Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-27
THE II GUNS SPOKE OUT
The Governor and Staff Re-
ceiged With EcIat.
CAMP WILL BREAK TODAY
A Pronounced Success, Both as to the Military
Feature and the Lighter Sde-Fare-
well Shots.


Yesterday witnessed two special fea-
lures at Camp Lucke, the competitive
shot for the Mercer medal and govern
or's day.
The day, while warm, was clear and
bright up to about o'clock in the even
ing, when the rain poured down in tor
rents and the tented city was a gentle
reminder that Noah was an architect
and shipbuilder after ones own heart.
Camp will break at o'clock today and
the soldiers will return to their homes,
each and every one feeling that he has
enjoyed a week not only of pleasure, but
military training.
AS stated at the beginning of the
camp Colonel Clark, while willing to al
low his men ample time for pleasure,
was determined to see that the entire
regiment should come under rigid dis
cipline when on duty, and he stood
squarely by his word.
Every day of the encampment was
fraught with interest, and the special
programme was highly appreciated by
the public.
Governor Oates and Staff
Governor Oates arrived in the city yes
terday at II o'clock over the Louisville
and Nashville railroad, accompanied by
vey e. Jones. adjutant general; Col. w.
E. Wiley, Col. b. L. Holt and Col r. +.
Michel He was Joined on his arrival in
the city by the two remaining members
of his staff, Col. A. H. Stevens and Lieut..
Samuel e. Jones'
The party was escorted to the Morris
hotel and at l o'clock a most excellent
luncheon was rendered by the Jefferson
County Military club to the governor and
staff, the field and line officers Of the
Second regiment and the visiting cavalry
and artillery officers from Montgomery.
Capt. H. b. Bailey and Lieut.. Samuel G.
Jones CT the United States army were
also among the invited guests.
The Governor at Camp.
Governor Oates and staff arrived at the
East Lake depot promptly at 4:3O o'clock,
where they were met and escorted to
Camp Luckie by troop d. Seventeen
guns were fired In honor of the arrival of
the chief executive.
At o clock the entire Second regiment,
augmented by troop d, were reviewed by
the governor at the conclusion of which
he delivered a short and appropriate ad-
dress, complimenting the regiment on its
splendid drill and the high character of
the soldiery composing the regiment as
men and citizens.
The governor said as this would posi-
bly, be the last time he would have the
pleasure of reviewing the military that
state troops are well worthy of the high
est praise. The citizen soldier cannot ex-
pect to equal in proficiency the regular
troops. While our people are peaceful
and our government is founded upon that
principle, yet in fact we are military
people. Go back thirty years and recall
what we witnessed While. of course, the
division which gave rise to sectional STRIFE
has now passed and we are all devoted
to one flag, yet in the battle of Gettys-
u Azt, H.. loss In hat
battle was equal to the loss by the French
al the battle of Waterloo, and the federal
loss was even greater There he wit
messed the grandest charge that was ever
made. Not a man fimched, though ne
knew he was going to his death. The
battles of Chickamauga and Malvern Hill
were fought with equal heroism by the
opposing sides. This shows what Ameri-
can citizens can do as soldiers when
properly trained.
1t speaks we'll for "a state to have well
equipped soldiery to form a nucleus In
case they are needed
The governor suggested that 1t might
be better ito concentrate the companies
and possibly reduce the number OF the
state troops.
He was glad, he said, TO know that the
military commanded the respect of the
entire people. The Second regiment has
always borne fine reputation, and ne
hoped that the other regiments would
continue their efforts to equal 1t and by
this competition keep the soldiery of Ala
bama above criticism.
Governor Oates returned this. morning
to Montgomery and will leave Sunday
for Richmond, Va, to attend the reunion
of the United Confederate Veterans in
that city next Tuesday.
The Mercer Medals.
The gold medals offered by Mr.. Harry
Mercer of Birmingham, the popular First
fnts hn n
shots in target firing at 200 and 800 yards
were won respectively by G. p. Houston,
sergeant of Company H, Bessemer Ri
fies, and T. P. Bibb, private Company l.,
Huey Guards. The medals were awarded
in front of Colonel Clark's headquarters
by Chaplain o. p. Fitzsimons, assisted
by Miss Giles of Bessemer Chaplain
Fitzsimons In presenting the medals said
it was source of pleasure to be the me-
dunn of publicly recognizing merit.
There can be no better proof
of merit in this case than
that the chaplain had deliberately shot
five times and missed the mark entirely.
Every success contains a prophecy Of
future achievements, and he felt sure
that this statement will find an abundant
verification in the lives of the two sol
diers before him. Remember. however,
soldiers, that as these medals are tes-
timonials of merit, they can only become
your property by sustaining your repu-
tation in two successive contests. The
score you have made, experts tell me, is
intrinsically good, an additional tribute
to the admitted exeellency of the Second
regiment, which has the best colonel and
the best men among the Alabama state
troops. These medals. soldiers, are too
sacred to be pinned on your bosoms by
profane hands. and I know you will not
object to having it done by this fair
young lady, Miss Giles, of Bessemer."
Detail for Today.
Capt. c. M. Brown, company L, Huey
Guards, officer of the day.
Lieut.. J. II. McTiere, senior officer of
the guard.
Lieut.. d. o. Robinson, Junior officer of
the guard.
Inside the Ranks.
Camp will break at o'clock today.
The three batteries of artillery will go
in camp at Mobile July 5. They will erect
a target range on Mobile bay and prae-
tice target shooting at two, three and
five miles range.
The four troops of cavalry will go in
camps at Montgomery on July IL, and
birmingham will send down one of the
finest troops of cavalry ever seen in the
state.
Captain Bailey inspected the COM
mt nd ,.ta S,fl