The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-01
NORTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD.
General Cameron Introduces the Regu-
lar Army March From Statesville
to Charlotte.

to Charlotte.
The following article, we clip with
, pleasure, from the Army and Navy
Journal, the leading military journal
of the United States;
The State Guard of North Carolina
has made long stride toward increas-
ing its efficiency and in establishing
in the minds OF the people it's real
value and reliability. For several years
the State has made annual appropria-
Itions for encampments, and the money
has been expended in transporting the
troops to some convenient point on the
seacoast where ten days would be de-
voted to drilling and instructing the
troops in battalion and regimental
movements, guard mounting and SEN
try duty. While these annual encamp-
ments have been exceedingly beneficial
to the guard, something even better
has been desired. Adjt. Gen. Francis
| II. Cameron Cup to 1892 Inspector
GeneraD has long planned for more
| practical work and training for the
guard, and several years ago he in
laugurated the idea of a practice march,
! or campaign, such as would instruct
| the troops in the details of actual ser
| vice in the field. In this laudable ann
| bition Gen. Cameron found a hearty
supporter in the person of Col. ]. f.
| Armfeld, of Statesville, commanding
| the Fourth Regiment. Accordingly a
practice march was arranged for this
regiment and it assembled with a bat
/ terry of artillery at Statesyille, 6eptem-
Der 10, preparatory to the march. The
route was from StatesviIle to Charlotte,
and the distance by the county roads
was about tifty-three miles. The list
Battalion was commanded by Maj. w.
10. Smith, of Asheyille; the second by
Maj. George L. Rutzler, OF Charlotte,
Col. Armfeld commanding the regi-
Iment, Capt r. S. Allison, quartermas-
ter, and III. r. Cowles, the adiutant;
Maj. L. NJ. Hayes 9th Regiment u. S.
ICavalry) and Capt. Il. w. Jones doth
u. S. Cavalry accompanied the regi-
Inent ON the march as instructors. Col.
Z. G. HarreH, Quartermaster General
of North Carolina, also accompanied
the regiment in official line of duty.
On the morning of September 10th
Icamp was struck and the march began,
the regiment with band drum corps
moving off in fine style in heavy march
ing order, the tents and commissary
lstores being transported in wagons. A
very efficient signal corps preceded the
leolumn about a mile, and selected suit
liable points for rest and water, and
their rapid transmission of dispatches
was notable. 1t was intended that the
marching begin by easy stages so as
to accustom the men to this new line
Of service and the first day covered
but six miles. On arriving ut camp
thorough instruction was given i'll
Ipitching tents, locating kitchens, sinks,
etc., and the camp was pitched within
thirty minutes.
September 11.-Marched thirteen
miles reaching camp near Mooresyille
at 1890 p. m. Camp located and tents
pitched in fifteen minutes. In the af-
ternoon after dress parade the battery
of artillery drilled in field movements
September 12.-Third day, march
comprised seventeen miles, hating at
Davidson College half way for an hour.
The regiment pitched the camp at
Huntersyille at 2 o'clock and within
thirty minutes the men were enjoying
dinner.
September 13.-On the fourth day
the march was thirteen miles, within
six miles of Charlotte
September 14.-Breaking camp at
sunrise short march of six miles
, brought the regiment to Charlotte
| about $3.50 a. m. The march through
j the city was in excellent order and the
regiment was reviewed by Governor
Carr, Adjutant General Cameron and
Inspector General A. j.. Smith. The
troops were in heavy marching order,
/. ranks well closed and without a single
straggler or sick man.
The march was an unqualified sue
cess in every particular. The men en-
tered heartily into the spirit of the
occasion from the very start, and the
enthusiasm increased each day. There
was 10 struggling, although the wealth
er at times was very hot for the season.
The sky was bright and clear through
: out the march and there were no cases
of sickness beyond a very few trivial
: cases. The average speed made on the
. march was near three miles an hour.
: with halt of fifteen minutes every
hour. Each camp was reached by mid
day, and the afternoons were given to
INSTRUCTION of officers and men in cam
paigning. The trip was strictly in ac-
cordance with Z. s. Army regulations
and the outfits for cooking, messing
and tenting were only such as are
furnished by the government Too
much credit cannot be accorded to
/ Adjutant General Cameron for so wise
ly planning the practice march, and to
: Col. j. #. Armfield and his associate
[ officers for so ably managing and con-
Quoting it. The march would have
, done credit to regular troops in the
army, and a cordial ovation was ex-
! tended to the regiment by citizens all
. along the route, great crowds gath
ering at every convenient point to wit
MSS the unusual spectacle of soldiers
on the march. The fine results of the
practice march as to instruction in
camping, guard duty, cooking, etc.,
, will be far-reaching in the State guard
of North Carolina, and the example of
the Fourth Regiment will be followed
by other commands in the future The
transportation of baggage and men
to Statesville and from Charlotte back
to their homes at close of the camp
was paid by the State, but all cost of
subsistence was borne by the troops.
| A GOOD ONE ON SFTvTvT n