The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-13
OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.
No Attempt to Play at Mimic War
at QuOnSet Point Camp.
SATISFACTORY DRILLS SO FAR.
Governor Brown Is at tho Camp and Will
Remain During the Week Both on
GERS and Men are Learning Valuable
Lessons Band Concert
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Yer chases yerSelI up ana down this
line and and salutes every officer yer sees
until yer gifts tired, then yer sits down
and makes yerself think yer walkin. ,
After while someone comes and relieves
yer"
IL is the duty of each guard to instruct
the man who comes to relieve him in the
duties the latter Is to perform. The
above is the lucid manner In which the
instructions were given Yesterday by one
guard TO MS comrade. Gugrd duty Is the
least pleasant OF the duties Of camp life.
Two hours on duty aud four hours of.
alternately, for twenty-tour hours
The beating rays of the screening
MONDAY sun are no excuse. Tue
steady march ceases not, though
storm and wind rage. Thu DIR. light
ming, aud even cyclones furnish no
means of escape from work. Sick
ness alone is the source of relief,
by the Rhode Island militia.
There is very little incentive to feign sick
ness, for the duties of the soldier camp
are very slight when compared with b is
comforts, and one might Almost say lux
uries. This system OF acting ldier In
times OF peace Is AS different from the
actual warfare as IL the two we're la 10
way connected. Tney are IN ore marked
by the contrast than by the resem blance.
Here there is not even an attempt made
to play at battle. The regiments of SOL
diers are called to the parade ground
twice each day for drill and once for
dress parade Each time they drill an
hour aud half. They march, counter
march, carry arms. shoulder arms, fix
bayopets, drill by squals. In skirmish
lines. form hollow squares, proceed sim
gle file, double file. and by platoons
But their motives are harpless, their
guns loaded with air and corked at the
end to keep tie damp out. When they
are tired they lie down on the
ground TO rest. Their evolutions ara ac-
con panied by stands OF musicians
gorgeously dressed, whose work, by the
way Is many. times more laborious
than that of the militiameu. When tue
drill is over they return TO their tents, and
are allowed to lie down on comfortable
cots, with blankets and head res s in
abundaI ce. Water Is supplied in copious
amounts. The men associate at times
with tneir superior officers aud between
the common soldier and the commanders
the distinct line is not too rigidly drawn.
There is 10 sudden call for dangerous
duty, no fear Of the enemy's attack, no
dread OF imp -niinqs Heath or imprison-
meift. The whole work is not more
severe than the aciu ] exercise that the
healthful human system neeis.
And what Is warfare Marching for
miles wit heavy kDapsack until the
exhausted soldier sinks by the roadside.
Rifles loaded ready for ambusc de where
death may come at any moment No
"hail fellow" companionship with the
office The soldier marches not nm
I'll ired, but all day. lie fights not until
weary. but until death or victory results.
He rests at night not in tents, but Oh the
ground with his knapsack for pillow.
Cold, hunger, thirst, disease. danger and
death are his constant companions IT Is
n life with whicl no other com pares.
The mcst arduous labor is play COM
pared with its hariships.
Yet Much is Learned.
Marked as is the contrast between the
citizen soldier and the soldier in war, it
is obviously not to the discredit OF the
former. 1t is possible that the duties
performed at camp might he made more
arduous then they are, but it Is doubtful
If the change would be any Improvement.
These ren are not preparing for war,
not even for probable war, but
rather for remote possibility
of war. Success in war depends on
the ability of the individual soldier
and the ability Of the commander TO
mobilize those machines into working
groups. The soldiers a. the state camp
are learning the first principles OF SEN
tient but a so mechanical action. The
officers are learning to use them singly
and in groups. 1t is but little In COM
parison with the unknown duties OF war,
but il Is indispensable as u meaos of
meeting those duties should thew arise.
The Drills and Parades.
The drills yesterday afternoon and this
morning were In every way worthy not
only Of the close attention but the num-
bers Of visitors who assembled to view
them. Governor Brown was attended
yesterday by Colonels Stearns and
Mowry. The governor and they will re-
main in camp until it closes. They sat
in front Uf the headquarters to
regiments make "A beautiful appearance.
AT the bugle call for assembly the men
appear by companies in front Of their
tents. Shoulder to shoulder they stand a
quarter of mile away, and reaching
aero the parade ground an equal dis
tance. Forward ~ march !" The line
moves almost as man. Forward by
fours ~ The line narrows up and the
breadth melts imperceptibly INTO length.
In quick succession the orders follow
each her. and almost as quickly the
line changes form or direction. Far off
IN an another portion Of
the parade ground the cavalry
are drilling. Near them the machine
gun battery is performing its evolutions,
"CannoBeers. pr pare t. mountP' "Cau-
poneers, mount ~ Forward by right
oblique" "Haltr' Prepare to firep'
and "Firev follow in rapid succession.
The gatling guns pour forth tneir dead
ly volley, one alone is equivalent to n
thousand muskets, and tue recently ac-
quired steel guns. fire more than
Thousand shos each minute. In face
Of such instruments as these warfare
b comes carnaue. Next in line are the
four guns Of the light artillery. AT short
intervals they belch forth a volley ami
the dull roar sounds as IL we're the deep
bass for the light tones of rafting ma
cl ine guns For an hour and half cav
airy, infantry and artillerymen. ovef
eight hundred men, move over the broad
fields, now closing IN, now widely separ-
n ed. making scene memorable To the
one who has taken the trouble TO come
to camp.