The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-08-18
BOYS IN BLUE AT NIANTIC'
FIRST DAY or THE STATE ENCAMP-
 MENT OPENS 4 USPICIOUSLY.

Years Camp-Work of the Signal Corps Yesterdays Drills-An Liquor Pro- hibited-How the Regiments Arrived Scenes From Camp Life and Other Inci- dents of the BiVouac.
 The finest of August weather smiled upon the first days work of the Con- necticut brigade at Camp Graham at Mantle yesterday. It would hardly do to say that the soldier boys painted the staid old town red, for that would be contrary to good military discipline, but the blue uniforms of the National Guard were so predominant about the place that it had decided military aspect for these piping times of peace
 The troops began to arrive in camp by the early trains and by noon Camp Graham was alive with the state troops
 The men found the tents all ready to be occupied, and the early hours of the day were spent in settling down for five days of tent life and military dis cipline.
 The six New Haven companies as- sembled at 6:30 at their armory, where all was hustle and hurry in getting ready for the start. The troops march ed down to the station headed by the American band which discoursed mar tial music for the occasion. Colonel Burpee, who had returned from Man tic Sunday night, superintended the work of preparation at New Haven. A crowd of about 300 civilians was at the depot to see the soldiers off, and after the farewells had been said cheer upon cheer followed the trainload of soldiers as it rolled out of the station.
 It took a train of twelve cars to transport all the companies of the Sec ond regiment to the camp. In addition to the New Haven companies the Wa terbury, Meriden and Wallingford com panies of the regiment reached New Haven at an early hour and went on the train. The baggage, horses and accoutrements of the regiment were carried on another train. The Machine Gun platoon and the Hospital corps also went on this train. The trains left here shortly after o'clock and reached Mantle about 9:30. Most of the companies took their full quota of men along with them, although few were left behind because of sickness or absence. A few were not on hand quite early enough to take the train, but had to come up on the later trains.
 The men presented a fine appearance as they marched down to the station from their armory, and again as they marched to their position in the camp. Most of the uniforms and equipments of the men looked neat and we'll cared for.
 There have been several changes in uniforms and equipments to conform to United States army regulations. Stripes on trousers will not hereafter be worn by privates, and the entire brigade has been equipped with the web cartridge belt, dyed blue.
 To-day seventy-four new drums will be issued to the company drummers of the brigade, and all of the company musicians will appear in new dress coats, with white slashing worn over the breast.
 Camp Graham is laid out in about the same. manner as the camps in previous years.
 There are in all about 1 300 pieces of canvas erected on the ground, 800 of which are the wall A tents of the en- listed men, The camp has been laid ous as usual by Captain G. A. Cornell, state armorer, and corps of about thirty men.
 The camp presents a very pretty spectacle with it's multitude of white tents and the groups of officers and men.
 o5re- ,,,-o nyo, o,ooT, ,61 in rows of tents extending the whole length of the north side of the parade ground. Their positions are as fol- lows:
 From right (west) to left (east) the troops are numbered in the following order, eighteen tents being allowed to each company street
 Fourth regiment-Band, Companies B, K, I, E, F, K, H, D.
 First regiment-Band, c, B, A, G, F, I, E, K, H, D.
 Third regiment-Band, G, F, c, E, A, B, D, l.
 Second regiment-Band, G, F, A, c, I, Fl, D, B, E, K.
 First separate company (colored), Machine Gun battery, Battery A.
 South of the parade ground are the governors, brigade, hospital, signal corps and other tents, while to the east is the small park of the state artillery, which overlooks the Mantle river.
 Everything has been done to secure the, proper drainage of the camp and the health and comfort of the men.
 The position of the Second regiment at the east end of the camp is in many respects one of the pleasantest in the camp, overlooking as it does the wa ters of the Ninatic.
 Sentinels were at once stationed at the entrance and around the sides of the camp to keep out those who did not have the necessary passes. There was quite a rush for the mess houses yesterday by those who desired to get in, and the guards on duty at that point had quite a task in keeping the intruders out, but for the most part it was a quiet day, there being very few visitors compared to what there is sometimes. Of course the great day of the encampment will be governors day when there is no doubt but that the deserving brave will get hosts of the fair ones to watch them in their manoeuvres. Governor Coffin was present at the camp yesterday early in the day and watched the To- cation of the troops in their quarters.