Democratic messenger., 1894-07-07
Back From FrOStbiirg.
Snow HILL, July 4th., 1894.

ceived letter Tor your last week issue,
from Company L., written while they
were in camp at Frostburg, Md After
we had sent the other letter there were
several exciting scenes in camp. On
the evening of June 2Sth Co. l.. was
detailed for special duty on the camp
grounds. During the evening con
cert was given bv the First Regiment
hand. The concert had hardly com.
mcnced. when the shrill notes of the
C'lnnel'> whistle startled everybody
within hearing, is they knew something
was up. was ordered TO take my
company and clear all the outsiders of
the grounds. which we quickly did.
The rest Of the companies in camp
quickly reported to To the Colonel's
whistle, and in the short space of eleven
minutes were ready to march. The
cause OF the excitement WAS the report
that several hundred miners were
marching on the Pump Shaft, deter
mined To blow il up. The Pump Shaft
is the most important place to guard,
as all the mines in the vicinity could
easily be flooded if the strikers had
once obtained possession of it. But the
report either proved false. or the strikers
thought better Of the undertaking, for
the trools were soon recalled and
ordered to 20 TO their tents, but to sleep
on their arms. To sleep on their arms,
means to sleep in their clothes, with
their belts and boots on with their rifles
close by. Company l.. was detailed
to 90 on extra guard duty with the
Frostburg company, and all the posts
were ordered to he doubled, that is, two
men at every sentinars beat. About
| | o'clock IL shot was heard close to the
Coloners tent. at once went to see
the cause of it. Private Widner, on
post No. 6. was found reloading his gun
very coolly. On being questioned it
was found that he had seen man
throw stone at him from the woods
near ny. A squad of Go. LIS men
were soon securing the woods but found
no trace of anyone. Very shortly
afterwards shots were heard on the left
of the line, here Company l.. was de-
ployed as skirmishers on the edge of
the woods. 1t was found that men had
been seen and stones thrown, but no
one was found that night. Altogether
Co. l.. fired nearly one hundred rounds
In the midst of all this, | am glad to
say, never saw the slightest bit of
cowardice shown, by any of my men.
Every man stuck TO his post and did
his duty well. 1t it had came right
down to good fighting believe Co. L.
would always he to the front. Too
much praise cannot be said of Captain
Adams and Co. f., OF Easton, all of
whom were on the greatest terms of
friendship with Go. l.. This can also
be said Of Captain Wright's company
Of Elkton. These companies comprise
what is known as the 2nd Battalion or
the Eastern Shore. They all stuck
together and were friends. II the
Eastern Shore OF Maryland ever re-
quires troops, it will take hard crowd
To get away with the Second Battalion.
The same can be said of the whole of
the First Regiment, |. NJ. \. c., rs
evidenced by the following article which
| have copied from the Frederick News
The Baltimore papers are fond OF
referring to the First Regiment as
composed of hayseed-countrymen, but
in comparison with the Fourth and
Fifth Regiments they are decidedly
the flower Of the Maryland militia,
and more to be depended upon for
faithful and effective service, than the
two Baltimore regiments combined.
The First Regiment is regiment of
men, not dudes and unter.jumpers. I"
think the Frederick Ners is near
ly right. We may he hayseeds. and
we may he ratified" but as in the
words of tho song composed in camp.
The Fourth and Fifth they wasn't in
it. The First were sure to win it.
Colonel Wilmer is the man that broke
the strike at Lonaconing"
Orders were received early Satur-
day morning for the Regiment to strike
camp that evening, and that the regi-
ment would leave Frostburg about 8
p. m. The men all seemed to be de-
lighted at the prospect Of getting home
again, although they had only had 10
days of active soldier life. The Reg
iment left Forstburg without any signs
of enthusiasm from the inhabitants of
the town, although good deal of
cheering was heard along the railroad
track as the train wended its way to
Baltimore, where we arrived safe and
sound about 6 a. m, and marched
to the Academy Hotel where we had
breakfast, after which we left for Union
Depot about S.l5, where special
train was in waiting for the Eastern
Shore Battalion, Company l.. arriv-
ed in Snow Hill about 3 p. m.. Sun
day afternoon-a hard looking crowd.
hut ready to turn out again at Il mo-
ments notice whenever the State desires
our services. Drummer Dyas Com
pany Is. new drummer, was the life
OF the camp, and his services as drum
mer, were called on by all the COM
panies of the regiment. Hoping this
will interest you and your readers. |
am yours very truly.
CHARLES :. CAPPER,
Captain of Co. l.. lst. Regt. !. VI. \. q.
MYSTERIOUS LETTER "B."
II FrightenS SuperstitiOu> PeO-
pie Out in Indiana.