Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-14
THE ENCAMPMENT.
CAPT. BARRETT. OF rHs REGULAR ARMY
TALKS ABOUT IT.
Many Of the Runners Gross Rxaggsrations = Inc
Mistakes and Shortcomings = The West
Virginia Soldiers Good Onfs-Ihs
Progress Made at Drills

The following, from the Truth O.
Clarksburg, is sample of comments or
the late encampment OF the Nationa
Guard of the State, which have beer
flying around through the papers since
the various companies comprising the
two regiments arrived at their severa
homes:
"The meeting for the encouragement OF
inebriety, politely called an encampment
was disgrace to the State. Whlskey was
common drink and it was consumed II
enormous quantities. Notall OF the officers
were drunk all the time, but many were
drunk most of the time, while the camp and
its surroundings were frightfully dirty and
unkempt. The mud and stencil was terri
BILE. There was one complete round OF dis
satisfaction, of petty authority from shall.
| low pates who bore dry land titles and
swagged about in ill-ftting clothes with
| disproportionate ornaments. 1t was
one bacchanalian bum from end to end.
| There was no authority that was not
hated, detested and cursed by the men, and
the names Of superior officers became BY
word and the officers themselves mere
! laughing stock Favoritism showed up
everywhere. There was no discipline, and
we are told that when ordered out to drill
every man but five of one company was
drunk. Officers marched companies about
the drill ground when they were so drunk
they could scarcely walk. The companies
here and at Buckhannon are already MAX
| ing necessary arrangements to be mustered
out"
The clipping was shown Capt. G. b.
II IT vAA h1fU n
the encampment, by direction OF the
Secretary of War, last night. The Cap
tain said:-
$50 far as my observation went-and
| was on the grounds during the whole
of the encampment-the article is d
gross eXaggeration. AS matter OF
course, the encampment was not what
it should have been. 1t would not bear
comparison with the State encampments
of such States as Pennsylvania, or New
York, or Ohio-no one expected that 1t
would. Officers and men were alike
green, having had no previous exper-
fence in camp life, but all things con-.
sidered, the affair was productive OF
good. No officer was intoxicated on
duty, to the best of my knowledge and
belief Some OF the men were
drunk, it is true, but under
the circumstances, that could
hardly have been prevented. The
men OF one company, which l will not
name, seemed to have particularly
large supply of liquor and at one muster
of the company but eight fell into line.
That was bad, or course, but it could
scarcely have been prevented, as say,
under the circumstances. 1t is too bad
that exaggerated accounts of drunken
ness. ETC., should get into print"
Glow about the accommodations for
the men?"
"They were far from being what they
should have been. And that is true Of
the officers, too. 1t arose from inexpe
rence. Tents for the men should have
been provided, by all means. If the
Governor had made application to the
Secretary of War they would have been
forthcoming. Other States get tents
for bHs W t9sif Vffs44RRfSg The 'nsAh o-%gS
of food, especially during the
first few days, is fact,
but energetic action largely remedled
this, and / am sure there will be much
less trouble at second encampment.
Proper care was not taken to look after
the comfort of the men. Some regular
army officer experienced in encamp-
ments should have been on the ground
a week before the encampment opened
with company of men for fatigue duty,
and a sufficient force of laborers, car
penters, etc. Supplies should have
been brought up, tents pitched, essen
tial conventenceS provided, etc, so that
when the men arrived they would have
warm, dry tents, clean blankets in
proper numbers, and so on. None OF
these matters were adequately attended
TO, hence the grumbling and discomfort
among both officers and men. l have
no doubt these matters will receive due
attention next year"
what do you think OF the personnel
of the West Virginia soldiers?"
"They are first class body OF men,
energetic, quick, and anxious to learn,
and they made great progress during the
week they were in camp. The weather
was beastly, as you know, but in the
face of this, and without proper par
ade ground, the marching and wheel
ing of the men, on the review on Gov
ernor's day was splendid. 1 was sur
prised and gratified. hope this talk
about companies threatening to disband,
ETC., will not be persisted in. 1t would
be unfortunate. The men, with few
exceptions, are all right, and should
stick it out. The company and
line officers also did great work, for the
most part. and were of the stuff good
soldiers are manufactured from. l In
tend to commend the National Guard
for receiving much benefit under some
trying difficulties, and to credit them
with being an excellent body of men.
As for the shortcomings of the encamp-
ment in other respects, / feel that the
mistakes and errors will be rectified,
and that next year there will be vast
improvement"
ADOLF LALLoZ, carriage manufac-
n. DE- Pol ~