Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-08-05
Special TO the Register.


Virginia National Guard commences
here Tuesday. At present everything
is hurry and hustle at the grounds, and
by the time the troops arrive all pre-
liminary preparations will have been
made and everything will be in order
for their reception.
For the past week force Of men
have been at work levelling the grounds
and clearing away the little debris that
| had accumulated. running water mains
into the grounds. and in other ways
making things ready to make the stay
of the soldier boys as pleasant one as
possible.
CAMP M'CORKLE
is in the same location as was Camp
Blennerhassett, and a better place could
not have been secured. Ever since
Camp Blennerhassett the officers and
priva,es have been DESTROYS of return
ing here. mainly because of the excel
lent location of the grounds. 1t is
said 10 be the best place in the State
for the encampment and there is some
| talk of making them the permanent
camping grounds. But this talk has
been INDUCED in every year since the
organization of the militia and no def
mite results are expected to ensue.
Orders have been issued for the differ
ent companies TO leave their respective
stations August (to-moTow), and they
should all arrive here that evening.
The Second Regiment Will come in
over the Ohio River railroad from the
lower end of The State at 3:45 p. NJ, and
the First Regiment will arrive here
over the Baltimore and Ohio about two
hours later. They will march at once
TO the camp. where the work of
ERECTING THE TENTS
will keep them busy until late at night.
Each company will be required TO put
their own tents in position, while de-
tails from the different companies are
erecting the brigade and regimental
tents. No separate companies will be
assigned for fatigue duty as has been
the case heretofore.
Not only the soldiers of this State,
but a considerable portion of the militia
al over the country is making its sum
mer encampment this month. That the
boys in blue may have a good time is
the general wish of citizens. for there
is warm feeling toward the National
Guard of the country, whose services
have been called upon in emergency
a number of times in late years, there
being in every instance 8 ready re-
Spouse,
Twenty years ago the National Guard
comprised a spectacular contingent.
chiefly used on holidays and parade
days and a public celebrations. Those
who enjoyed a good show appreciated
the military highly and loved to see
them march gayly by, with band play
ing and banners waving in the breeze.
But there were other more grumpy
and practical persons. who considered
the maintenance Of these forces use
less expense in a country like ours.
where peace is the rule. The great
riots Of 1877 opened the eyes of every
one, including the grumblers. and il
was shown that the keeping ND of a
good militia was worth all it costs.
There was an immediate reorganization
of the citizen sold.ery and in many
OF the States the standard Of discipline
and equipment was raised nearly to
that of The federal army.
THE VALUE OF THE MILITIA
is shown by the fact that in 1894 the
services of the soldiers were required
and with alacrity were given in fifteen
States-in some several times-and that
but for their ready response the con-
sequences might have been serious.
Their presence in places where the
place was disturbed no doubt saved
both lives ana property. Undoubtedly
the National Guard is a great source
of strength and should be literally
dealt with by the legislatures Of the dill
ferent States.
New York approprates 100000 an
nually, Pennsylvania 100000. and Mas
sachusetts over 100000 to maintain
their State forces. West Virginia sets
aside $1,000 a year, while Arkansas
contributes nothing, depending upon
the allotment made from the appropria-
ton Of the United States and the sub
scriptons of members and friends of
the organization At Camp MacCorkle
there Will be eighteen companies. hay
ing on an average of forty members.
The officers from the COMMANDMENTS
Chief down to the Second Lieutenants
number about is. So in all there will
be about
S35 SOLDIERS IN CAMP.
For the first time since the organiza-
ton of the National Guard the First
Regiment will have its full quota of ten
companies. The Second Regiment.
which had its full quota at Camp Jask-
son, viii have only eight companies this
year. The changes in the First Regi-
ment are the mastering out of Compa-
MES at Bethany and D at Ansted. and
the mastering in of Companies A at
Elkins, and b at Keyser; D at Berkeley
Springs; G at Palatine and | al Charles
Town. The changes in the Second Reg
iment are the mastering out Of Compa-
MES K at Charleston, and B at Buck
hannOn
Company D, of the Second Regiment.
located at Hinton, J. A. Parker captain,
has the distinction of being
THE OLDEST COMPANY IN THE
STATE,
having been in service since March %.
1888. The oldest company Of the First
Regiment is Company F, at Burton, R.
B. Ash, captain having been mustered
in June p. 1890
The first encampment was held in