The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-11
STATE SOLDIERS IN CAMP.
Santa Cruz Succeeds in Producing a
Little Pleasant Weather.
Brigade Drills Undsr the New Tactics
Captain seymour's Trials-A
New Major Elected.

Especial Correspondence REcoRD-USIoS.l
CAMP COLUMBUS, Santa Cruz, Aug.
I0.-There has been a favorable change in
the weather, and camp life is now more
of a pleasure for the soldier boys.
Old Sol, after desperate struggle last
ing three days, broke through the heavy,
moist-laden banks of fog and clouds
yesterday afternoon, and the visitors
were given sample Of genuine Santa
Cruz weather. As there was little to do
at camp for several hours of the afternoon
there was grand rush for the beach. and
it is doubtful if ever before did such a
throng congreeate there. Hundreds in
dulged in surf bath, and as the breakers
were high and sportively inclined, every
body had an immense time. Those who
did not don bathing suits found ample
amusement in watching the bathers
being tossed about by the rollers. Those
of the bathers who were milltiamen,
many of whom never INDUCED in surf
bathing before, cut up all sorts OF capers,
and romped about on the beach ike I'M
tanned Comanches. They "ducked" each
other, and buried each other in the sand,
ran foot races and wrestled, danced
and yelled and swallowed gallons
OF brine They stayed until the
last minute and then hurried to camp for
dress parade. The boys play when they
get a chance, but when there is work TO
be done at camp, they go at it III bust
ness-like way.
BRIGADE TACTICS.
Now that the men have been works ed
well in company and reginental tactics,
they have been started in on brigade
work. The First Provisional Brigade,
under command of General 7. W. Shee-
han. was taken out on the parade ground
yesterday and worked for over two
hours. IL was a most important under
taking by reason of the recent adoption
of new tactics, and was watched critically
by the officers from the other brigades.
General Sheehan handled the great body
of troops admirably, his GOODNESS and
precision being commented upon most
favorably by the military spectators. But
the General came in for little more praise
than did the wide-awake officers under
him, who carried out his orders, MOI
the men who We're in the ranks. All
sorts of maneuVers were executed. AT
times it looked as though the entire
thousand men would get hopelessly
jumbled together, but just at that moment
would come a command which would
bring them into massed columns or some
other position. 1t was, indeed, interest
lily 70 DODONl. DuI the IIlOSt interesting
part of it was the battle drill. The men
were supposed TO be facing
AN IMAGINARY ENEMY,
And were placed in various points OF
vantage. Some company would be beaten
back by the foe, and Immediately another
company would be ordered TO take the
defeated ones place in double-quick
time. This one would get the worst of it,
too. and would be succeeded by another.
Then there would be a grand charge, in
which the enemy would be driven back
Many of the spectators became quite
worked up over the Imaginary battle and
would cheer the boys on Justify.
The men behaved like veterans, and
throughout the exciting and fatiguing
work not one of them fell out of line.
Yes, there was one, too.
1t was Captain Seymour of Sacramento.
The Captain, you know, is a heavy
weight, carrying quite load of superfiu-
GUS flesh, which interferes somewhat
with his wind. The Captains company
was ordered to the front during the battle
in double-quick time. The Captain is not
much of a sprinter and had hard time
keeping up with his men. But he scran-
bled along bravely, slipping and sliding
over the grass, stepping into gopher
holes and putting like locomotive.
When the Captain arrived at his destina-
ton the enemy could have knocked him
over with feather. He lost his sword
in the run and was otherwise dis
arranged. As soon as his company
Were ordered to fall back to make way
for another, the Captain collapsed. He
laid down in the road and prayed that q
tornado would appear in the hope that he
might catch some of the wind.
The boys joked him numerically, but
the Captain declares even yet that there
was no joke about it.
General Sheehan happened to ride by
when Captain Seymour was gasping il
the road. Like the others, he had Il
laugh. "Oh, General" moaned the un
happy officer, didn't you know I was
afoot when you issued that command p
STURDY NORTHERN BOYS.
General Sheehan and his staff officers
were highly pleased with the work o
Colonel Henshaw's northern citrus bel
soldiers in the brigade drill. The Colone
certainly has fine body OF men under
him. They are all strapping young feI
lows, ana, like their officers, are gentle
men III every sense Of the word. They
deserve a great deal Of credit, too, fo
their drilling. The companies COMPOSING
the regiment are considerably scattered
being in MarysVille, Oroyille, Red Bluff
Chico and Colusa. The difficulty OF get
ting together for regimental drills, eX
cept when in camp, as at present, will b
seen at a glance.
The Tenth Infantry Battalion, unde
= Colonel Chamberlain, also acquitted itsel
with credit. The companies making III
the battalion are located respectively a
Eureka, Humboldt and Arcata. The,
Il