The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-20

After innumerable delays the we ary
guardsmen of the Thirteenth regiment
arrived in this city from Camp Craw.
ford, Gettysburg, at 1890 Saturday
night, having been eleven hours en-
route. The city companies proceeded
at once to their armories and thence
to their homes while company G, of
Montrose. and Company E, of Homes
dale, departed by train for those places,
Early Saturday morning the men,
hers Of the Thirteenth were astir and
the work Of breaking camp began. So
anxious were some Of the boys to have
their preparations completed that they
did not go to sleep at all and also pre-
vented their less enterprising and am
bilious companions from securing any
rest. At 1880 the camp property. ex-
cept the tents, was all snugly stored
and being transported on wagons to
the railroad one-hGlf mile away. All
tents were taken down by O regiment
of the First brigade assigned to the
task, and sent to the state arsenal at
Harrisburg.
1t was 8. 80 when the assembly drum
sounded and few minutes later the
soldier boys turned their backs to Camp
Crawford and started for the railroad,
where they expected to find train in
readiness to take them to Scranton.
THE FIRST DELAY.
at the railroad no train could be
seen as far as the naked eye could dis
cern and it was after II o'clock when
the cars for the Thirteenth regiment
put in an appearance. At H. 80 the
homeward journey was begun aud four
hours later the train arrived at Har.
risburg, which is forty six miles from
the battlefield. From Harrisburg to
Northumberland good time was made,
but at the latter place the train
was held for about an hour
and several stops were afterwards
made between Northumberland and
this city, so that when the
guardsmen arrived in Scranton they
were hungry, tired and not little dis.
gusted at the poor transportation ia
cilities," 1t is the general opinion that
a division encampment should never
again be held at Gettysburg. The field
ia abominable during very warm or
wet weather. there is no place con-
venient for the men to bathe and the
water is such that few of the guards.
men can drink it, Added to this is the
miserable arrangements for reaching
the camp ground. The Philadelphia
and Reading company operates the
railroad running from Harrisburg to
Gettysburg and it apparently was un-
prepared to handle the immense trains
that conveyed the troops to camp. 1t
took tie Thirteenth regiment five
hours to go from Harrisburg to Get.
tysburg when going to camp and the
return trip was only an hour shorter.
Stops and delays Of every description
were innumerable
1T WAS AN EASY CAMP.
The encampment was a comparative.
ly easy one for the guardsmen. They
arrived In camp SO late on Saturday
that little work could be done, and on
Sunday and a portion of Monday the
rain prevented outdoor work Thurs
day was review day aud but little was
done by the soldiers save to prepare fol
that event. AS whole far less work
was demanded Of the soldiers than at 6
brigade eneampment.
One of the annoying features of the
encampment was the amount Of red
tape that was used at division head
quarters, from which General Snow.
den issued his orders. The latter has
an aggravated case Of what he prob.
ably believes is military hateur, but
which could be otherwise defiued; and
abont his headquarters were a number
OF we'll governed young officers, who
tried to be as intensely Snowdenish al
the general himself. They greatly
irritated and annoyed the soldiers anc
civilians who had occasion to yisi
headquarters on business.
One good result of the encampmsnt
/ is that the men have had a good oppor
tunity of becoming familiar with th,
new drill regulations and the praetica
operations OF the extended order.
The good work and splendid conduc,
Of the members of the Thirteenth al
during the encampment will do much
to increase the high esteem in which
it is held in national guard circles.