The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-13
BREAK RANKS.
The Camp Raised and the Fat
Sergeant IncOnsOlable.
The Defenders Of the State Indulge in Hilarity
and Fight Bloodless Battle-BrOken
Hearts the Only Damage

CAMP MARKHAM Santa CRUZ, July r.
Camp Markham is thing of the past, and
it was sun-buTned, jaded and dirty lot of
boys which left Santa CIuz for home this
forenoon. Not one in the brigade perhaps
returned to his home without feelings of
regret. Saturday evening practically saw
the last of the camp.
Its end was glorious one, made such by
review, followed by sham battle In the
early evening and at night by brief seas on
OF jollity. during which the demands upon
the hospitality of the soldiers were taxed to
The full bounds, and likewise responded to.
No more glorious night or days could have
been desired-as the one recorded by the
thermometer in the fat Sergeant's tent.
The review was TO Brigadier- General c. c.
Allen, AdIutant- General of the State, and if
anything were desired to show the beneficial
results OF an encampment in the field ii was
the splendid marching and movements on
that march in review. 4 review of large
body oil troops is under any circumstance
stirring sight, and this was none the less so.
In fact, from the appearance and behavior
of the men it was pardonabeif any one mis-
took the parade for one of regulars. The
dress parade was omitted because Of the
hard work to follow the review.
The troops were marched TO their quar-
tiers, changed the dress for the fatigue uni
lnTn, blank cartridges were distributed to
The men-twenty rounds to eacl-aud the
Companies anxously awaited the long roll
the cali to arms. The attacking party
consisted of the Second Artillery, with its
Light Battery-the Tenth Infantry, Tempo
IATliy attached TO il during camp, having
lett on Friday afternoon, escorted by two
OF the cumlamies-and the defenders were
the other three battaliOns ana he san Fran
cisco HusSars.
There was no further pTearrangcd pro-
Gramme than that the attackers should at
tyck and the defenders defend, General
Dickinson being IN the field and directing
The movements on the spur OF the moment
through his staf and the medium of the
Siguai Corps. The attacking party held an
excellent and high position beyond the IA
vine at the upper end OF the parade ground.
All at once one of the guns of the Light
Battery opened up ire ON the camp; The
long roll was sounded in the three camps :;
First SeTseants fell in their companies, and
The latter were marched out in dOube-time
upon the parade ground and formed inc.
IL was all excitement, with loud commands,
Tie booming OF PARROTS and the rafting of
Husketry by the attacking party. Sklrmish-
eTs were depOyAd straight upon the enemy
ana also against his hlnks; one line of
skirmlsherS relieved another; battalions
were marched to the front, poured calling
IRE into the opposing force and fell back
yOlleys were fired 10y company, wing and
battalion.
The scene OF action was enveloped in
cloud Of smoke: the musketry was kept up
industriously all along the line; aids were
riding madiy conveying orders; battalions
charged at double time with the men Yell
ing at the top of their voices and officers
made themselves b0arse in the attempt to
make their orders heard above the COM
biaed din of cannon and musketry and
human throatS The attacking party main
tllned Its position and finally the cavalry
charged upon the enemy's left, dslodging
HIM, and held the newly gained position
with the support of the infantry, which
here expended its ammunition.
The defenders had gone beyond the line
of the raYlne and the excitement at the last
charge was so great that but for the COM
mand TO halt the line of the enemy would
lave been run over; it would have gone
ha-d with him and he would have been
utterly routed. IN fact, so far had the de-
lenders advanced on the enemyss right that
Colonel Macdonald rode up and ordered the
Fast and Fifth Iniantry's boys back. They
had advanced TO the break OF the elevated
- plateau, where the enemy had been placed.
The only disappointing feature Of the sham
battle for those that took part in it was that
the coutending PARTIES were not allo wed to
come nearer TO each other to permit of at
tempis TO capture the colors. But this
would have resulted in broken heads and
bruised limbs and General Dickinson had
PROBABLE thought of this. Moreover the
attacking party was almost twice outRum-
bered and the conflict would not have been
an equal one.
The scene was one worthy of the brush
Of the painter for a very spirited picture.
The effect would also have been greatly
heightened If it had taken place at night.
lie outer edges OF the parade-ground were
crowded with vehicles and spectators,
and The sloping hills dotted with human be-
ings during the progress of the battle.
Tie night was given up to sociability
music and adleuX and receptions were held
oil lou laa lF.n.
awake Quartermasters then packed up the
major portion of their company property
before reveille. The guards had little to do
during the night. But after revelle and
breakfast transformation was soon eff
tected. All hands were put to the work of
packing for transp Ortation, the light and
personal baggage to 90 Immediately and the
heavier by freight. The streets, which had
been all that cleanliness and order could
make them, were Uttered up with debris
aud packages; men were hauling and max
ing up packages and perspiring in the warm
sun; huge express wagons were piled up
with goods and driven off 10 the railroad
depots, and then to return for more.
An incredible amount of work was done
in a short time by willing hands, and be-
fore 10 O'Clock nothing WAS left TO do save to
strike the tents, form line and march home.
The arrangements were that thu Second
Artillery and First Infantry should leave
by tie broad gauge at 1920 aud 80
o'clock, connecting and making one train a
Pajaro, and the Fifth Infantry. with the
Signal Corps, al Y 20, and the Third, with
the Husssrs, by the narrow gauge at u 80
General Dickinson and staff by the regular
train at 2:20 O'Clock. The amount of bag
gage carried off was something incredible,
owing to the luxurious tastes of some of the
COMPANIES. From brigade headquarters
enough Of material in the line of furniture
was sent away to have filed quite a house.
The Second Artillery and Fifth Infantry
struck tents at signal and their camps lay
futterlng on the ground at the given word.
The First and Third left rear-guards to take
down the tents.
A ceremony was enacted in front of Cen
eral headquarters which is somewhat of a
novelty in National Guard encampments in
this State. All the color companies with the
regmental standards were formed as bat
TALON in hollow square about the colors
with their respective bands, Lieutenant
Colonel Roster of the Second in command
and Captain zimmerman as Adjutant
Arms were presented, the Dugle sounded to
the colOrs, the garrison flag came down by
the run at the last note, the bands played
the national cir and the Brigadier-General
and all officers accompanying him dropped
Their chapeauX and caps.
1hls ceremony was marred, however in
several respects, chief among which was
the one that the bands did not play in har-
mOny but each in turn stopped when it was
apparent that there was no overcoming the
discord consequent upon not commencing
when the cue was given.
The Light Battery was the first organiza-
ton to leave camp anu with it the Second
Artillery's foot companies; next the First
Infantry, and Colonel Barry and his men
cheered il as 1t passed by the Thirds camp
The battery made such late start and the
Second Artillery, which should have en-
barked at the upper depot. marched way
down to the beach, that the battalion was
for time lost, while the train for it was
waiting at the depot The embarkaton of
the horses and guns was so slow that the
First Infantry, which had marched through
the principal streets to the freight-yard, was
delayed for an hour and a half in its de-
parture. The Second likewise DELAYED the
departure from San Francisco on the 4th.
These battalions arrived in the city about
o'clock, and the Third ard Fifth, which
left camp much later, arrived one full hour
in advance. All the troops made short
IA radns tLrnmph the ctu Of Santa Cruz