lat
ter cause was removed on the third day.
RGti0nS were issued daily by the Brig
sie CommiSsary 70 an officer OF each
regiment detailed TO supervise the
mounting was held each morn
Ing, guards were detailed and
mounted by regiments. As none Of the
men or officers had been mounted be-
fore, each detail and most of the officers
had 90 De instructed In this duty, IS had
every sentinel who was posted, but be-
fore the euCGmpment closed, there was
great Improvement IN every thing per
tanning % guard duty. Drill was had
morning and afternoon, when the
weather permitted, In the school OF the
soldier and company; but one battalion
drill was had, as the bad condition Of
the field would not admit OF more. |
Nearly all the officers and men were
backward in drill, and lt was plain that |
the msiority of the officers had not |
thought 10 necessary 10 study their |