The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-08-21

When 1t was first announced that the an
nual encampment of the Vermont National
Guard would be held this year at Fairlee,
some OF the state papers attempted to be
funny, and by 80 doing made themselves
ridiculous by calling the camp-ground
General Gilmore's back yard" II the
polite and efficient quarter master general
has such back yard, every member of the
| military organizations that camped there
| last week, as well as the thousands of cl-
villains who visited the camp during the
week, are anxous to get glimpse OF his
| front yard. A more convenient, pctnr-
esque and serviceable ground than that Sc
lected this year on the shore of Morey Lake
would be hard to find, and the fact that il
was admirably adapted to the purposes for
which it was selected was appreciated by
| officers and men.
Lying just north of the picket line is
Morey Lake, body Of deep, clear water,
three miles long by nearly a mile wide, sur
rounded by echoing hills. The rich, green
sward Of the parade ground prevented any
annoyance from dust, and reduced DO.
lice and fatigue work around the com.
pany streets to a minimum. The only
drawback was the difficulty Of obtaining
supplies. The little hamlet Of Fairlee,
half mile away, was hardly prepared to
supply the wants of the 1 200 men who sud
denly invaded their pastoral valley, and
| those who dealt in whatever was needed or
stock in trade and telegraphed for more.
| 1t was particularly noticeable throughout
the week that the general order about the
camp was excellent from day to day, and
| the morality OF the men was most com.
mendable. Those in charge OF the guard
tent had little to do, and no one, this year
can characterize the annual muster as a
weeks drunk" Many OF the officers were
accompanied by their wives, who remained
throughout the week, thoroughly ENJOYING
| the hand and partioinatipt, int ba
impromptu hops gotten up by summer Wis
itors on the shores OF the lake in honor Of
their military visitors. Rev. Charles Day
Of Brattleboro, the new chaplain of the reg
iment held religious services every evening
which we're we'll attended. His first service
put him en- rapport with the rank and file,
and his manly way of holding religious SER
vicess won him many admirers and friends.
In short, the camp this year, reinforced
by detachments of cavalry and infantry
from the regular army, was an object lesson
in modern methods of warfare which af-
forded both entertainment and instruction
to thousands Of Vermonters, especially
those residing in the valley of the Connec-
target practice was all within sight of the
visiting thousands, who never seemed to
tire Of watching the targets and recording
the results
1t is unnecessary here to review in detail
the work of the regiment from day to day,
No rain fell to interfere with the drills or
target practice, and the heat of the sun YVES
tempered by refreshing breezes that swe pit
down from Lake Morey. Shooting for the
silver cup, and the individual prize shoot
ing occurred Thursday morning. The con-
test for the cup was between ten picked
men from each company, off hand at two
hundred yards. Company OF Brattleboro
won the prize for the third time, making
1913 out of possible 265 points. Private j.
e. knights of Company I won first prize
| for ipdiv iduQl Workmanship nriva
p. Springer of Company +, second, and
Sergeant F. L. Hopkins of Company 1,
third.
A pleasant social feature OF Thursday was
the ride around Lake Morey rendered Mrs.
Governor Woodbury. and the ladies of the
camp by Mrs. General Gilmore. The two
steamers and barges were chartered and the
brigade band accompanied the party.
Friday was Governors Day, and the five
thousand or more spectators thoroughly en-
joyed the series OF movements, drills and
parades that characterized the day A
sham fight occurred in the morning, in
which the infantry, cavalry and artillery
took part. The final repulse Of the sup.
posed enemy by the charge Of Captain
Hardie's cavalry seemed more like actual
warfare than sham fighting, and the deafen.
ing roar when the entire battery opened fire
was very realistic.
At the artillery target practice that fol.
lowed, the target was mile and three
teen shots fred three struck the target and
one pierced the bulls eye.
About one hundred Of the visitors in
camp were rendered a dinner, Friday noon,
at the headquarters mess table. The COM
pany included many prominent and distin-
guished men of the state. Senator Morrill,
sat on the right of Governor Woodbridge,
and Senator Proctor on his left. Among
the other guests were noticed Lieutenant
Governor q. M. Mansur, Hon. G. W.
| oil unfo tata
o. Howard, Major L. T. Morris, U. S. A.
Ex-Governor G. Page, Ex-Governor j. l..
Barstow, Ex-Governor 8. K. Pingree, ex
Governor Roswell Farnham, Hon. Josiah
Grout of Derby, Senator Frank D. White
of Rutland, Captain a. s. Foster, U. s. A,
General John G. Mccullough, Colonel e
d. Bennett and Hon. Henry G.. Root of
Bennington, Hon. .. j. Bell OF Walden,
Hon b f: Lincoln OF Lyndon, Hon. j. W.
Brock and l.. Bart Cross Of Montpelier,
Bots Of Randolph, Colonel j. FL. Goulding
OF Wilmington and Surgeon. General 8. p.
CARLY of New Hampshire National Guard.
Many of these gentlemen were accompanied
by their wives or lady friends
he regiment wAs reviewed by Governor
! Woodbury. in the afternoon. The chief ex.
ecutive was accompanied by Lieutenant
Governor Mansur, General Howard, Major
Morris, General T. S. Peck, Surgeon. Gen.
eral JENNIE, Genera E. L; Bates, and
SOiohois dihoii DOby anu SudScY al
mounted AS the three one-armed veterans
= Woodbury., Mansur and Howard-rode
abreast on the field scene of enthusiasm
followed. The line of veteran soldiers who
had been given seats OF honor on the pa
rade ground started cheer which was
caught up by the thousands surrounding
the parade ground, cheers that ended in a
rousing tiger" for the three Union veter-
ans who lost their right arms in the defense
of their country.
At the close of the review Governor
Woodbury. awarded the prizes for shooting,
and also the following service badges Vice
Lieutenant-Co Colonel James A. Lillis, Adju-
tant Assistant General First Brigade; Cap.
tain f. w. Wild, First Battery; Captain
Frank L. Howe, Company F; e. Fl. Put
nam, First Battery; Lieutenant-Co Colonel A.
T. Mcclure, First Battery; Lieutenant P.
+. Connors, First Battery; Sergeant James
M. Mooney, Company B. For ten years
, service-Captain ] f. Lambert Company
Ii b. b. Perkins. Company B; Charles b.
Carr, Company ID; Edward r. Coon, Com
pany #. For five years. service-Sergeant
Edward G. Bennett, Adjutant Sergeant,
First Regiment; Quartermaster- Sergeant