The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-14
CAMP IS over.
Troops Hated to Leave, So Enjoyable
Had Been the Muster.

The troops at Quonset Point broke
camp this afternoon and every one In the
brigade regretted it. When the colors
went down the infantry men cheered. by
" hard luck " and .too bad " were
groaned in concert after the three hur-
rahs. They hated to leave. 1t has been |
delightful week for all participants in the
annual encampment of the Rhode Island
militia and altogether satisfactory from
military point of view.
Yesterday was Governors Day; with all
due respect to His Excellency, IL might
also be called Peoples Day,
for the people were here In
thousands from the city and towns.
Camp was full OF visitors by noon
and then the Steamer Frances ar
rived with 1000 more in time to
Brown. The review was splendid mill
tary spectacle, attractive in all the
features that catch popular fancy and
without a flaw in the minute details
that are appreciated only by the students
of military practice. 1t was the best that
Rhode Island troops ever went through.
After review everyone possessed OF an
invitation proceeded to the big State tent
and enjoyed the Governors reception Tor
an hour. Distinguished guests were
the rule here rather than the ex-
ceptlon. Mayors and ex-Mayors,
and lawyers were present in force enjoy
ing salad and lemonade with all the
prominent military people of the State.
Dress parade followed the reception and
then, with the much dislikess~ mus
ter, the formal exercises OF the last
night in camp came TO
,an end. The informal part came inn
mediateiy afterward, and lasted long
enough to-. give the r~rss sentineis
plenty of opportunity to practice
their "who goes there?" Not that there
was any outbreak for the ''last night"
was the most peaceful for years,
but the guard was doubled,
over two hundred sentinels surrounded
the camp, and the cavalrymen were I'M
usually watchful for fires in the woods
just back OF their company streets. The
rank and file made the most OF the night
that military law allowed, and there was
story telling aud songs in all the COM
pany streets until taps.
The Last Evening.
Most of the fun last night was HARM
less. There was, however, one very serious
violation of military law. Companies
b and III of the First Regiment assumed
hostile relations toward each other and
had long conversational prelim-
mary about removing each other
from the face of the earth. That
|
! rope TO stretch across the end OF its street
| to trip up the enemy and they cut the
halyards off the big flag staff on the
parade ground. That is one of the
| offences that would have called for a
court martial in the regular army.
Cavalrymen made everyone along the
| line langh at their parade of horribles and
Indians with a live camel in the van.
| But this and lot more was all before
| taps. When the rank and file had been
| drummed and bugled into bed
and the double guard put on to see that il
stayed there, the privileged inhabi-
tants of the camp took moonlight
and understanding of the sentinels oi
held informal receptions al their respec-
| tive headquarters. The idea OF going tC
bed was very generally ignored, The
camp commissioners, Colonel HeydoD
Senator Cranston and Lieutenant Gates
kept open house at the cottage.
General Kendall entertained his staff al
brigade headquarters and served lunch
The officers talked about the work of tn,
week with nothing but favorable com
ment.
General Kendall had $50 stolen from hi
tent and Colonel X. q. Mowry lost gole
watch in the same way. That is all th'
crime that there was repoted.
Colonel Phetteplace called out th
LIST Regiment drummers last evening
and complimented the corp
on the excellence of IL
work. The colonel is one OF those officer
who never compliment without very goo'
reasons. This forenoon General Kendall
and his staff, mounted, had their pictnre
taken.
The Departure.
The first sign of breaking camp was a
10 o'clock this forenoon, when the Ma
chine Gun Battery drove pas
the brigade headquarters an
paid their respects to til
general. They were the first to leave
An hour later Battery A halted on tn
parade, gave the brigadier general
salute of eleven guns and the
followed the Calling guns OF
the dusty march to the city, and two G
the camp streets were deserted. Lieuten
ant Wooley says the Rhode Island artiller
il very nearly equal to the regulars.
The two troops OF cavalry bade the
formal farewell to the commander
!. at noon, and three minutes late
not horse nor rider could be seen fc
dust. IL was a little after o'clock tn
afternoon when the general and staff TO
lowed by the first and second regiment
the separate companies, the signal corr
and the bands left the grounds for IL
| boat The colors were struck and tl
| camp left i'm sole possession OF the swarm
. | OF MOSQUITOES that have had weeks fea
| on the blood OF the States defenders.
The last officer OF the day was Lieuter
ant Colonel McGsnn OF the Second Reg